Actor-director Harold Ramis, best known for starring in cult comedies like Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day with Bill Murray, has died at the age of 69. Ramis died of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare disease that involves swelling of the blood vessels, his agent said.
The star found fame as bespectacled ghost-hunter Egon Spengler in the Ghostbusters franchise in 1984. But he was also a talented writer and director, who co-wrote and directed Caddyshack, Animal House and Analyze This.
"His creativity, compassion, intelligence, humour and spirit will be missed by all who knew and loved him," said his family in a statement. Ramis is survived by his wife Erica, sons Julian and Daniel, daughter Violet and two grandchildren.
The actor had reportedly been quiet about his illness, which dated back to 2010. Born in Chicago to shop owner parents Ruth and Nathan, Ramis studied at Washington University in St Louis.
He started his carrer as a writer by penning arts stories for his local newspaper and editing Playboy magaazine's "party jokes" section.
After leaving the magazine, he joined Chicago's renowned Second City improvised comedy troupe but said he realised his limitations as a performer after encountering John Belushi.
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