Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman dead at 75

The beloved filmmaker behind Ghostbusters, Stripes and Kindergarten Cop has died at 75.

Legendary filmmaker Ivan Reitman has “unexpectedly” died at 75 years old.The man behind such comedies as Animal House and Ghostbusters died in his sleep.

Director Ivan Reitman died in his sleep in Montecito, California on February 12, his family confirmed, reported The Sun.

The deeply respected Hollywood figure had 74 producer credits to his name and directed some of the genres’ most enduring comedies.

He produced Animal House starring John Belushi and directed Bill Murray vehicles such as Meatballs and Stripes, sticking with the latter when he directed Ghostbusters in 1984, and Ghostbusters II.

“Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life,” children Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman said in a joint statement at the Associated Press the following day.

“We take comfort that his work as a filmmaker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world.

While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always.”

Filmmaker Jason Reitman with his father Ivan Reitman in 2008. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Ivan helmed many greats, but Ghostbusters may have been the director’s biggest film success commercially and critically.

Co-starring Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis, the ghoulishly funny flick earned nearly $300 million worldwide and two Oscar nominations.

Son Jason Reitman helmed the sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife last year, after many other sequels have been made out of the film.

That being said, the icon’s resume is expansive.

He also directed Twins, Kindergarten Cop – both starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and launching the buff action star’s pivot to laughs – Dave, Junior and Six Days, Seven Nights with Harrison Ford.

He produced Beethoven, Space Jam starring Michael Jordan, Old School and EuroTrip, the latter two being released in the mid-2000s, proving that Ivan still had many comedic gifts to give as the years went.

His early life and escape route

Born in Komarmo, Czechoslovakia, in 1946, Ivan’s father owned the country’s biggest vinegar factory, per AP.

His mother survived the Auschwitz extermination camp and his father fought in the Czech resistance, per Variety.

In 1950, when Ivan was only four, their family emigrated to the U.S. to escape their country’s postwar Communist regime.

Ivan Reitman was recently on set of Ghhostbusters: Afterlife with Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, and his son Jason Reitman.

According to AP they did so by holing up in a nailed-down hold of a barge, then joining a family member in Toronto, Canada.

Once settled in North America, Ivan’s love of entertainment began to blossom.

He studied music and drama at McMaster University in Ontario, and began making movies after he graduated, starting with slapstick shorts.

His style began to form, which often saw him use anti-authoritarian and slacker themes as well as wayward main characters put in funny situations.

His filmmaking family

Ivan married Geneviève Robert in 1976, who he is survived by, welcoming their three children together.

One of whom is Jason, who took after his dad.

Aside from collaborating with his father on multiple projects, Jason clearly inherited the visionary gene, carrying the torch as he directed Juno in 2007, and Up In The Air in 2009.

The George Clooney-starring recession drama soared with critics and was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars.

Jason was also nominated for Best Director for Juno.

Ivan Reitman told The Hollywood Reporter in November 2021 on collaborating with his son Jason on the recent Ghostbusters: Afterlife: “It was a very personal and sometimes tear-inducing experience.

“The day that all three of them [the original cast members] showed up for the first time and were just checking stuff out — it was just extraordinary; just feeling the vibe, not just for me, but I felt it in the crew and cast. I felt it everywhere.”

In an interview with Screenrant last year, Jason also spoke on working with his father.

“It’s impossible to explain how it feels to be next to not only the world’s foremost authority on Ghostbusters but also one of the great storytellers of our time, who I can turn to and trust while making the movie,” he said.

Ghostbusters was Ivan Reitman’s most enduring work.

Fans flood Twitter

“So sad to hear Director Ivan Reitman has died. Ghostbusters, Kindergarten Cop, Twins, Meatballs, Stripes, Dave and more…” one Twitter user penned as the sad news was shared.

“He recently produced Ghostbusters: Afterlife with his son Jason. We lost a true movie legend.”

“There will never be another Ivan Reitman,” wrote another user.

“What more can be said about GHOSTBUSTERS? Pure glorious entertainment. DAVE is a masterpiece I absolutely adore. So many gifts to my generation of film lovers and makers,” wrote a third.

Ivan clearly had a gift not only in directing comedies but helping direct figures towards comedy, not only helping Arnold Schwarzenegger do so, but Sigourney Weaver, NBA star Michael Jordan, and others.

It’s unclear if Ivan was ill and funeral arrangements have not been announced at this time.

This article originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced here with permission

Originally published as Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman dead at 75