Perhaps one of the most famous nerds of all time, Harold Ramis--or Dr. Spengler, as you may fondly remember him--passed away yesterday from complications with auto-immune inflammatory vasculitis.
He was 69 years old.
While Ramis wore many hats as an actor and writer (Stripes, Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation and Groundhog Day, to name a few), his most famous persona came as the geek Ghostbuster, Egon Spengler.
Maybe it was his voice, Hubble telescopic glasses or unique wit that made him such a successful character in the Ghostbusters saga.
Oh, and he also provided the voice for Egon on the Ghostbusters cartoon, too.
They had an episode "Play Them Ragtime Boos," I mean, if you're into that sort of thing.
And for us Classicalites, reflecting on Ramis' death and Ghostbusters also brings with it Sigourney Weaver.
Remember her character, Dana Barrett? She played cello, wouldn't you know.
And to delve further, she actually made her debut at Tanglewood--in character.
Unfortunately, have lost another another one to the ghost side. Ghostbusters wouldn't have been the same if it weren't for Egon.
And we wouldn't have that racey "keymaster" scene from Ghostbusters II, either.
The Ghostbusters theme, itself, was a rip-off of Huey Lewis, of which brought a famous lawsuit that ended in a confidentiality settlement.
Sucks to be Raymond Parker, Jr.
