The talented writer, director and actor, Harold Ramis, well known for directing comedy movies like Groundhog Day, Ghost-busters among others died recently at his home in Chicago at the age of 69. He was suffering from inflammatory vasculitis- a disorder which affects the blood vessels.
He began writing plays at an early age and was the editor-in-chief for his school yearbook. He joined Washington University and went on to get a degree in English. During his time he was in college, he wrote for newspapers as a freelance writer. He came together with his long time associate Bill Murray for a radio program called ‘The National Lampoon Radio Hour’. Ramis went on to write and perform on the late night comedy television series SCTV which became very successful and ran for three long years.
After working on the show, Ramis’s next job was to tackle the movie industry. He wrote the movie ‘Meatballs’ starring Murray which became a huge hit. It was his first collaboration with him in a movie. He then tried his hand at being a director and made ‘Caddyshack’ which also became a commercial success. He stuck to his genre of comedy for most of his movies while directing.
Ramis was married twice as his first marriage ended in a divorce. He had three children – one daughter from his first wife and two sons with his second. He was a good fencer and skier.
In the year 2010, he was diagnosed with an infection which in turn led to complications from inflammatory vasculitis. He lost his ability to walk and remained in a wheel chair thereafter.
He was regarded as the person who taught laughing to the generation of eighties and nineties and was given the title ‘Alchemist of Comedy’. He will be remembered by his fans and supporters as a great comedian.