Ivan Reitman, the filmmaker behind the famous comedies “Ghostbusters”, “National Lampoon’s Animal House” and “Twins”, died at the age of 75.
Monday Reitman’s son Jason – himself a director of films such as ‘Juno’ and ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ – tweeted: ‘I lost my hero’.
Arnold Schwarzenegger, who went from violent action films to comedies “Twins”, “Kindergarten Cop” and “Junior” thanks to Reitman, praised by all of Hollywood for a “legend” and a “comedy royalty”.
“I will always be grateful to him took a chance on this austrian action hero in a comedy at a time when the studios just wanted me to concentrate on discovery new ways of kill bad guys blow things up and show off certain muscles,” Schwarzenegger said.
“I can’t believe I won’t work with him again or hang out with him again Where just chatting about life again”, added Schwarzenegger, who had to collaborate with Reitman in the “Triplets” suite.
Over his decades-long career, Reitman produced and directed films that helped establish such great comedic stars as Bill Murray, who as well as featuring in “Ghostbusters” also appeared in Reitman hits “Meatballs” and “Stripes”.
Reitman produced the 1978 hit “National Lampoon’s Animal House”, which became one of the most loved and chaotic representations of the system of fraternities and sororities in American colleges.
But that was 1984’s “Ghostbusters” – one of the most popular comedies of all time made – which launched a Hollywood dynasty.
the story of four men dressed in a version of firefighters gear tackle marshmallow monsters and viscous green spirits in an attempt to save New York from a supernatural takeover has spawned several sequels and reboots.
the outfits carried by its four stars remain one of the most popular and recognizable Halloween costumes nowadays.
“I am deeply saddened by the loss of Ivan Reitman. really a great man and filmmaker who I had the honor and the privilege of know and work with“, tweeted Ernie Hudson, who played Ghostbuster Winston Zeddemore in the original and its 1989 sequel, and made an appearance in the 2016 reboot.
“I am in absolute shock,” tweeted Paul Feig, who made on 2016 version with an all-female cast of “Ghostbusters.”
“I had the honor of working so closely with Ivan and it was always such a learning experience. He led some of my favorite comedies of all the time. All of us in comedy owes him a lot. Thank you for everything, Ivan. Truly.”
Tom Rothman, CEO of Sony Pictures which owns “Ghostbusters” studio Columbia Pictures, rented “a great talent and an even more refined man.”
“Tonight the lady with the torch cries, like all of us at Columbia, and moviegoers around the world world“, wrote Rothman in A declaration on Twitter, referring to historic Hollywood studio’s logo.
‘Heritage’
Reitman was born in Komarno, in what is now Slovakia, on October 27, 1946.
Its Jewish parents survived the Nazis but, four years after his birth, he fled Czechoslovakia to escape Communism.
They ended up made their home in Toronto.
He is survived through son son Jason and his daughters Catherine – also an actor and producer – and Caroline.
“He came from a family of survivors and transformed son legacy in laughs,” Jason wrote.
“Thank you for kind messages. Enjoy son movies and remember son story gifts. Nothing would make him happier.”
