Reitman was also responsible for producing many legendary comedies.
Ghostbusters director and comedy producer Ivan Reitman has died, aged 75.
Reitman passed away peacefully surrounded by family, according to a statement sent to Associated Press.
“Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life,” Reitman’s family said.
“We take comfort that his work as a filmmaker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world.
“While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always.”
Ivan was born in Czechoslovakia in 1946, before moving to Canada as a refugee with his family at the age of four.
Reitman began his career producing body horror films for David Cronenberg who went on to create iconic horror films such as Videodrome and The Fly.
Reitman moved on to comedy, where he directed Bill Murray films such as Meatballs and Stripes, before making the hugely successful Ghostbusters.
The original was released to critical and commercial acclaim, generating nearly $300 million at the box office since it was first released in 1984.
Reitman went on to direct more critically acclaimed comedies such as Kindergarten Cop, Twins, and Junior.
Along with directing, Reitman made a huge impact on comedy in his role as a producer.
His credits as a producer include National Lampoon’s Animal House, Space Jam, Beethoven, Old School, Eurotrip, Trailer Park Boys: The Movie, and I Love You, Man.
His son, Jason Reitman, has gone on to be an Oscar nominated director in his own right, directing Juno and the latest entry in the Ghostbusters series, Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
Tributes have poured in from across the comedy world at the news of Reitman’s passing.
Phil Lord, who along with Chris Miller directed 21 Jump Street and The Lego Movie paid tribute to the director.
Ivan Reitman was very good to me and @chrizmillr. He sought us out and encouraged us when we made our first movie. He saw an early cut of Spider-verse (“Half of this is the best movie I have ever seen and the other half is bad”) and spent DAYS giving us helpful notes… RIP Ivan
— Phil Lord (@philiplord) February 14, 2022
“Ivan Reitman was very good to me and Chris Miller,” Lord said in a tweet.
“He sought us out and encouraged us when we made our first movie. He saw an early cut of Spider-verse (“Half of this is the best movie I have ever seen and the other half is bad”) and spent DAYS giving us helpful notes… RIP Ivan.
“He was always rigorous, curious, and generous with his advice. He cared about comedy but also about story and character and making a movie Good.
“Lucky to have known a fellow traveler who proved you can have it all. Thank you and RIP.”
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