The filmmaker Ivan Reitman passed away at the age of 75. He was known for making blockbuster comedy movies in Hollywood, including the original Ghostbusters (1984). According to reports, the family said that Ivan went away peacefully in his sleep. He had no illness or disease at the time of death.
Hollywood fans and the entertainment industry is mourning this great loss. They have shared heartfelt tributes on social media.
Ivan Reitman Background
Ivan Reitman remains one of the most famous directors from the 70s. He may not be a household name, but his legacy appears in the form of people laughing by repeating funny lines from his movies and wearing his film’s costumes on Halloween. His films brought so much joy and laughter to the world, but his early life had troubles.
He was born in Komarno (now known as Slovakia) in 1946 under the oppressive communist regime. His father was the owner of the biggest vinegar factory in the city, so he was also the target of extremists. His mother was also a survivor of Nazi torture at Auschwitz death camp. Ivan’s family escaped to Vienna when communist forces started imprisoning capitalists after the war. He was only 4 at that time and remembered the flashes of the post World War II scenario. The family gave him sleeping pills in the night to put him to rest.
Later the Reitman family moved to Canada, and Ivan displayed interest in entertainment. His works ranged from puppet theatres, coffee houses and making people laugh at summer camps. He then studied music and drama and began making short films.
Classic Comedy Movies to Remember
Ivan Reitman made it big in the film scene by producing a comedy classic Animal House in 1978. Library of Congress added this film into the National Film Registry in 2001. It is a selection of movies considered “historically, culturally, or aesthetically important” to the US. Ivan is best known for his 1984 supernatural comedy, Ghostbusters. It grossed over 300 million USD worldwide and earned 2 nominations in Oscars. Moreover, it spawned an entire franchise that is still active today. Reitman returned as the director for the sequel Ghostbusters II (1989) and co-produced the all-female reboot in 2016. Moreover, it inspired a long-running animated series and countless products.
His other notable films include Meatballs (1979) and Stripes (1981), which took Bill Murray to new heights of stardom. He also made Arnold Schwarzenegger a comedy actor with Twins (1988), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Dave (1993), and Junior (1994). Before these films, Schwarzenegger was only considered an action hero. Reitman also produced Space Jam (1996) with the most popular basketball player Micheal Jordan and an animated character Buggs Bunny.
Ivan Reitman paired up with his son in Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021). He was the producer while his son Jason Reitman took the director’s helm.
