Ivan Reitman, Ghostbusters director, has passed away aged 75
February 14, 2022, 9:01 am

Ivan Reitman, Ghostbusters director, has passed away aged 75

Ivan Reitman with Arnold schwarzenegger/Facebook page

The BBC reported, the filmmaker Ivan Reitman, who directed blockbuster comedies including the original Ghostbusters, has died aged 75.

According to his family, he died peacefully in his sleep at his home in California.

His children said in a statement: "Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life."

"We take comfort that his work as a film-maker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world."

Born in Komarno, in what is now Slovakia, in 1946, Reitman's mother had survived the Auschwitz concentration camp and his father was the owner of the country's biggest vinegar factory.

After his family fled Communist oppression in post-war Czechoslovakia, Reitman grew up in Toronto, Canada, where he trained in filmmaking.

Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis and Ivan Reitman on the set of Ghostbusters/Facebook page

Reitman went to McMaster University in Hamilton, where he made short films and encountered the likes of future Ghostbusters' star Rick Moranis.

After producing two of director David Cronenberg's early horror films, his work on National Lampoon's Animal House launched a career that would see him create some of the biggest comedies of the 80s and 90s.

Singer Meat Loaf dies aged 74

His big break came when he produced the 1978 frat-house comedy National Lampoon's Animal House.

He directed Bill Murray in his first starring role in the 1979 firm Meatballs.

He also made Arnold Schwarzenegger a comedy star with Twins (1988). They worked together again on Kindergarten Cop (1990) and Junior (1994).

Bob Saget, US comedian and Full House star, dies aged 65

But Reitman's was best known for 1984's Ghostbusters. The supernatural comedy hit grossed over $200m (£147m) worldwide and earned two Oscar nominations.

It also spawned a franchise that included a 1989 sequel and two new instalments. Reitman produced last year's Ghostbusters: Afterlife, which was directed by his son Jason.

On the continuing appeal of the film, he told AP: "I always had a sort of sincere approach to the comedy. I took it seriously even though, it was a horror movie and a comedy, I felt you had to sort of deal with it in a kind of realistic and honest way."

Thich Nhat Hanh, revered Zen Buddhist monk, dies aged 95

Film industry figures have paid tribute to Reitman's achievements.

Paul Feig, who directed the 2016 Ghostbusters reboot said "all of us in comedy owe him so very much".

Source: BBC

Fire broke out at Iranian military base, no casualties reported UK would support whatever Ukraine decides on NATO ambition

Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.