Harold Ramis’ film legacy
As a writer and/or director (and sometime actor), Harold Ramis is responsible for some of the most popular, enduring
comedy hits of the past four decades. Here’s a selective filmography and timeline of his work. — Mark Caro, Tribune reporter
DIRECTOR
WRITER
1975
SCTV
(Head writer,
1976-77, writer,
1978-79)
1980
A
Animal House
(written by)
B
Meatballs
(written by)
C
Caddyshack
(written by)
D
F
1985
Ramis
SCTV
(various)
Stripes
(Russell Ziskey)
Murray
C
Caddyshack
B Meatballs (1979)
Ramis was one of four writers on this
summer-camp comedy that marked
the lead-actor debut of Bill Murray.
D
E
Club Paradise
(screenplay)
$43 million
National
Lampoon’s
Vacation
C Caddyshack (1980)
F
Back to School
(screenplay)
Armed and
Dangerous
(story and
screenplay)
Wagon
Aykroyd and Ramis
Ramis’ directorial debut co-written
with Kenney and former Second City
Ghostbusters
(Dr. Egon Spengler) cast mate Brian Doyle-Murray, this
madcap golf comedy didn’t get the
greatest reviews, but its reputation
ballooned over the years.
Baby Boom
(Steven Buchner)
$40 million
Stealing Home
(Alan Appleby)
Club Paradise
Caddyshack II
(written by)
1990
Domestic box office:
$142 million
Stripes
(written by)
Ghostbusters
(written by)
National Lampoon’s
Animal House (1978)
Ramis’ first screenplay, with National
Lampoon co-founder Douglas
Kenney and Chris Miller, became a
breakout frat-house comedy that
launched John Belushi to movie
stardom and established Ramis’
underdog-vs.-institution theme.
A
ACTOR
Ghostbusters II
(Dr. Egon
Spengler)
Ghostbusters II
(written by)
D Stripes (1981)
Ramis not only co-wrote but also
co-starred with Bill Murray in this
well-reviewed, authority-razzing
Army hit comedy that gave the world
the phrase, “That’s the fact, Jack.”
$85 million
Murray
G
Groundhog
Day
(screenplay)
G
Groundhog
Day
Stuart Saves
His Family
1995
Multiplicity
G
Groundhog Day
(Neurologist)
Airheads
(Chris Moore)
Love Affair
(Sheldon
Blumenthal)
As Good
as It Gets
(Dr. Bettes)
De Niro and Crystal
H
2000
Analyze This
(screenplay)
Bedazzled
(screenplay)
H
E
National Lampoon’s
Vacation (1983)
Ramis directed a John Hughes script
to chronicle the cross-country
misadventures of the Griswold family,
with “Caddyshack” star Chevy Chase
in the driver’s seat. Another one that
gained in reputation over the years.
$61 million
F Ghostbusters (1984)
Ramis and Dan Aykroyd co-wrote
and, with Bill Murray, co-starred in
the highest-grossing comedy of the
’80s and the decade’s sixthhighest-grossing film overall.
Analyze This
Bedazzled
$239 million
Analyze That
(written by)
Analyze That
Orange
County
(Don Durkett)
The Ice
Harvest
2005
SOURCES: IMDb, Tribune reporting
The Last Kiss
(Professor
Bowler)
Ramis
Year One
G Groundhog Day (1993)
Ramis’ pinnacle as a director/writer
(he co-wrote it with Danny Rubin)
finds him from then on exploring
characters doing battle with
themselves rather than institutions.
$71 million
Walk Hard: The
Dewey Cox Story
(L’Chaim)
Knocked Up
(Ben’s Dad)
Black
Year One
(story and
screenplay)
Nicholson
Year One
(Adam)
H Analyze This (1999)
Just as “The Sopranos” was getting its
start, Ramis scored with this comedy
with Billy Crystal’s therapist to Robert
De Niro’s mob boss.
$107 million
CHAD YODER/TRIBUNE