President Obama Issues Statement on Passing of Harold Ramis

As BWW reported yesterday, actor, director and writer Harold Ramis has passed away Monday, February 24th from complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare disease that involves swelling of the blood vessels. He was 69. According to his wife, Erica Mann Ramis the actor was surrounded by his family when he died.

According to the report, Ramis has been suffering from a serious of health issues since 2010 when an infection led to complications related to the autoimmune disease. Ramis had to relearn to walk but unfortunately suffered a relapse of the vaculitis in late 2011.

Today, President Obama has released the following statement on the passing of the comedic talent:

THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 25, 2014

Michelle and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Harold Ramis, one of America's greatest satirists, and like so many other comedic geniuses, a proud product of Chicago's Second City. When we watched his movies - from "Animal House" and "Caddyshack" to "Ghostbusters" and "Groundhog Day" - we didn't just laugh until it hurt. We questioned authority.

We identified with the outsider. We rooted for the underdog. And through it all, we never lost our faith in happy endings. Our thoughts and prayers are with Harold's wife, Erica, his children and grandchildren, and all those who loved him, who quote his work with abandon, and who hope that he received total consciousness.

Ramis was best-known for his film roles 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). Ramis was the original head writer of the television series SCTV (in which he also performed), and one of three screenwriters for the film National Lampoon's Animal House (1978).

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