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Harold Ramis Dies At 69

Posted by samzenpus on from the print-is-dead dept.

samzenpus writes "Writer and comedian Harold Ramis has passed away at 69. Ramis had a hand in many classic comedies but is especially loved for playing the ghost-hunting Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters. 'His creativity, compassion, intelligence, humor and spirit will be missed by all who knew and loved him,' said his family in a statement."

7 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. See you on the other side, Egon by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    :(

    Egon the scientist left an impression on me as an 11 year old kid.

    While his character was supposed to be a little dorky I suppose, he was just pure awesome to me. He was the only Ghostbuster to be totally on top of things, and knew what he was doing. He inspired me to be the techie I am today.

    RIP Harold Ramis.

    1. Re:See you on the other side, Egon by grcumb · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I concur. An inspirational nerd.

      I sympathise, but as an old Canadian geezer, I always felt that by the time the US audience finally heard about them, the SCTV alumni had already done their best work. That troupe - and their cheezy, low-budget show - formed my sense of humour more than anything else. Dave Thomas, Harold Ramis, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O'Hara... all of them went on to make memorable comedy in the US. I think Joe Flaherty was the only one who didn't make a big splash. (Which is America's loss, not his.)

      But there was a time when all of them were callow, reckless youths with nothing to lose by making asses of themselves week after week on a second-rate Toronto-based network that was so small (it had only 13 stations at the start) it too had nothing to lose.

      Back in junior high school, my week was centred around that blessed moment when the Indian-head test pattern would appear and the announcer would say, 'Don't touch that dial. Don't touch that one either. And stop touching yourself.' I still remember the intonation....

      (... I never did stop touching myself, but that's another story.)

      --
      Crumb's Corollary: Never bring a knife to a bun fight.
  2. Thank you by MetricT · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For making us laugh, making us think, and making the world a little happier. You did good.

  3. Sample by Cow+Jones · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'd like a sample of his brain tissue.

    --

    Ah, arrogance and stupidity, all in the same package. How efficient of you. -- Londo Mollari
  4. Re:Egon Gone by EmagGeek · · Score: 5, Informative

    STREAMS! He crossed the STREAMS!

  5. So...do you have any hobbies? by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · · Score: 5, Funny

    "Now I really collect spores, molds, and fungi."

    Oh come on, he would laugh!

    --
    (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
  6. Re:claims of "political correctness" by MightyMartian · · Score: 5, Insightful

    That's because he was the outsider, not because he was black. The Ghostbusters needed another guy with a proton pack, Winston signed up because it was a job. He wasn't a conman like Venkman, and not a semi-insane scientist like Egon or Ray.

    You might as well complain about how Weaver's character spent most of the time in both movies being the vulnerable incapable female.

    --
    The world's burning. Moped Jesus spotted on I50. Details at 11.