Harold Ramis, the Chicago born and raised actor, writer and director dead at 69

Harold Ramis dead at 69

Filmmaker Harold Ramis, best-known for comedies “Caddyshack” “Stripes,” “Groundhog Day,” “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” “Ghostbusters” and Second City alumnus died early Monday morning at his home. His death was reported by Mark Caro of the Chicago Tribune.

Ramis was surrounded by family in his Chicago home, where he's lived since 1996, when he died early this morning from complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, his wife Erica Mann Ramis told the Chicago Tribune.

His rare disease involved a swelling of the blood vessels and the report adds that his health issues began in 2010. His condition was so bad in the past, the actor/writer/director had to relearn to walk.