Following the announcement of comedy icon Harold Ramis’s passing earlier today, numerous comedians and former collaborators of Ramis have taken to Twitter to share their reactions to the actor/writer/director’s tragic passing, with many noting the filmmaker’s lasting influence on both their comedy careers and the industry at large. “Harold Ramis and I together did the National Lampoon show off-Broadway, Meatballs, Stripes, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day,†Bill Murray said in a statement. “He earned his keep on this planet. God bless him.†Here’s a collection of what other friends and fans had to say in regards to the late great Ramis.
Harold was a force of good in the universe. So funny, sweet and thoughtful. He will be deeply missed.
The world has lost a wonderful, truly original, comedy voice with the passing of Harold Ramis. He possessed the most agile mind I’ve ever witnessed. He always had the clearest sense of what was funny and how to create something in a new clever way. He was very generous about making everyone around him look better and smarter. Harold had an extraordinary impact on my career, and I loved him like a brother. My heart goes out to his children, and his lovely wife, Erica. He will be profoundly missed.
Harold Ramis made almost every movie which made me want to become a comedy director. Animal House, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Vacation, Groundhog Day. These films are the touchstones of our lives. I interviewed him when I was 16 years old for my high school radio station, and he could not have been more gracious and hilarious. I looked up to him as a director but even more so as a man. We hired him to play Seth’s father in Knocked Up because we all saw him as the dream dad – funny, warm and wise. Harold was one of the nicest people I have ever met and he inspired countless people to go into comedy. His brilliant work will make people happy forever.
I’m shocked and heartbroken to hear of Harold’s passing. He was truly a great friend and a great man who shunned unnecessary Hollywood-type publicity and lived with a wonderful wife, Erica. I’m deeply saddened for Erica, Violet, Julian and Daniel. Harold directed me in Caddyshack and the first Vacation. It was Harold who acted out and gave me the inspiration for the character of Clark Griswold. I was really copying Harold’s impression of Clark. He was a truly funny and highly intelligent man with great honesty and a great appreciation for the best kind of comedy. It’s just awful to lose Harold, there is just no one like him, he was so kind, so caring and so smart. God Bless him and God Bless his family.