Celebrity Nooz: Harold Ramis

Harold Ramis (Actor) - Ghostbusters

Updated: 1/11/12

Name: Harold Ramis

Born: November 21, 1944, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Claim To Fame: He is best known for his acting role in Ghostbusters, but is also a well-known director whose hits include Caddyshack (1980), Groundhog Day (1993), and Analyze This (1999).

Family Life: He was married to Anne Plotkin from 1967- 1984, and they have a daughter Violet (b. 1977) together. He has been married to Erica Mann since 1989 and they have two sons - Julian Arthur (born May 10, 1990)and Daniel Hayes (born August 10, 1994).

Info: Ramis' first job out of college was working at a mental institution in st. Louis, a job which he said was good training for dealing with people out in the world.

He returned to Chicago after working in St. Louis, and was a substitute teacher at the inner-city Robert Taylor Homes. He got involved with the Chicago Daily News as a freelance writer after submitting a piece to the paper's Arts & Leisure section. This is the same time he started performing with Chicago's Second City improvisational comedy troupe. His newspaper writing led to his becoming joke editor at Playboy magazine.

He left Second City for a period of time and returned in 1972, and in 1974, John Belushi brought Ramis and other Second City performers to New York City to work on the radio program The National Lampoon Radio Hour (which ran November 1973 to December 1974).

Ramis later became the head writer of the late-night sketch-comedy television series SCTV during its first three years. His characters included Dialing for Dollars host/SCTV station manager Maurice "Moe" Green, Officer Friendly, exercise guru Swami Bananananda, board chairman Allan "Crazy Legs" Hirschman, and home dentist Mort Finkel.

Ramis went on to pursue a career in film, beginning with writing the script for what would later become National Lampoon's Animal House (with National Lampoon magazine's Douglas Kenney, and later a third writer, Chris Miller). Following the success of Animal House, Ramis went on to co-write the comedy Meatballs, which became the first of six film collaborations between Bill Murray and Ramis. His third film, Caddyshack, also went on to become a commercial success.

In 1984, he collaborated with Dan Aykroyd on the screenplay for Ghostbusters. Ramis also starred in the film as Dr. Egon Spengler, a role he reprised for the 1989 sequel, Ghostbusters II. Ramis also found great success with his later film Groundhog Day.

Trivia: Is an avid Chicago Cubs fan and goes to games every year to conduct the Seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field.

His parents owned the store Ace Food & Liquor Mart on Chicago's far North Side.

Had a Jewish upbringing.

Graduated from Nicholas Senn High School in Chicago, and, in 1966, from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Is a former active member of Zeta Beta Tau Fraternity at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame in 2005.

Was the recipient of the Austin Film Festival's Distinguished Screenwriter Award in 2005.

Avoided the Vietnam War military draft by ingesting methamphetamine to fail his draft physical.

Where Are They Now: His more recent work includes directing John Cusack in the comedy The Ice Harvest (2005), directing several episodes of the NBC comedy The Office, and producing Jeff Garlin's independent film I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006). He played Seth Rogen's dad in the Judd Apatow comedy Knocked Up (2007).

In 2009, he wrote, produced and directed the biblical comedy Year One and also played Adam, the first male, in the film. It is rumored that Ghostbusters III is now in production and he will reprise his famous role in the movie.

Write To Harold Ramis:
Harold Ramis
160 Euclid Ave.
Glencoe, IL 60022-2107

Videos: Ghostbusters Trailer http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=2080 Ghostbusters - Marshmallow Man http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=2083 Stripes Trailer http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=2084 Stripes - Razzle Dazzle http://www.evtv1.com/player.aspx?itemnum=2087

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