The director of classic comedy films including Ghostbusters, Animal House and Beethoven, Ivan Reitman, has died aged 75.
The filmmaker's family released a statement to The Associated Press saying he died peacefully in his sleep at home in California.
His children Jason, Catherine and Caroline Reitman said: "Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life.
"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.”
Reitman's other famous films include the original 1996 cartoon basketball caper Space Jam and the 1993 political comedy Dave.
Bodybuilder turned action hero Arnold Schwarzenegger was a leading actor in three Reitman films, Kindergarten Cop, Twins and Junior - the latter two he starred in alongside Danny DeVito.
But he is most likely to be remembered as the director and producer of supernatural 80s comedy Ghostbusters - which earned two Academy Award nominations and became a global sensation - and its sequel Ghostbusters II.
Reitman's son, Jason, directed the 2021 movie Ghostbusters: Afterlife.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.