Harold Allen RamisΒ (November 21, 1944 β February 24, 2014) was an American actor, director, and writer, specializing in comedy. His best-known film acting roles are asΒ Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984) and Russell Ziskey inΒ StripesΒ (1981), both of which he co-wrote.Β As a writer/director, his films include theΒ comediesΒ CaddyshackΒ (1980),Β Groundhog DayΒ (1993), andΒ Analyze ThisΒ (1999). He was the original head writer of the TV series SCTVΒ (in which he also performed), and one of three screenwriters for the film National Lampoon's Animal HouseΒ (1978).