(RNN) – Harold Ramis, the actor, director and writer who helped create a new golden age of comedies in the 1980s, died surrounded by family members Monday, according to multiple reports.
His wife, Erica Mann Ramis, told the Chicago Tribune he died at around 12:53 a.m. Ramis, 69, had battled the rare disease autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis for nearly four years.
The Tribune reported his health struggles began in May 2010 with an infection that led to complications related to the autoimmune disease, according to his wife. Ramis relearned to walk but suffered a relapse in 2011.
“Sad to hear my friend Harold Ramis passed away,” actor Billy Crystal wrote on Twitter. “A brilliant, funny, actor and director. A wonderful husband and dad. Big loss to us all.”
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Article Courtesy of WOIO 19 Action News
Picture Courtesy of Wikipedia/ Justin Hoch and WOIO 19 Action News
