News & Events 2002-2003

Actor, Director and Screenwriter Harold Ramis Visits Blair

Harold Ramis, actor, director, producer and screenwriter, visited Blair Academy and his old friends, teachers Judith and Steven Kampmann, on February 13, 2003. After spending the day around campus, Mr. Ramis took to the podium where he had a casual conversation with Blair students and faculty about his life and career in show business.

After graduating from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, Harold Ramis worked as editor of the Party Jokes page of Playboy magazine. A Chicago native, Mr. Ramis started his show business career by writing for and performing with the Second City comedy troupe, later collaborating with many of its stars. He then became a cast member of the Broadway revue National Lampoon’s Lemmings, a major breeding ground of most of Saturday Night Live’s cast.

As an actor, Mr. Ramis is best remembered as Bill Murray’s friend Russell in Stripes, or as Dr. Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters. Over the past twenty years, Ramis has written and/or directed over a dozen films, several of which are among the highest grossing comedies of all time: Animal House, Meatballs, Caddyshack, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Back to School, Groundhog Day, Analyze This, Bedazzled and Analyze That.

Mr. Ramis answered many questions from students and faculty concerning his personal interactions and working relationships with many Hollywood stars, and offered advice on getting into the screenwriting business.

Return to 2002-2003 Table of Contents