Harold Ramis, comedy legend, dead at age 69

Harold Ramis image by Featureflash/Shutterstock

Harold Ramis, best known for playing Dr. Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters, but legendary for so many more reasons, died today at age 69.

Reports ABC News

Ramis was surrounded by family in his Chicago home, where he’s lived since 1996, when he died early this morning from complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, his wife Erica Mann Ramis told the Chicago Tribune.

His rare disease involved a swelling of the blood vessels and the report adds that his health issues began in 2010. His condition was so bad in the past, the actor/writer/director had to relearn to walk.

Anyone familiar with Ramis’ career knows what a comedy icon he was, from his acting roles in Stripes and Ghostbusters, to his directing and writing skills that he displayed with the films Animal House, Caddyshack, and Groundhog Day among his many credits.

R.I.P. Russell Ziskey.

‘Ghostbusters’ Star and Writer Harold Ramis Dead at 69 [ABC News]