'Ghostbusters': Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Reitman on Harold Ramis' death (original) (raw)

Published on February 24, 2014 06:24PM EST

Photo: Everett Collection

Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis were perhaps best known for fighting ghosts, but the pair worked together both on and off screen. In addition to acting together in Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters II, Ramis and Aykroyd also had a hand in writing both films_._ And with the recent news of Ramis’ death, Aykroyd said goodbye to a friend:

“Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my brilliant, gifted, funny friend, co-writer/performer and teacher Harold Ramis. May he now get the answers he was always seeking,” Aykroyd said in an email.

Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman also released a statement to EW about his friend’s passing:

“The world has lost a wonderful, truly original, comedy voice with the passing of Harold Ramis,” Reitman said. “He possessed the most agile mind I’ve ever witnessed. He always had the clearest sense of what was funny and how to create something in a new clever way. He was very generous about making everyone around him look better and smarter. Harold had an extraordinary impact on my career and I loved him like a brother. My heart goes out to his children, and his lovely wife, Erica. He will be profoundly missed.”