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Home , Analyze That, Analyze This, Caddyshack II, Chevy Chase, Club Paradise, Egon Spengler

Harold Ramis’ legacy As a writer and/or director (and sometime actor), is responsible for some of the most popular, enduring comedy hits of the past four decades. Here’s a selective filmography and timeline of his work. — Mark Caro, Tribune reporter National Lampoon’s A WRITER DIRECTOR ACTOR (1978) Ramis’ first screenplay, with National 1975 Lampoon co-founder and Chris Miller, became a SCTV breakout frat-house comedy that (Head writer, launched to movie 1976-77, writer, Ramis stardom and established Ramis’ 1978-79) underdog-vs.-institution theme. SCTV Animal House (various) Domestic box office: A (written by) $142 million B Meatballs Stripes (written by) Murray (Russell Ziskey) 1980 C Caddyshack C B Meatballs (1979) (written by) Ramis was one of four writers on this D D summer-camp comedy that marked Stripes the lead-actor debut of . (written by) $43 million National (written by) E Lampoon’s Vacation C Caddyshack (1980) F F Aykroyd and Ramis Ramis’ directorial debut co-written (screenplay) Ghostbusters with Kenney and former Second City 1985 (Dr. Egon Spengler) cast mate Brian Doyle-Murray, this (screenplay) madcap golf comedy didn’t get the greatest reviews, but its reputation Armed and Baby Boom ballooned over the years. Dangerous (Steven Buchner) $40 million (story and Wagon screenplay) Club Paradise Stealing Home (Alan Appleby) D Stripes (1981) Caddyshack II Ghostbusters II Ramis not only co-wrote but also (written by) (Dr. Egon co-starred with Bill Murray in this 1990 Ghostbusters II Spengler) well-reviewed, authority-razzing (written by) Army hit comedy that gave the world the phrase, “That’s the fact, Jack.” $85 million

Murray National Lampoon’s Groundhog Groundhog Groundhog Day E G G G Vacation (1983) Day Day (Neurologist) (screenplay) Ramis directed a script Airheads to chronicle the cross-country Stuart Saves (Chris Moore) misadventures of the Griswold family, 1995 His Family Love Affair with “Caddyshack” star in the driver’s seat. Another one that Multiplicity (Sheldon Blumenthal) gained in reputation over the years. $61 million As Good as It Gets (Dr. Bettes) F Ghostbusters (1984) De Niro and Crystal Ramis and co-wrote H H Analyze This and, with Bill Murray, co-starred in (screenplay) the highest-grossing comedy of the 2000 Bedazzled Bedazzled ’80s and the decade’s sixth- (screenplay) highest-grossing film overall. $239 million Nicholson Analyze That (written by) Orange G Groundhog Day (1993) County Ramis’ pinnacle as a director/writer (Don Durkett) (he co-wrote it with Danny Rubin) The Last Kiss finds him from then on exploring (Professor characters doing battle with 2005 The Ice Bowler) themselves rather than institutions. Harvest $71 million Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story H Analyze This (1999) (L’Chaim) Knocked Up Just as “” was getting its Black (Ben’s Dad) start, Ramis scored with this comedy with ’s therapist to Robert Year One Year One Ramis De Niro’s mob boss. (story and (Adam) screenplay) Year One $107 million SOURCES: IMDb, Tribune reporting CHAD YODER/TRIBUNE