By Kelli Dugan, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
MONTECITO, Calif. — Legendary producer-director Ivan Reitman, who brought audiences the likes of “Ghostbusters,” “Meatballs” and “Stripes,” died peacefully in his sleep Saturday night at the age of 75, his family confirmed to The Associated Press on Sunday.
“Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life,” children Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman said in a joint statement. “We take comfort that his work as a filmmaker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world. While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always.”
Reitman, a Czechoslovakia native raised in Canada, cut his comedic teeth with the release of 1978′s “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” but his work delighted audiences throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s, with “Ghostbusters” setting an impossibly high bar.
According to the AP, not only did the irreverent supernatural comedy starring Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis gross nearly $300 million worldwide, it earned two Oscar nominations, spawned a veritable franchise, including spinoffs, television shows and a new movie, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” that opened this past year and was directed by his son, filmmaker Jason Reitman.
The elder Reitman also brought audiences the likes of “Twins,” “Kindergarten Cop,” “Junior,” “Old School” and “Beethoven,” Variety reported.
In 2009, he co-produced “Up in the Air,” a comedy-drama starring George Clooney as a peripatetic corporate downsizing specialist. Directed and co-written by his son Jason, the film garnered an Academy Award nod for best picture and collected the Oscar for best adapted screenplay, the entertainment news outlet reported.
Reitman studied music and drama at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, the AP reported.
Ivan Reitman Director Ivan Reitman, from the film "No Strings Attached" poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Friday, Jan 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) (Matt Sayles/ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Ivan Reitman Ivan Reitman, right, and Genevieve Robert arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "Ghostbusters" at the TCL Chinese Theatre on Saturday, July 9, 2016. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) (Jordan Strauss/Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)
Ivan Reitman Ernie Hudson and Ivan Reitman seen on Day 2 at Wizard World Comic-Con at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Rosemont, Ill. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP) (Rob Grabowski/Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)
Ivan Reitman Ivan Reitman seen on Day 2 at Wizard World Comic-Con at the Donald E Stephens Convention Center on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2018, in Rosemont, Ill. (Photo by Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP) (Rob Grabowski/Rob Grabowski/Invision/AP)
Ivan Reitman Director Ivan Reitman, from the film "No Strings Attached" poses for a portrait in Beverly Hills, Calif. on Friday, Jan 7, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) (Matt Sayles/AP)
Ivan Reitman Ivan Reitman arrives at the premiere of "Draft Day" on Monday, April 7, 2014 in Los Angeles. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) (Matt Sayles/Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Ivan Reitman Kevin Costner and Director Ivan Reitman seen at Los Angeles Premiere of Summit Entertainment's 'Draft Day,' on Monday, April 7, 2014 in Westwood, CA. (Photo by Eric Charbonneau/Invision for Summit Entertainment/AP Images) (Eric Charbonneau/Eric Charbonneau/Invision/AP)
Ivan Reitman Ivan Reitman takes a picture of his son, director Jason Reitman, not pictured, at the premiere of "Young Adult" in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. "Young Adult" opens wide in theaters Dec. 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) (Matt Sayles/AP)
Ivan Reitman Director Jason Reitman, right, and Ivan Reitman pose together at the premiere of "Young Adult" in Beverly Hills, Calif., Thursday, Dec. 15, 2011. "Young Adult" opens wide in theaters Dec. 16, 2011. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) (Matt Sayles/AP)
Ivan Reitman Director Jason Reitman, right, and his father Ivan Reitman arrive at the Los Angeles premiere of "Tully" at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live on Wednesday, April 18, 2018. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Invision)
Ivan Reitman Ivan Reitman arrives at the premiere of the animated film "Fantastic Mr. Fox," on the opening night of AFI Fest 2009 in Los Angeles, Friday, Oct. 30, 2009. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello) (Chris Pizzello/AP)
Ivan Reitman Tom Pollock, left, and Ivan Reitman attend the LA premiere of "Hitchcock" at the Samuel Goldwyn Theatre on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Matt Sayles/Invision/AP) (Matt Sayles/Matt Sayles/Invision/AP)
Ivan Reitman Director Ivan Reitman accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Big Screen Achievement Awards at CinemaCon 2014 on Thursday, March 27, 2014 in Las Vegas. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP) (Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)
Ivan Reitman FILE - Producer and director Ivan Reitman, center, is honored with a star on the the Hollywood Walk of Fame, on the Hollywood Boulevard, on May 5, 1997, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles. From left, actors Natasha Kinski, Billy Crystal, and Robin Williams, right, participate in the event. Reitman, the influential filmmaker and producer behind beloved comedies from “Animal House” to “Ghostbusters,” has died. Reitman passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday night, Feb. 12, 2022, at his home in Montecito, Calif., his family told The Associated Press. He was 75. (AP Photo/ Damian Dovarganes, File) (DAMIAN DOVARGANES/AP)
Ivan Reitman Javier Bardem, right, greets Jason Reitman, left, and his dad, Ivan, at the 2008 Independent Spirit Awards in Santa Monica, Calif. on Saturday, Feb. 23, 2008. (AP Photo/Matt Sayles) (Matt Sayles/AP)
Ivan Reitman Director Ivan Reitman, left, and Jennifer Garner arrive at the premiere of "Draft Day" at The Regency Village Theatre on Monday, April 7, 2014, in Westwood, Calif. (Photo by John Shearer/Invision/AP) (John Shearer/John Shearer/Invision/AP)