This person died in 2014 at age 69. In the late 1960s he was hired as jokes editor at Playboy magazine, and he also joined Second City’s touring company. After he had taken a job with SCTV, the Toronto sketch comedy show, SNL approached him to be a writer. His breakthrough came in 1978 when he co-wrote “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” and he made his directorial debut with the country club comedy “Caddyshack” (1980). He went on to write “Ghostbusters” (1984) and “Ghostbusters II” (1989), playing the super-intellectual Dr. Egon Spengler. He also wrote and directed “Groundhog Day”, which several critics called his masterpiece. Today’s dead celebrity is Harold Ramis.

If you enjoyed this episode, you may also like Episode 85 “More Respect” (Rodney Dangerfield) and Episode 54 “Secret Chord” (Leonard Cohen).

Famous & Gravy is created and co-hosted by Amit Kapoor and Michael Osborne. This episode was produced by Allie Arrazola.

LINKS:

Transcript of this episode

New York Times Obituary for Harold Ramis

“The Joyful Comedy of Harold Ramis” New Yorker article

Harold Ramis Day proclaimed on Feb. 2 in Chicago

Harold Ramis and Seth Rogen in “Knocked Up”

Dead or Alive quiz game

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The podcast Famous & Gravy traces the arc of Harold Ramis's influence and legacy as part of a obituary-based storytelling and known for legacy podcast, with attention to narrative framing, persona shifts, and media influence. The conversation deepens our view of what a life can teach us posthumously. This celebrity podcast explores what makes a life worth remembering and contributes to rethinking celebrity legacies.

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