Filmmaker and producer Ivan Reitman, director of the first two parts of “Ghostbusters” and author of successful family comedies, died on February 12 at the age of 75.
“Our family is mourning the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life.” It’s not this press release, relayed by Variety, that Jason Reitman, director of the recent Ghostbusters: Legacy and his family announced the death at the age of 75 of filmmaker Ivan Reitman, famous for bringing Ghostbusters ghost hunters to life. Died in his sleep, this comedy specialist, author of great family successes, will have “brought laughter and happiness to countless people around the world”.
TV debut
Born in Czechoslovakia after World War II, Ivan Reitman arrived in Canada at the age of 4 with his family. During his studies, he directed and produced several short films, before founding a distribution company specializing in non-commercial cinema.
He entered television shortly after as a producer. It was there that he met Dan Aykroyd, who would star in some of his films, to whom he entrusted the presentation of a program, Greed. It is also thanks to television that he will meet two actors who will collaborate with him thereafter, Bill Murray and John Belushi. The three participate in the creation of the satirical series The National Lampoon Show.
The Ghostbusters consecration
After this early career dedicated to the small screen, Ivan Reitman embarked on the production of his first feature film in 1971, Foxy Lady, which he also produced. Accumulating the functions of producer and director, he only met his first success as a producer with American College produced in 1977 by John Landis. His first major success behind the camera came in 1984, with Ghostbusters. He leads there Bill Murraywho becomes a star with this role, Dan AykroydSigourney Weaver, Ernie Hudson, Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis.
Specialist in comedy, he gives his first counter-employment to Arnold Schwarzenegger with Jumeaux, a film in which the former muscle man plays the role of Danny DeVito’s twin. The Tandem Arnold Schwarzenegger–Ivan Reitman will reform twice with Kindergarten Cop and Junior. In 1989, five years after the first part, the team of Ghostbusters reunites for a sequel that will also be a huge success. Another success, President for a Day with Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver.
Director… and producer
Although his last films have not worked as well, notably Six days seven nights despite the presence of Harrison Ford, he continues to dig the furrow of comedy with the offbeat Evolution, My super ex led by Uma Thurman or the romcom Sex Friends. Also a producer, he produced In the Air by his son Jason Reitman, which earned him an Oscar nomination, as well as the recent Baywatch, Space Jam: New Era or Ghostbusters: The Legacy.
He was preparing the film Les Triplés, the sequel to Jumeaux led by Arnold Schwarzenegger, Danny DeVito and Eddie Murphy.