Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy
    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    The evolution of Harold Ramis' movies, from 'Animal House' to 'Groundhog Day'

    Harold Ramis is best known as Egon Spengler in the movie “Ghostbusters,” which he co-wrote with Dan Aykroyd. He was behind some of the most daring and iconic comedies, such as “Animal House,” “Groundhog Day,” and “Analyze This.”

    • rss
    • Share
    By Madeleine Brand • Aug 20, 2018 • 1 min read

    Harold Ramis is best known as Egon Spengler in the movie “Ghostbusters,” which he co-wrote with Dan Aykroyd. He was behind some of the most daring and iconic comedies, such as “Animal House,” “Groundhog Day,” and “Analyze This.” Now his daughter, Violet Ramis Stiel, is out with a new memoir called “Ghostbuster’s Daughter: Life With My Dad, Harold Ramis.”

    Violet Ramis Stiel with her father Harold. Courtesy of the author.

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Line Editor, Press Play

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Amy Ta

      Digital News & Culture Editor

    • KCRW placeholder

      Violet Ramis Stiel

      author

      News
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand