Ivan Reitman

He produced and directed a number of other comedic films during the 1980s and '90s, including “National Lampoon's Animal House.”

He also produced “Space Jam” in 1996 with Michael Jordan and the 2021 remake starring LeBron James. Before his death, he was in pre-production on a number of films, including a sequel to “Twins.” “We take comfort that his work as a filmmaker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world. “Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life,” his three children said in a joint statement.

ELISSA NADWORNY, HOST: And now we mark a passing. "Ghostbusters" director Ivan Reitman, who made films that brought tears of laughter to movie audience for ...

MONDELLO: As a producer, Reitman unleashed the comic instincts of everyone from Michael Jordan in "Space Jam" to a slobbering St. Bernard in the family-friendly "Beethoven" movies. And in 2009, he even received an Oscar nomination for producing his son Jason's comedy, "Up In The Air." The Reitmans worked together again just last year on "Ghostbusters: Afterlife." And as of last week, the 75-year-old producer had eight projects in development, including one called "Triplets," in which Schwarzenegger and DeVito discover they have a third sibling. MONDELLO: And big kind of became Reitman's thing. MONDELLO: ...Turned food fights cool in a way they hadn't been since silent comics were throwing pies, and made a huge star of comic John Belushi. Reitman had such fun, he later said he wished he'd directed "Animal House," not just produced it. (SOUNDBITE OF FILM, "GHOSTBUSTERS") And now we mark a passing.

Director Ivan Reitman died on Saturday at age 75, and Jennifer Garner honored him on Instagram, saying, 'My heart hurts'

Jason, Catherine and Caroline said in a joint statement earlier this week, "Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life. On her Instagram Story, Garner shared a behind-the-scenes photo from Draft Day, smiling on set with Reitman and costar Chadwick Boseman, who died of colon cancer in August 2020 at age 43. Today I don't remember what was so important, but my heart hurts that I missed a chance to sit next to Ivan and talk and talk. "He saw my life more clearly than I did at the time; I'll always love him for his candor and fierce protection." A deep devotion to each other," added Garner. "He would rush in with so many notes and ideas my brain would explode trying to keep track and execute – getting a laugh or good job from Ivan equaled Day Made."

Director Jason Reitman took to Twitter to pay tribute to his late father, “Ghostbusters” creator Ivan Reitman, with whom he worked on the sequel ...

Like his father, Jason Reitman has achieved great success as a filmmaker, receiving four Oscar nominations including two for Best Director for his work on “Juno” and the Best Picture-nominated “Up In The Air.” In 2019 that he took up the sci-fi film franchise that his father made famous and became director of “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” with Ivan Reitman serving as a producer. Reitman tweeted with a picture of him as a boy alongside his father: “I’ve lost my hero. He came from a family of survivors and turned his legacy into laughter.

Ivan Reitman attended The Canadian Film Centre reception in 2011 at the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills. The Montecito filmmaker, who died Sunday, was the ...

Mr. Reitman also took comedy to new heights with the boot camp spoof “Stripes,” which he produced and directed. In the end, New York City survived in “Ghostbusters” because Ray, Peter, Egon (Mr. Ramis) and Winston believed in each other and in saving others, whatever it took. The father-and-son team received a best picture Oscar nomination for “Up in the Air,” a 2009 film starring George Clooney as a downsizing expert who flies a lot. He worked with Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Twins,” the 1988 comedy in which the tall actor played the twin brother of short actor Danny Devito’s character. He certainly did that with “Animal House.” Mr. Reitman was born Oct. 27, 1946, in Komarno, Czechoslovakia. His mother survived Auschwitz, and his father fought in the resistance. That’s how Mr. Furst got to play “Flounder.” He also played coffee houses with a folk music group and went to study music and drama at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. And Mrs. DeVorzon noted Mr. Reitman gave to his community. “He was a talented producer and director, and he loved his family with all his heart,” Mrs. DeVorzon said. Sure. It was a surprise for people, and it was fun stuff.” “He had a popcorn maker, and he made this really great popcorn.

He injected giant marshmallow boogeymen and toga parties into popular culture with movies that also included “National Lampoon's Animal House” and “Stripes.

“They could see if little Sally was in the camera or not,” he said. In 1975 he was a producer of “Shivers,” an early movie by the horror director David Cronenberg. It was “Meatballs” (1979), a summer camp comedy starring Mr. Murray, who would be a key to several of Mr. Reitman’s successes. “There was just something so extraordinary about that image,” he said. “It was called ‘Orientation.’ It was about a freshman student coming to a university, and his first few weeks. For his next project, though, he was in the director’s chair. “You have to take responsibility for yourself, in your own little life and the life of your family. I thought I was going to be a composer.” Turned out to be the precursor of ‘Animal House.’” So did “Dave” (1993), a political comedy about a stand-in president (played by Kevin Kline) that featured some real-life politicians and other public figures in the cast. And then in the life of your country.” “Animal House” (1978), which he produced with Matty Simmons, turned “toga party” and “food fight” into catchphrases.