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When Columbia Pictures released Ghostbusters into movie houses on June 8, 1984, they unleashed a worldwide phenomenon that has flourished and continues to thrive to this day (with a few hiccups along the way). A big part of the success of the story of a band of parapsychologists out to catch some ghosts was attributable to a tight script from Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, along with some stellar comedic acting from those two gents alongside comic god Bill Murray and the straight man routine of Ernie Hudson. But holding it all together with style and panache was the director and ringleader Ivan Reitman, who brought to the film a deft reading of the material and a sure hand at translating it onto the silver screen.
Ivan Reitman passed away on February 12, 2022 at the age of 75. According to his family, the auteur died in his sleep, according to Variety.
Ivan Reitman was born on October 27, 1946 in Komarno, Czechoslovakia to proud parents Klara and Ladislav Reitman. Not long for the territory, the Reitman’s moved to Canada when Ivan was a wee lad of four. Always intellectually inclined, Ivan Reitman eventually wound up at the prestigious McMaster University where the budding filmmaker (who, incidentally, received a Bachelor of Music degree while there) directed and produced a number of short movies.
Reitman was a prolific director and a busy producer during his tenure in Hollywood. Other than Ghostbusters, he helmed such films as Meatballs, Stripes, Legal Eagles, Twins, Ghostbusters II, Kindergarten Cop, Dave, Junior and Six Days Seven Nights.
“Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life,” his family said in a statement this morning. “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.”
At the time of his passing, Reitman was working on Triplets, a sequel to his hit Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito film, Twins.
Ivan Reitman leaves not only a lasting footprint in cinema, but also in the family he leaves behind: His wife Genevieve; his son, director Jason Reitman (who picked up the reigns from his father recently to direct the film Ghostbusters: Afterlife); and daughters Catherine and Caroline.
We offer our sincere condolences to the family, friends and fans of Ivan Reitman; you will not be forgotten.
