comedy writer/director and Ghostbuster, Harold Ramis RIP

Harold Ramis (L) and the rest of the ‘Ghostbusters’

The comedy and film world lost a huge talent today:

Harold Ramis, a longtime North Shore resident, was surrounded by family when he died at 12:53 a.m. from complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare disease that involves swelling of the blood vessels, his wife Erica Mann Ramis said. He was 69.

Ramis’ serious health struggles began in May 2010 with an infection that led to complications related to the autoimmune disease, his wife said. Ramis had to relearn to walk but suffered a relapse of the vasculitis in late 2011, said Laurel Ward, vice president of development at Ramis’ Ocean Pictures production company. – [The Chicago Tribune]

Harold Ramis was a member of storied Chicago comedy troup Second City where he worked with John Belushi, Bill Murray, and others. He’s been a part of — either as writer, director or both — some of the biggest comedy hits of the last 40 years, including National Lampoon’s Animal House, Caddyshack, Stripes, Meatballs, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Back to School, Groundhog Day and, of course, Ghostbusters in which he also co-stared as Egon. He was 69.

Rest in peace, Harold. We’ll miss ya.