His face might not look familiar, but chances are you're familiar with at least one of Harold Ramis' films. The late director/writer/actor, who died early Monday at age 69, left behind a notable body of work. Here are five standouts:
Animal House (1978). Ramis was one of the writers of this hit film, about the crazy escapades of a 1962 college fraternity. It reunited him withJohn Belushi, a Second City TV sketch comedy show cohort along with John Candy and Rick Moranis. At the time, critic Roger Ebert calledAnimal House "vulgar, raunchy, ribald, and occasionally scatological" — and gave it four stars. It helped launch Ramis, and everyone involved in the film, to fame.
Caddyshack (1980).The sports comedy marked Ramis' feature film directorial debut. Aside from that pesky gopher, the film starred Chevy Chase, Ted Knight, Bill Murray and Rodney Dangerfield. Ramis also wrote the screenplay to the sequel,Caddyshack II, which followed in 1988 but was not nearly as successful.
National Lampoon's Vacation (1983). Ramis directed the first film of the Vacationseries, which starred Chevy Chase, Beverly D'Angelo and a rotation of actors who played their children (even though they are the same characters). The first film follows the Griswold family's adventures as patriarch Clark (Chase) is determined to journey with his brood on a road trip to Walley World theme park for some good, old-fashioned fun.
Ghost Busters (1984).For many, this is the first Ramis film to come to mind. He andDan Aykroyd both wrote and co-starred alongside Bill Murray in the supernatural comedy. The three out-of-work parapsychology professors decide they can earn a living by exterminating poltergeists. It's all fun and games until they have to face true evil forces and save New York City. Ramis is the straight guy, offering a foil for Aykroyd's craziness and Murray's quiet goofiness.
Groundhog Day (1993). Ramis and Murray team up yet again for this classic comedy in which Murray's character, a Pittsburgh TV weatherman, is forced to cover the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pa., and ends up reliving the same day over and over. This time, Ramis served as director, producer and screenwriter, and had a small acting role. In 2006, the film was added to the United States National Film Registry.
Contributing: Ann Oldenburg
