Harold Ramis

Harold Allen Ramis (November 21, 1944 – February 24, 2014) was an American actor, director, and writer, specializing in comedy. His best-known film acting roles are as Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984) and Russell Ziskey in Stripes (1981), both of which he co-wrote. As a writer/director, his films include the comedies Caddyshack (1980), Groundhog Day (1993), and Analyze This (1999). He was the original head writer of the TV series SCTV (in which he also performed), and one of three screenwriters for the film National Lampoon's Animal House (1978).

Works

The Movies That Made Us

These blockbusters brought us together and gave us the time of our lives. Meet the actors, directors and industry insiders who made them happen.

Release Date2019-11-29

Charactersd Dr. Egon Spengler (archive footage)

Episode Count1

Vote Count122

Ghostbusters

After losing their academic posts at a prestigious university, a team of parapsychologists goes into business as proton-pack-toting "ghostbusters" who exterminate ghouls, hobgoblins and supernatural pests of all stripes. An ad campaign pays off when a knockout cellist hires the squad to purge her swanky digs of demons that appear to be living in her refrigerator.

Release Date1984-06-08

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Charactersd Egon Spengler

Vote Count9303

Groundhog Day

A narcissistic TV weatherman, along with his attractive-but-distant producer, and his mawkish cameraman, is sent to report on Groundhog Day in the small town of Punxsutawney, where he finds himself repeating the same day over and over.

Release Date1993-02-11

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Charactersd Neurologist

Vote Count8362

Ghostbusters: Afterlife

When single mom Callie and her two kids Trevor and Phoebe arrive in a small Oklahoma town, they begin to discover their connection to the original Ghostbusters and the secret legacy their grandfather left behind.

Release Date2021-11-18

DepartmentWriting

JobOriginal Film Writer

Charactersd Dr. Egon Spengler (archive footage) (uncredited)

Vote Count4856

National Lampoon's Vacation

Clark Griswold is on a quest to take his family to the Walley World theme park for a vacation, but things don't go exactly as planned.

Release Date1983-07-29

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Charactersd Car salesman (voice) (uncredited)

Vote Count1623

Knocked Up

A slacker and a career-driven woman accidentally conceive a child after a one-night stand. As they try to make the relationship work, they must navigate the challenges of parenthood and their differences in lifestyle and maturity.

Release Date2007-06-01

Charactersd Ben's Dad

Vote Count4072

Ghostbusters II

The discovery of a massive river of ectoplasm and a resurgence of spectral activity allows the staff of Ghostbusters to revive the business.

Release Date1989-06-16

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Charactersd Dr. Egon Spengler

Vote Count4612

As Good as It Gets

Melvin Udall, a cranky, bigoted, obsessive-compulsive writer of romantic fiction, is rude to everyone he meets, including his gay neighbor, Simon. After Simon is brutally attacked and hospitalized, Melvin finds his life turned upside down when he has to look after Simon's dog. In addition, Carol, the only waitress at the local diner who will tolerate him, leaves work to care for her chronically ill son, making it impossible for Melvin to eat breakfast.

Release Date1997-12-19

Charactersd Dr. Bettes

Vote Count3910

Year One

When a couple of lazy hunter-gatherers are banished from their primitive village, they set off on an epic journey through the ancient world.

Release Date2009-06-18

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Charactersd Adam

Vote Count1914

Stripes

Hard-luck cabbie John Winger, directionless after being fired from his job and dumped by his girlfriend, enlists in the U.S. Army with his close pal, Russell Ziskey. After his barely satisfactory performance in basic training, the irreverent Winger emerges as the figurehead for a ragtag band of misfits. However, his hijinks threaten to cause an international scandal when he inadvertently commandeers a military assault vehicle behind enemy lines.

Release Date1981-06-26

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Charactersd Russell Ziskey

Vote Count947

Heavy Metal

The embodiment of ultimate evil, a glowing orb terrorizes a young girl with bizarre stories of dark fantasy, eroticism and horror.

Release Date1981-08-07

Charactersd Zeke (voice)

Vote Count730

Airheads

The Lone Rangers have heavy-metal dreams and a single demo tape they can't get anyone to play. The solution: Hijack an FM rock radio station and hold the deejays hostage until they agree to broadcast the band's tape.

Release Date1994-08-05

Charactersd Chris Moore

Vote Count770

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Following a childhood tragedy, Dewey Cox follows a long and winding road to music stardom. Dewey perseveres through changing musical styles, an addiction to nearly every drug known and bouts of uncontrollable rage.

Release Date2007-12-21

Charactersd L'Chaim

Vote Count701

Baby Boom

J.C. Wiatt is a talented and ambitious New York City career woman who is married to her job and working towards partner at her firm. She has a live-in relationship with Steven, a successful investment broker who, along with J.C., agreed children aren't part of the plan. J.C.'s life takes an unexpected turn when a distant relative dies and the will appoints her the caretaker of their baby girl, Elizabeth. The baby's sudden arrival causes Steven to leave, breaking off their relationship. Juggling power lunches and powdered formula, she is soon forced off the fast track by a conniving colleague and a bigoted boss. But she won't stay down for long. She'll prove to the world that a woman can have it all and on her own terms too!

Release Date1987-10-07

Charactersd Steven Buchner

Vote Count377

Orange County

Shaun Brumder is a local surfer kid from Orange County who dreams of going to Stanford to become a writer and to get away from his dysfunctional family household. Except Shaun runs into one complication after another, starting when his application is rejected after his dim-witted guidance counselor sends in the wrong form.

Release Date2002-01-11

Charactersd Don Durkett

Vote Count472

The Last Kiss

Michael has a great job, has his 4 best friends, and is in love with a beautiful girl at 30. He loves Jenna but his life seems predictable until someone else enters his life. It seems that everybody's having relationship problems.

Release Date2006-09-10

Charactersd Professor Bowler

Vote Count383

Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone

On a distant planet inhabited by mutants, two bounty hunters race to rescue three Earth female captives from the clutches of an evil warlord.

Release Date1983-05-20

Charactersd Voice (Uncredited)

Vote Count129

Stealing Home

Billy Wyatt (Harmon), a former high school and minor-league baseball baseball player receives a telephone call from his mother revealing that his former child-sitter, and later in his teens, his first love, Katie Chandler (Foster), has died. Wyatt returns home to deal with this tragedy reminescing over his childhood growing up with his father, Katie and best friend Alan Appleby.

Release Date1988-08-26

Charactersd Alan Appleby

Vote Count54

Love Affair

Ex-football star Mike Gambril meets Terry McKay on a flight to Sydney, which is forced to land on a small atoll. They become romantic on board a ship sent to take them to a larger island. They agree to meet in New York three months later to see if the attraction is real. One shows up but the other doesn't. However, a chance meeting brings them together again.

Release Date1994-10-21

Charactersd Sheldon Blumenthal

Vote Count60

You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...

A documentary about the legendary 1972 Toronto production of the musical about the life of Jesus, which launched many illustrious careers and ignited a comedy revolution.

Release Date2025-09-04

Charactersd (archive footage)

The Earth Day Special

The Earth Day Special is a television special revolving around Earth Day that aired on ABC on April 22, 1990. Sponsored by Time Warner, the two hour special featured an all-star cast addressing concerns about global warming, deforestation, and other environmental ills.

Release Date1990-04-22

Charactersd Elon Spengler

Vote Count8

I'm with Lucy

It's an hour before Lucy's wedding and her best friend wants to hear all about what led up to that moment. So, Lucy tells about the five men she had blind dates with over the past year (Doug, Gabriel, Bobby, Barry, and Luke) and her experiences with each one. But which one of the five men is Lucy about to walk down the aisle with?

Release Date2002-09-04

Charactersd Jack

Vote Count34

Caddyshack: The Inside Story

A behind-the-scenes look at the making of 'Caddyshack', one of the most memorable box-office comedies of all times.

Release Date2009-12-09

Charactersd Himself

Vote Count2

The Best of SCTV

Guy Caballero and Edith Prickley try to persuade the FCC to renew SCTV's license.

Release Date1988-09-05

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Charactersd

Vote Count1

The Daily Show

The World's Fakest News Team tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and pop culture.

Release Date1996-07-22

Charactersd Self

Episode Count1

Vote Count591

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is an American late-night talk show airing weeknights at 12:35 am Eastern/11:35 pm Central on NBC in the United States. The hour-long show premiered on March 2, 2009, and is hosted by actor, comedian and performer Jimmy Fallon, an alumnus of Saturday Night Live. Hip hop/neo soul band The Roots serve as the show's house band, and Steve Higgins is the show's announcer. The third incarnation of the Late Night franchise originated by David Letterman, the program originates from NBC Studio 6B in the GE Building at 30 Rockefeller Center in New York City. The show typically opens with a brief monologue from Fallon, followed by a comedy "desk piece," as well as prerecorded segments and audience competitions. The next segment is devoted to a celebrity interview, with guests ranging from actors and musicians to media personalities and political figures. The show then closes with either a musical or comedy performance. The show frequently employs digital media into its comedy, which has become crucial to its success. Fallon has been appointed to become the next host of The Tonight Show, where he will succeed the current host Jay Leno at the conclusion of the 2014 Winter Olympics, with fellow SNL alum Seth Meyers slated to replace Fallon.

Release Date2009-03-02

Charactersd Self

Episode Count1

Vote Count95

Second City Television

Second City Television is a Canadian television sketch comedy show offshoot from Toronto's Second City troupe that ran between 1976 and 1984.

Release Date1976-09-21

Charactersd Self - Various Characters

Episode Count27

Vote Count26

Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead

A look at the history of the American comedy publication and production company, National Lampoon, from its beginning in the 1970s to 2010, featuring rare and never before seen footage, this is the mind boggling story of The National Lampoon from its subversive and electrifying beginnings, to rebirth as an unlikely Hollywood heavyweight, and beyond. A humour empire like no other, the impact of the magazines irreverent, often shocking, sensibility was nothing short of seismic: this is an institution whose (drunk stoned brilliant) alumni left their fingerprints all over popular culture. Both insanely great and breathtakingly innovative, The National Lampoon created the foundation of modern comic sensibility by setting the bar in comedy impossibly high.

Release Date2015-01-25

Charactersd Self - Actor / Director (archive footage)

Vote Count66

Second City: First Family of Comedy

The series traces the evolution of one of the world's most successful comedy troupes from its humble beginnings as a stage production in Chicago to the hit late-night TV show.

Release Date2006-08-25

Charactersd Self

Episode Count3

Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters

The documentary that tells us the full story from where it all started through to the future of the "Ghostbusters" franchise.

Release Date2020-01-07

Charactersd Self

Vote Count14

Belushi

Using previously unheard audiotapes recorded shortly after John Belushi’s death, director R.J. Cutler’s documentary feature examines the too-short life of the once-in-a-generation talent who captured the hearts and funny bones of devoted audiences.

Release Date2020-10-14

Charactersd Self (archive footage)

Vote Count52

Thank You, Del: The Story of the Del Close Marathon

Del Close was never a household name, but any comedy enthusiast is aware of his impact. From Bill Murray to Chris Farley to Amy Poehler, many of the most famous comedians consider him their mentor. Fifteen years after Del Close’s death, thousands of Improv students, comedy fans, actors, and successful comedians gather to celebrate the most important person in modern comedy that no one knows.

Release Date2015-10-13

Charactersd Self

Vote Count5

Caddyshack: The 19th Hole

Behind-the-scenes documentary of the making of 'Caddyshack'. Among the people interviewed: producer Jon Peters, writer/director Harold Ramis, and players Cindy Morgan, Scott Colomby, Ann Ryerson, Hamilton Mitchell, and Chevy Chase.

Release Date1999-05-05

Charactersd Self - Director

Vote Count5

Animal House: The Inside Story

Documentary about the making of Animal House

Release Date2008-08-13

Charactersd Self

Vote Count3

The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion

This documentary, created for the Animal House (1978) collector's edition DVD, is composed of a collection of new interviews with the cast and crew behind the making of the film. There's even some archive footage of John Belushi, and many hilarious behind the scenes stories are told. Its evident that they had a great time creating this classic, and memorable comedic landmark of a film.

Release Date1998-10-13

Charactersd Self - Writer

Vote Count2

The Rodney Dangerfield Special: I Can't Take It No More

Rodney Dangerfield special, featuring stand-up and sketches.

Release Date1983-11-29

Charactersd Self / Various

Vote Count3

Inside Story: National Lampoon's Vacation

A look at the making of the classic comedy film.

Release Date2011-01-01

Charactersd Self

Vote Count2

Chicago Filmmakers on the Chicago River

A documentary feature that reveals the creative process of Chicago moviemakers. Using the city's famous river as a location, directors are placed in a variety of boats and share stories of how Chicago has influenced their careers.

Release Date2004-04-01

Charactersd Self

Vote Count1

Ghostbusters 1999

Documentary Interviews of the director and cast of the original Ghostbusters film

Release Date1999-10-29

Charactersd Self

Vote Count1

Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time

A look at the making of the classic Bill Murray comedy "Groundhog Day."

Release Date2002-01-29

Charactersd Self

Vote Count1

Richard Lewis: I'm In Pain

A live performance by "neurotic" stand-up comedian Richard Lewis. Includes tongue-in-cheek interviews with fellow comedians.

Release Date1985-10-16

Charactersd Self

Vote Count1

Students of 'The Graduate'

This short documentary from 2007 features filmmakers, critics and historians discussing the cinematic achievement and ongoing influence of "The Graduate."

Release Date2007-09-11

Charactersd Self

The Office

The everyday lives of office employees in the Scranton, Pennsylvania branch of the fictional Dunder Mifflin Paper Company.

Release Date2005-03-24

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Episode Count4

Vote Count4620

The Real Ghostbusters

The continuing adventures of paranormal investigators Dr. Peter Venkman, Dr. Egon Spengler, Dr. Ray Stantz, Winston Zeddemore, their secretary Janine Melnitz and their mascot ghost Slimer.

Release Date1986-09-13

DepartmentCreator

JobCreator

Vote Count278

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

When the discovery of an ancient artifact unleashes an evil force, Ghostbusters new and old must join forces to protect their home and save the world from a second Ice Age.

Release Date2024-03-20

DepartmentWriting

JobOriginal Film Writer

Vote Count1883

Animal House

At a 1962 College, Dean Vernon Wormer is determined to expel the entire Delta Tau Chi Fraternity, but those troublemakers have other plans for him.

Release Date1978-07-28

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count1583

Ghostbusters

Following a ghost invasion of Manhattan, paranormal enthusiasts Erin Gilbert and Abby Yates, nuclear engineer Jillian Holtzmann, and subway worker Patty Tolan band together to stop the otherworldly threat.

Release Date2016-07-14

DepartmentWriting

JobCharacters

Vote Count6559

Bedazzled

Elliot Richards, a socially awkward IT worker, is given seven wishes to get the girl of his dreams when he meets a very seductive Satan. The catch: his soul. Some of his wishes include being a 7 foot basketball star, a wealthy, powerful man, and a sensitive caring guy. But, as could be expected, the Devil puts her own little twist on each of his fantasies.

Release Date2000-10-19

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Vote Count1964

Caddyshack

At an exclusive country club, an ambitious young caddy, Danny Noonan, eagerly pursues a caddy scholarship in hopes of attending college and, in turn, avoiding a job at the lumber yard. In order to succeed, he must first win the favour of the elitist Judge Smails, and then the caddy golf tournament which Smails sponsors.

Release Date1980-07-25

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Vote Count1216

Meatballs

Tripper is the head counselor at a budget summer camp called Camp Northstar. In truth, he's young at heart and only marginally more mature than the campers themselves. Tripper befriends Rudy, a loner camper who has trouble fitting in. As Tripper inspires his young charges to defeat rival Camp Mohawk in the annual Olympiad competition, Rudy plays matchmaker between Tripper and Roxanne, a female counselor at Northstar.

Release Date1979-06-28

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count335

Analyze This

Countless wiseguy films are spoofed in this film that centers on the neuroses and angst of a powerful Mafia racketeer who suffers from panic attacks. When Paul Vitti needs help dealing with his role in the "family," unlucky shrink Dr. Ben Sobel is given just days to resolve Vitti's emotional crisis and turn him into a happy, well-adjusted gangster.

Release Date1999-03-05

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Vote Count1973

Analyze That

The mafia's Paul Vitti is back in prison and will need some serious counseling when he gets out. Naturally, he returns to his analyst Dr. Ben Sobel for help and finds that Sobel needs some serious help himself as he has inherited the family practice, as well as an excess stock of stress.

Release Date2002-12-06

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Vote Count1298

Multiplicity

Construction worker Doug Kinney finds that the pressures of his working life, combined with his duties to his wife Laura and daughter Jennifer leaves him with little time for himself. However, he is approached by geneticist Dr. Owen Leeds, who offers Doug a rather unusual solution to his problems: cloning.

Release Date1996-07-19

DepartmentProduction

JobProducer

Vote Count562

Back to School

Self-made millionaire Thornton Melon decides to get a better education and enrolls at his son Jason's college. While Jason tries to fit in with his fellow students, Thornton struggles to gain his son's respect, giving way to hilarious antics.

Release Date1986-06-13

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Vote Count458

Armed and Dangerous

After policeman Frank Dooley is framed for theft and loses his job on the force, he joins a security guard agency and teams up with inept former defense lawyer Norman Kane. When the two botch a job guarding a local warehouse, they begin to uncover corruption within the company and their union.

Release Date1986-08-15

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Vote Count191

Caddyshack II

When a crass new-money tycoon's membership application is turned down at a snooty country club, he retaliates by buying the club and turning it into a tacky amusement park.

Release Date1988-07-22

DepartmentWriting

JobScreenplay

Vote Count198

The Ice Harvest

A shady lawyer attempts a Christmas Eve crime, hoping to swindle the local mob out of some money. But his partner, a strip club owner, might have different plans for the cash.

Release Date2005-11-23

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Vote Count314

Club Paradise

When Chicago firefighter Jack Moniker retires and moves to a small Caribbean island, he is befriended by the owner of a run-down resort. Together they renovate the resort and lure tourists to Club Paradise in an effort to fight off corrupt officials and businessmen who want to claim the resort as their own.

Release Date1986-07-11

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Vote Count88

The First $20 Million Is Always the Hardest

Andy, a successful marketing guy quits his job, gets a new job at a research facility, makes a powerful enemy who makes him volunteer for a nearly impossible project: The $99 PC. The only available guys at the lab, three sociopaths, together they compile a revolutionary PC for $99, then they become the victims of a venture capitalist and Andy's old foe, can he find a way to overcome the problems?

Release Date2002-06-28

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count53

Stuart Saves His Family

A self-help advocate struggles to put his dysfunctional family in its place.

Release Date1995-04-12

DepartmentDirecting

JobDirector

Vote Count25

Rover Dangerfield

Rover, a street-smart dog owned by a Las Vegas showgirl is dumped off Hoover Dam by the showgirl's boyfriend. Rather than drowning, Rover winds up in your basic idyllic farm in a classic city-boy-in-country shtick.

Release Date1991-07-01

DepartmentWriting

JobStory Developer

Vote Count72

Meatballs III: Summer Job

The ghost of a dead porn star comes to Earth to help a nerd with his sex life.

Release Date1986-10-27

DepartmentWriting

JobCharacters

Vote Count42

My Suicide

After declaring that he's going to film himself committing suicide for a school project, Archie videotapes his surprising interactions with worried family members, interested classmates, unreliable medical experts and the hottest girl in school.

Release Date2009-02-07

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count41

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With

Life has its downs for James, living with his mom in Chicago at 39, an aging performer at Second City, eating and weighing too much. A woman he's been dating drops him, as does his agent, her brother. James turns down roles in local TV, roles that make him sad. Someone's remaking his favorite movie, "Marty," a role he'd love, but he doesn't even get an audition.

Release Date2006-04-28

DepartmentProduction

JobExecutive Producer

Vote Count46

Stork Day

Filippo is a star on the Italian TV. He works for a documentary series about wild animals and nature. He is sent to Tenerife (Spain) to shot an issue about the local stork. It is the 13th of August. After he did his job is time to leave, but the ferry couldn't operate. He has to spend the night in the island. The day after is again the 13th of August, and Filippo live again the same day for different times. Something has to change to exit the paranoid and unrealistic situation.

Release Date2004-01-16

DepartmentWriting

JobOriginal Film Writer

Vote Count179

The Rodney Dangerfield Show: It's Not Easy Bein' Me

Rodney Dangerfield's first ABC special, featuring stand-up and sketches.

Release Date1982-05-12

DepartmentWriting

JobWriter

Vote Count1