Ivan Reitman, the Canadian director whose hits included Ghostbusters and enjoyed long collaborations with Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis, has died. He was 75.
Reitman’s family confirmed the news with Association Press. Reitman died in his sleep at his home in California on February 12 due to unspecified cause.
Jason Reitman, the late filmmaker’s son who directed Thank You For Smoking and Juno, posted on Twitter: “I’ve lost my hero.” In a joint statement Jason Reitman and sisters Catherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman said they took comfort ”that his work as a filmmaker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world”.
Reitman was born on October 27 1946 in the former Czechoslovakia to Holocaust survivors. The family emigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1950. Reitman entered filmmaking after attending McMaster University in Hamilton and rose up to produce National Lampoon’s Animal House and from there directed two of his biggest hits, Meatballs in 1979 and Stripes one year later and confirming his status as a highly influential force in comedy in the 1970s and 1980s.
When Ghostbusters opened in 1984 it became a heavyweight success and a pop culture phenomenon, earning well over $200m in North America and close to $300m worldwide. Reitman also directed the sequel five years later and that too crossed $200m worldwide, with roughly half of box office coming from international as awareness expanded. His son Jason Reitman directed Ghostbusters: Afterlife which came out last year and grossed close to $200m worldwide.
Reitman is survived by his wife Genevieve; and children Jason, Catherine and Caroline.
Cameron Bailey, TIFF CEO, issued a statement that said: “Ivan Reitman’s movies cultivated our taste for anarchic comedy, the sweetest of friendships, and a beautiful way of looking at the world that made everything seem possible. We’re shocked at his passing, but take comfort in the joy and laughter that he brought to so many all over the world.”
“Ivan’s own story represents the best of Canada. Born to Holocaust survivors, he and his family came to Toronto as refugees. His grit, his commitment and his sense of humour all came from the same place — a deep appreciation for the gift of life. Those qualities that catapulted him to global success as a filmmaker also made him terrific company.
“The Ivan Reitman who started out producing David Cronenberg’s horror classics Rabid and Shivers is the same man who directed Ghostbusters, Kindergarten Cop and Dave, which is one more reason why we loved him. He understood the gamut of what movies can offer, and he embraced all of it.
“When we were looking to build a permanent home for TIFF, Ivan and the Reitman family contributed the land where their parents’ car wash business once stood. Even more, he supported TIFF’s vision of a home for film culture. Every day at TIFF Bell Lightbox, we show and champion movies thanks to Ivan.
“TIFF wouldn’t be what it is today without Ivan Reitman. We mourn his loss. We are devastated for his family and send our deepest sympathies to his wife Geneviève, his children Jason, Catherine and Caroline, and his sisters Agi and Susan. And we celebrate his remarkable legacy.”
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