The big news of the day is that Harold Ramis has died, leaving a big hole in the world of television and film comedy and in the hearts of hundreds of fans who grew up laughing at his creations.
Ramis was born in 1944 in Chicago, Illinois, and got his start in the world of comedy as a joke editor for Playboy Magazine. From there, he became part of Chicago's Second City Improvisational Comedy Troupe and then The National Lampoon Show as a writer and performer. He also became the head writer for successful Canadian sketch comedy series SCTV.
His first foray into the world of film came in the form of wildly successful comedy National Lampoon's Animal House in 1978, which he co-wrote. Although far more prolific behind the camera, Ramis was a featured actor in several of his own films, most notable Ghostbusters and Stripes.
Ramis' work as director, writer, and actor is a huge influence on the very nature of modern comedy. He's been cited as a major influence by comedians as diverse as the Farrelly brothers, Jay Roach, Adam Sandler, and Jake Kasdan.
These are the top 10 Harold Ramis films.