Ivan Reitman is a true master of comedy. His son, Jason Reitman is also a director, producer and screenwriter, who has had great success in the industry. Ivan Reitman died on February 12, 2022 with a career that spanned over 50 years since he started making movies in 1961. Since then, he made some of the most popular comedy movies in Hollywood.
A short history of Ivan Reitman’s life
Ivan Reitman was born in the former Czechoslovakia during World War II, the son of Jewish parents who survived the Holocaust. His family came to Canada in 1950. Growing up in Toronto, he studied business administration at the University of Toronto and graduated with a degree in Arts and a minor in Psychology. Though he had intended to go to law school after his bachelor’s degree, Reitman had been bitten by the showbiz bug and he decided to go to the U.S. to pursue a career in comedy.
In the late 1970s, he landed a job writing for the popular sitcom, “All in the Family”, and soon after joined the writing staff of “The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour”. He was also writing for the popular sitcom, “The Odd Couple”, starring Jack Klugman and Tony Randall.
Ivan Reitman’s work
Ivan Reitman OC (October 27, 1946 – February 12, 2022) was a Czechoslovak-born Canadian film and television director, producer and screenwriter. He was best known for his comedy work, especially in the 1980s and 1990s. He was the owner of The Montecito Picture Company, founded in 1998. Reitman’s early comedies include Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989).
As his career progressed, Reitman began directing more dramatic fare, such as the Academy Award–winning film Up in the Air (2009). He directed the political thriller/action film Red (2010), the action comedy/crime film The Heat (2013), the drama/thriller/science fiction film Draft Day (2014), the comedy film The Front Runner (2018), the biographical drama film The Report (2019) and the adventure film The Kid (2019). He also produced the superhero film Watchmen (2009) and the fantasy film Dragonheart (2019).
How Ivan Reitman died
Ivan Reitman, best known for directing Ghostbusters, died on Friday, February 12, 2022. He was 75 years old. Reitman died in his sleep at his home in Los Angeles. He had no immediate family. Reitman had suffered from health complications in the years leading up to his death. “[He] had a history of heart issues and other problems,” said his representative, John Pisani. “The family is devastated,” Pisani said. “He was one of the most active, positive and gregarious people I have ever known. He was an inspiration to every one of us.”
It is unfortunate that a talented individual like Ivan Reitman should die but the work he has left behind will always remain.