Legendary Hollywood filmmaker and producer Ivan Reitman, best known for his worldwide hit Ghostbusters franchise, has died. He was 75. Ivan passed away in his sleep at his home in Montecito, California, on Saturday night, his family told The Associated Press. "Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life," the iconic director's children Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman, and Caroline Reitman said in a joint statement. "We take comfort that his work as a filmmaker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world. While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always," they added in their statement. 

Ivan's son Jason shared on social media a photo of himself from his childhood with his father and paid an emotional tribute. He wrote, "I’ve lost my hero.  All I want is the chance to tell my father one more story.  He came from a family of survivors and turned his legacy into laughter.  Thank you for the kind messages. Enjoy his movies and remember his storytelling gifts. Nothing would make him happier."

Tom Rothman, Chairman and, CEO, Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group too expressed his condolences on the official Ghostbusters Twitter page. He said, "Tonight, the lady with the torch weeps, as do all of us at Columbia, and film lovers around the world. Ivan Reitman was an inseparable part of this studio's legacy, but more than that he was a friend. A great talent and an even finer man; he will be dearly missed. We send his family all our condolences." 

Known best for his raunchy comedies that struck a chord with the masses at the time, Ivan Reitman made it into the big league with the college fraternity film, National Lampoon's Animal House, which he had produced. He later cast Bill Murray in his directorials Meatballs and once again in Stripes, before the duo hit the bullseye with 1984's Ghostbusters. The supernatural comedy film, which also starred Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, and Rick Moranis, turned out to be a box office phenomenon grossing nearly $300 million worldwide, including securing two Oscar nominations. The success of Ghostbusters led to spinoff films and TV shows, while also spawning a global franchise, with the most recent being Ghostbusters: Afterlife, directed by his filmmaker son Jason Reitman, which was released last year. Outside of his work in the Ghostbusters films, Ivan has also directed films like Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Dave, Junior, and Six Days, Seven Nights to name a notable few, while also serving as a producer on Beethoven, EuroTrip, and Old School, including several ventures for his son Jason.