We were sad to hear when writer-director-actor Harold Ramis passed away from autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis. Only a day earlier, I had watched one of my favorite movies, Groundhog Day (1993), which Ramis directed and co-wrote. I first saw Groundhog Day in the movie theater when it came out in 1993. At the time, I liked the movie but it was with repeated viewings over the years that made it a classic for me. Some previous Chimesfreedom posts discuss Groundhog Day, and for other fans of the movie, make sure to check out this touching tribute to Ramis by Stephen Tobolowsky, who played Ned Ryerson in the movie.
Of course, Ramis also played a role in other classic films. For example, he co-wrote and starred in Stripes (1981) and Ghostbusters (1984). His role as Russell Ziskey in Stripes will always be one of the first things that comes to my mind when I think of him. He wrote and directed Caddyshack (1980), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), and other films. Before those movies, he was one of the screenwriters for National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978). I think of these movies when I think of Ramis, but reading his obituaries made me realize that I had forgot that I grew up watching him on a television show.
Prior to working on Animal House, Ramis appeared on (and became head writer of) the comedy television series Second City Television (SCTV) during its first years in the late 1970s. The Canadian television show, which started in 1976 and spun off from Toronto’s Second City stage show, centered around a fictional small TV network. In addition to Ramis, the series featured John Candy, Joe Flaherty, Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Catherine O’Hara, and Dave Thomas. Thomas recently talked to the Huffington Post about working with Ramis.
Ramis’ characters on SCTV included Mort Finkel, here advertising his “Do-It-Yourself-Dentistry” kit.
On the show, Ramis provided public service announcements as Officer Friendly.
Ramis also starred in SCTV‘s presentation of the western movie “A Fistful of Ugly.” And he accepted phone calls from “viewers” as SCTV station manager Maurice “Moe” Green.
In the days after he died, a number of colleagues (including Bill Murray who had a famous “feud” with Ramis) said wonderful things about Ramis as a director, screenwriter, actor, and human being. We wish he were still around to give us more great work, but we are happy we can watch these SCTV clips and the movies. And I will keep watching Groundhog Day every year too, even though next time it will be with a little extra sadness. RIP.
What is your favorite Harold Ramis movie or character? Leave your two cents in the comments.
