Ramis was the first head writer of the television series “SCTV”, on which he also performed, plus one of three screenwriters of the movie “National Lampoon’s Animal House” (1978). Ramis’ movies have influenced succeeding generations of comics and humor writers. Filmmakers Jay Roach, Jake Kasdan, Adam Sandler, and Peter and Bobby Farrelly have mentioned his movies as among their favorites. He won the BAFTA Award for The Best Original Screenplay for “Groundhog Day”.
In May 2010, Ramis got an illness that resulted in complications from autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis and lost the power to walk. After relearning to walk he suffered a relapse of the illness in late 2011. He died of complications of the condition on February 24, 2014 at his house on Chicago’s North Shore, at age 69.
November 21, 1944, Chicago, Illinois, United States)
Died
February 24, 2014, Glencoe, Illinois, United States
Place Of Birth
Chicago
Height
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Profession
Comedian, Film director, Actor, Writer, Film Producer, Screenwriter, Television producer, Television Director, Voice Actor
Education
Stephen K. Hayt Elementary School, Nicholas Senn High School, Chicago; Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri
Nationality
United States of America
Spouse
Erica Mann (m. 1989–2014), Anne Ramis (m. 1967–1984)
Children
Violet Ramis, Daniel Hayes Ramis, Julian Arthur Ramis
Parents
Nathan Ramis, Ruth Ramis
Siblings
Steve Ramis
Nicknames
Harold Allen Ramis
Awards
St. Louis Walk of Fame (2004), Austin Film Festival's Distinguished Screenwriter Award (2005), Writers Guild of America Award - Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement (2015), London Film Critics Circle Award for Screenwriter of the Year
Nominations
BAFTA Award, Gemini Award, Saturn Award, Hugo Award, WGA Award, Earle Grey Award
“SCTV”, "Second City Television" (1976-1978), "Delta House" (1979), "The Top" (1984), "The Office" (2007-2010), "Ghostbusters: The Video Game" (2009)
Star Sign
Scorpio
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Trademark
1
Frequently casts fellow Second City alumnus Bill Murray
2
Frequently casts himself in small roles
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Quote
1
At SCTV, we were virtually self-directed. Whoever wrote the piece pretty much determined how the piece was going to play. We directed each other. Joe Flaherty kind of appointed himself my director. He'd tell me stuff like, "Open your eyes real big.".
2
[on directing Robin Williams and Eugene Levy in Club Paradise (1986)] I'd say, "Robin, could you play that scene faster?" And he'd say, "Faster isn't a direction." So I'd say, "Your character is feeling a sense of urgency right now." By contrast, I went to Gene and said, "You did that scene in a minute-twenty. Could you do it in a minute?". And he said, "Sure".
3
The best comedy touches something that's timeless and universal in people. When it's right, those things last.
4
It's hard for winners to do comedy. Comedy is inherently subversive. We represent the underdog as comedy usually speaks for the lower classes. We attack the winners.
5
[on the death of his friend Douglas Kenney in 1980] Doug probably fell while he was looking for a place to jump.
6
Well, for me, it's the relationship between comedy and life - that's the edge I live on, and maybe it's my protection against looking at the tragedy of it all. It's seeing life in balance. Comedy and tragedy co-exist. You can't have one without the other. I'm of the school that anything can be funny, if seen from a comedic point of view.
7
Well, I never made big films to make big films; the scale's been appropriate to the content.
8
I'm at my best when I'm working with really talented people, and I'm there to gently suggest or guide or inspire or contribute whatever I can to their effort. It's not like I'm gonna tell Robert De Niro how to act - but I could provide him with useful anecdotal material from my own life or other people I've known, or actual psychological information, or insights into his character. The technique's up to him. But, there are ways to gently urge an actor to pick up the pace or slow it down or focus more, to go bigger or smaller. Some actors are very open right at the beginning - they say, "You only need four words with me: Bigger, smaller, faster, slower.".
9
Chicago still remains a Mecca of the Midwest - people from both coasts are kind of amazed how good life is in Chicago, and what a good culture we've got. You can have a pretty wonderful artistic life and never leave Chicago.
10
Everything we see has some hidden message. A lot of awful messages are coming in under the radar - subliminal consumer messages, all kinds of politically incorrect messages...
11
[on whether he and Bill Murray would consider doing a third Ghostbusters movie] My attitude is generally like Bill's old attitude -- there's no point unless it has some interesting quality or something to say about the subject. Personally, I don't rule it out. I'm skeptical, but maybe it'll work.
12
At first, I would get mail saying, 'Oh, you must be a Christian because the movie [Groundhog Day (1993)] so beautifully expresses Christian belief'. Then, rabbis started calling from all over, saying they were preaching the film as their next sermon. And the Buddhists! Well, I knew they loved it because my mother-in-law has lived in a Buddhist meditation centre for 30 years and my wife lived there for five years. - remarks to the New York Times on the ecumenical popularity of Groundhog Day (1993).
13
[During the 20-year Ghostbusters reunion commentary on the Ghostbusters DVD] Acting is all about big hair and funny props... All the great actors knew it. Olivier [Laurence Olivier] knew it, Brando [Marlon Brando] knew it.
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Fact
1
After not speaking to each other for a number of years, Bill Murray reportedly visited Ramis before his death and they both made their peace with each other.
2
He was awarded a Star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame on May 16, 2004.
3
Lived on the north side of Chicago, Illinois until his death.
4
His paternal grandparents were Ukrainian Jewish immigrants and his maternal grandparents were Polish Jews.
Said in an interview that his working relationship with actor Bill Murray ended while filming Groundhog Day (1993) due to differing views on what the film should be about (Murray wanted it to be more philosophical, Ramis wanted it to be a comedy). Ramis also cites that Murray's real life personal problems at the time (specifically the ending of his first marriage) was having a ripple effect on his behavior at work as another factor in the unfortunate ending of their working relationship.
When he was doing his audition for Second City, it was him performing a sketch to a full house.
10
Once worked at a public school in Chicago, Illinois in 1968.
11
The proton packs worn in Ghostbusters (1984) were much heavier than they looked, and some were heavier than others depending on what a scene demanded while filming. According to director Ivan Reitman, none of the actors enjoyed wearing the packs, but Harold complained the least (Reitman would not say which actor complained the most).
12
Tried graduate school for a week, but it did not pan out.
13
Had three children: daughter Violet Ramis (born in 1977), with ex-wife Anne Ramis, and sons Julian Arthur Ramis (born on May 10, 1990) and Daniel Ramis (Daniel Hayes Ramis) (born on August 10, 1994), with wife Erica Mann.
14
Sketch comedian best known for his character Moe Green on SCTV (1976).
Once a mental ward orderly before finding work as a joke writer for Playboy magazine.
17
Was a former active member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.
18
Attended and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri in 1966. He later received an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the university in 1993.
19
Attended and graduated from Nicholas Senn High School in Chicago, Illinois in 1962.
20
Was a member of the Board of Trustees of Washington University.
21
Was a member of the Board of National Neurofibromatosis Foundation.