Trivia

After not speaking to each other for a number of years, Bill Murray, reportedly visited Ramis before his death and they both made their peace with each other.

Said in an interview that his working relationship with actor Bill Murray ended while filming Groundhog Day (1993) due to differing views on what the film should be about (Murray wanted it to be more philosophical, Ramis wanted it to be a comedy). Ramis also cites that Murray's real life personal problems at the time (specifically the ending of his first marriage) was having a ripple effect on his behavior at work as another factor in the unfortunate ending of their working relationship.

Once a mental ward orderly before finding work as a joke writer for Playboy magazine.

The proton packs worn in Ghostbusters (1984) were much heavier than they looked, and some were heavier than others depending on what a scene demanded while filming. According to director Ivan Reitman, none of the actors enjoyed wearing the packs, but Harold complained the least (Reitman would not say which actor complained the most).

Wrote four of the American Film Institute's 100 Funniest Movies: Ghostbusters (1984) at #28, Groundhog Day (1993) at #34, National Lampoon's Animal House (1978) at #36 and Caddyshack (1980) at #71. Meatballs (1979), Stripes (1981) and Back to School (1986) were also nominated, but did not make the list.

He has written three films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: National Lampoon's Animal House (1978), Ghostbusters (1984) and Groundhog Day (1993). He has also directed one film that is in the registry: Groundhog Day.

Teamed with John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray on "The National Lampoon Show" but, unlike the others, was not asked by Lorne Michaels to join Saturday Night Live (1975). Harold went to SCTV (1976) instead.

Following his death, he was interred at Shalom Memorial Park in Arlington Heights, Cook County, Illinois.

Two years after his death, The Second City founded the Harold Ramis Film School in his honor, the first film school to focus solely on film comedy (2016).

Once worked at a public school in Chicago, Illinois (1968). Attempted graduate school for a week, which did not pan out.

Biological father of Mollie Heckerling with Amy Heckerling, though the father in her life was Neal Israel. This "family secret" was revealed in "Ghostbuster's Daughter", a book about Harold's life written by his other daughter Violet Ramis.

His paternal grandparents were Ukrainian Jewish immigrants and his maternal grandparents were Polish Jews.

Was a member of the Board of Trustees of Washington University in St. Louis.

The Writers Guild of America posthumously honored him with their lifetime achievement award, the Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement (2015).

When he was doing his audition for The Second City, it was him performing a sketch to a full house.

Attended and graduated from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri (1966). He later received an honorary degree (Doctor of Arts) from the university (1993).

Was a member of the Board of National Neurofibromatosis Foundation.

He was awarded a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame at 6338 Delmar Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri on May 16, 2004.

Had no involvement with National Lampoon's European Vacation (1985), as he was busy working on Ghostbusters (1984).

He was first hired to write a draft for 1941 (1979), but was fired due to creative differences between John Milius and Steven Spielberg.

Had appeared with Bill Murray in four films: Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989) and Groundhog Day (1993).

Best remembered by fans of all ages as Dr. Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989).

Had three children: daughter Violet Ramis (born in 1977), with ex-wife Anne Ramis, and sons Julian Arthur Ramis (born on May 10, 1990) and Daniel Ramis (Daniel Hayes Ramis) (born on August 10, 1994), with wife Erica Mann.

Was a former active member of Zeta Beta Tau fraternity at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Although he had some small tension with Chevy Chase during the making of National Lampoon's Vacation (1983) and having previously directed Chase in Caddyshsck (1980) three years prior, Ramis praised Chase's performance in the 2003 DVD commentary of the film saying nobody could play Clark Griswold better than Chase and Clark was the best performance Chase ever gave in his entire career.

Attended and graduated from Nicholas Senn High School in Chicago, Illinois (1962).

Sketch comedian best known for his character Moe Green on SCTV (1976).

Screen tested for his role of Russell Ziskey in Stripes (1981) which he also co-wrote for Columbia Pictures the studio behind the film. Columbia hated his audition and wanted Dennis Quaid to play the part but Murray and director Ivan Reitman said either the studio hire Ramis as an actor or they wouldn't do the movie. Columbia relented and allowed Ramis to be cast. The film turned out to be a box office hit that by the time Ghostbusters (1984) went into production the studio automatically allowed Ramis to co star in the film.