Director/Producer/Screenwriter HAROLD RAMIS, who is celebrated for his unique talents in writing, directing, producing and acting, has lent his expertise to many of the most successful screen comedies ever made. Most recently, he co-wrote and directed "Analyze This," starring Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal. The critically acclaimed comedy has grossed over $100 million since its release last year.
Born in Chicago, Ramis received a bachelor's degree from Washington University in St. Louis and returned there in 1993 to receive an honorary Doctorate in Arts. He got his start in comedy in 1969 at Chicago's famed Second City improvisational theater troupe while still employed as associate editor at Playboy Magazine. In 1974, he moved to New York to write and perform in "The National Lampoon Show" with fellow Second City graduates John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Bill Murray. In 1976, Ramis was the head writer and a regular performer on SCTV, the much celebrated TV comedy series.
Ramis' Hollywood breakthrough came in 1978 when he co-wrote (with Doug Kenny and Chris Miller) the blockbuster comedy "National Lampoon's Animal House." He and "Animal House" producer Ivan Reitman teamed up again to work as writer and producer/director on such box-office successes as "Meatballs," "Stripes," "Ghostbusters" and "Ghostbusters II." Ramis also co-starred in "Stripes" and the "Ghostbuster" films.
He made his directorial debut and co-wrote "Caddyshack" starring Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Rodney Dangerfield, followed by "National Lampoon's Vacation," the enormously popular comedy he directed with Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo. Ramis also directed and co-wrote "Club Paradise," starring Robin Williams and Peter O'Toole. In that same year, Ramis also served as executive producer on Rodney Dangerfield's "Back to School," which he co-wrote.
Ramis' appearance in "Baby Boom" opposite Diane Keaton marked his debut as an actor in a film that he had not written, produced or directed. He also appeared in "Stealing Home" with Jodie Foster and Mark Harmon; "Love Affair" with Warren Beatty, Annette Bening and Gary Shandling, and James L. Brooks' "As Good As It Gets," the Academy Award-winning film starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt.
More recently, Ramis directed and produced "Multiplicity" starring Michael Keaton and Andie MacDowell; directed "Stuart Saves His Family," starring Al Franken and Laura San Giacomo and directed, co-produced and co-wrote the comedy hit "Groundhog Day," starring Bill Murray.
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