Harold Ramis

Harold Ramis' recognizable claim to fame is staked in starring in the popular Ghostbusters series and the movie, Stripes, which he co-wrote. He's a face to remember from the 1980s, but actually has far more writing credits to his name. With the hit movies such as: Meatballs, Animal House, and Caddyshack, Harold Ramis is responsible for directing and/or writing around roughly a dozen of the highest grossing movies of all time.Harold Ramis got his start at the Second City in Chicago in 1969, while still working as an assistant editor for Playboy magazine. He gave up journalism and moved to New York to perform in a National Lampoon's Radio Hour show -- which was released as an audio recording -- with other Second City Televison Hall-of-Famers like Andrea Martin and Bill Murray. Rather than join the cast of Saturday Night Live, Mr. Ramis chose to join forces with the hit Canadian TV series SCTV, he starred in and became head writer, as well as co-producer. With such a firm foothold in the acting and writing world of comedy, Harold Ramis went on to direct, consistently casting former troupe members from SCTV and National Lampoon days in his movies. One of his most successful movies was the hit Groundhog's Day starring Bill Murray, for which he won Best Original Screenplay in 1994. For this, Mr. Ramis was also nominated Screenwriter of the Year by the London Film Critics Circle. His solo efforts at writing and directing later in his career seem to be more focused on lighthearted comedies (Analyze This) rather than the wacky humor of his earlier career (the Vacation) series. Harold Ramis continues to take acting parts when not directing. He holds an Honorary Doctorate of the Arts at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, of which he is an alumni. He has been married twice and has four children. ~ Sandy Lawson, All Music Guide