Ivan Reitman attending the premiere of Ghostbusters: Afterlife
(Picture: Evan Agostini/Invision/AP)Ivan Reitman, the influential film-maker and producer behind beloved comedies including Ghostbusters, Animal House and Twins, has died, aged 75.
His family said Reitman died peacefully at home on Saturday night in Montecito, California. No cause of death was given.
"Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life," children Jason, Catherine and Caroline Reitman said in a joint statement to the Associated Press.
"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."
Paul Feig, the director of the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot, said the news was an “absolute shock” and paid tribute to the “generous” legendary director.
He said: “He directed some of my favourite comedies of all time. All of us in comedy owe him so very much. Thank you for everything, Ivan.”
The writer and producer Jon Hurwitz added: “Ivan Reitman was always kind and supportive when our paths crossed. My deepest condolences to his family”.
Known for bawdy comedies that caught the spirit of their time, Reitman’s big break came with the university fraternity spoof National Lampoon’s Animal House, which he produced.
He directed Bill Murray in his first starring role in the summer camp flick Meatballs, and then again in 1981’s Stripes, but his most significant success came with 1984’s Ghostbusters.
Other notable films he directed included Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Dave, Junior and 1998’s Six Days, Seven Nights. He also produced Beethoven, Old School and EuroTrip, among many others.
The 75-year-old was born in Komarno, Czechoslovakia, where his father owned the country’s biggest vinegar factory. His mother had survived Auschwitz and his father was in the resistance.
When the communists began imprisoning capitalists after the war, the Reitmans decided to escape, when Ivan Reitman was only four.
They travelled in the hold of a barge headed for Vienna, and later joined a relative in Toronto.
There, Reitman took his first steps into show business, starting a puppet theatre, entertaining at summer camps and playing coffee houses with a folk music group.
He studied music and drama at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and later began making movie shorts.
This led to Animal House, which was his breakout success, and sparked a career as one of the most successful comedy directors in film history.
