(Michael Ochs Archives), "At times, Bill was just really irrationally mean and unavailable; he was constantly late on set," Ramis told The New Yorker. Stiel says her father jumped at the offer he loved The 40-Year-Old Virgin and wanted to be a part of the new, emerging comedy generation. Bill Murray, left, and Harold Ramis made six films together. This adds to the statement Murray sent to Time magazine on Feb. 25, one day after Ramis died. Magazines, Digital <p>Take a look back at some of the mercurial actor's most notorious feuds over the years.</p> But, according to the Chicago Tribune, Murray and his brother Brian Doyle-Murray visited Ramis before his death, suggesting a reconciliation. The "Monuments Men" star remembered Ramis in a statement obtained by Time magazine. ", 24/7 coverage of breaking news and live events. Ramis directed Murray in two films 1980s Caddyshack and 1993s Groundhog Day and while working on the latter, Ramis talked to us about the unique challenges of working with his enigmatic (and sometimes problematic) star. Ramis . This password will be used to sign into all, How Harold Ramis and Bill Murray Ended Their Feud, Shania Twain Gives Rare Update on Her Ex-Husband and Ex-BFF, Journey Should Probably Go Their Separate Ways, 6 Stand-ups Analyze ChatGPTs Attempts to Steal Their Jobs, How to Watch and Stream Every 2023 Oscar-Nominated Movie, Rick Scott Is Unfortunately Kind of Right About Novak Djokovic, Rick Scott Is Unfortunately Right About Novak Djokovic. "Ghostbusters" stars Bill Murray and Harold Ramis had a friendship and relationship in comedy that went all the way back to 1970, when the two were just a pair of young comedians working in the . His character,Egon Spengler, is featured in the story of the movie, Murray noted. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? How Tyrel Jackson Williams Brought TikTok Cringe to, Its sort of a newer version of the L.A. actor ride that Kyle is on the first two seasons, but its worse.. Ramis wrote the script with Murrays brother, Brian Doyle Murray, and Doug Kenney. Murray collaborated with Ramis on some of his most memorable - and . Follow Caroline Thayer on Twitter at @carolinejthayer. While Stiel says that her father knew Animal House would be a hit as he was writing it, Ramis didnt have that kind of confidence on the classic 1980 golf comedy. While Ramis wanted the film to be a straight forward comedy, Murray wanted the film to be more contemplative. Lucy Liu isn't the only celebrity who's had a problem with Bill Murray. ", Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Ramis and Murray, who also collaborated on such films as "Caddyshack," and "Ghostbusters," had a rocky friendship, although Murray was godfather to one of Ramis' daughters. At times, Bill was just really irrationally mean and unavailable; he was constantly late on set. But you can still make a very good movie when people are not in perfect harmony," he added. "And they were pretty far apart on what the movie was aboutBill wanted it to be more philosophical, and Harold kept reminding him it was a comedy. He followed this with a portrayal of Hunter S. Thompson in 1980's Where the Buffalo Roam.In the early 1980s, he collaborated with writer-director Harold Ramis and starred in a string of box-office hits, including Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981), and Tootsie (1982). Things you buy through our links may earnVox Mediaa commission. Bill Murray, who worked with Ramis not only on the "Ghostbusters" movies but a slew of other projects, was one of them. ", Bill Murray and Harold Ramis stopped speaking after "Groundhog Day. Harold took the time to stop by all of the fans and sign autographs for kids. When Ramis would call to check up on their progress, Murray would ignore the phone calls. God bless him, Bill Murray said in a statement Monday about the late Harold Ramis. But based on Murrays short statement, its not clear if that actually happened. Years ago when Harold and Bill were doing Groundhog Day my mom took me to the set of the movie, since my family is pretty much all from Woodstock. After reading the list of nominees, Murray said, Oh, we forgot one. In that story, in fact, Bill Murray dies in the first sequence. Actor Harold Ramis, who starred in and co-wrote the hit comedy Ghostbusters, dies aged 69. . The stories you care about, delivered daily. The Story of Harold Ramis and Amy Heckerlings Secret Daughter. In comedy, were out there alone, and it turns out I dont want to work aloneBill was a tremendous source of strength and protection. Harold Ramis ' death on Feb. 24 has left Hollywood's comedy community with a mammoth void, since the writer-director-actor touched the careers of everyone from Bill Murray to Judd Apatow to . His close friend and constant collaborator Harold Ramis died last week at 69 years old. Despite its warm attitude, the film makes us all take a deep look inside ourselves and ask what we would do if we got a do-over. Will Ke Huy Quan Continue His Winning Streak at the Independent Spirit Awards? Similarly, Murrays star continued to rise as one of the lead players on SNL. When Ghostbusters 2 hit the theaters in 1989, it seemed like the friendship between the two was unbreakable and that they would continue collaborating for many years to come. Caddyshack was the next collaboration between Murray and Ramis, and together, they would find that their cinematic sensibilities were perfectly in sync. "It was a tense shoot for a number of reasons," Albert told The Hollywood Reporter, ahead of the films 30th anniversary. The other thing I would always play was the character called specs or the professor. Id play the brainy guy, which I ended up doing, of course, in Ghostbusters. Amy Adams, left, and Bill Murray, right, speak onstage during the Oscars on Mar. That was our alliance, kind of, our big bond. After the film, their communication stalled; the men stopped speaking to one another. 2023 Vox Media, LLC. With Ivan Reitman directing, and Murray stealing every scenewith scripts penned by Ramis and Dan Akyroydthe two films were gigantic hits, and to this day remain two of the most successful comedies ever created. ", Bill Murray, left, and Harold Ramis, right, pictured here alongside Dan Aykroyd in "Ghostbusters," did not get along during the filming of "Groundhog Day." Ramis, who passed away at the age of 69, had worked with Murray for decades, in the process giving the world some all-time classic comedies. (Future Publishing/Lawrence Lucier), GEENA DAVIS CALLS OUT BILL MURRAY FOR BEHAVIOR WITH MASSAGE DEVICE: 'I SAID NO MULTIPLE TIMES'. While there are certainly some salacious details about the filmmakers personal life (e.g., Ramis and his first wife had an open marriage), its the little-known details about the making of his classic movies thats the good stuff. Though Groundhog Day ultimately proved a success, Murray and Ramis did not. ", Chevy Chase, who had starred in "Caddyshack" and "Vacation," both directed by Ramis, issued a statement as well, calling him "a truly great friend and a great man. Breaking news and interviews on comics, sci-fi, horror and more. Murray (left) and Ramis star in the film 'Stripes' (1981). 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. You dont know? Violet Ramis Stiels extremely personal memoir/biography Ghostbusters Daughter: Life With My Dad, Harold Ramis hits stores today. You\'ll receive the next newsletter in your inbox. Can Anyone Predict Whos Going to Win Best Supporting Actress? The girl also learns that the answers to her mother's death are even closer to home than she had imagined. Sean Young (left), Harold Ramis (second from left), Bill Murray (second from right) and P.J. I could help him be the best funny Bill Murray he could be, and I think he appreciated that then. In 1991, they had begun developing their sixth collaborative effort, and it would turn out to be the masterwork of their alliance. Murrays short statement says a lot about the relationship he had with Ramis, especially over the past two decades. Whats Next for Convicted Sex Criminals Harvey Weinstein and R. Kelly? Hes Julian and shes Jane in this scene set in Janes old Victorian house. I could feel the whole crew staring at me, the first-time director, waiting to see what kind of leader Id be. After reading off the names of the nominees, Murray squeezed in a shout out to his friend, who died of an autoimmune inflammatory disease, saying, "We forgot one. Rubin recalls Ramis helping rewrite the script, playing to Bill Murrays strengths to get the actor onboard as the lead. "Harold Ramis and I together did the 'National Lampoon Show' off Broadway, 'Meatballs,' 'Stripes,' 'Caddyshack,' 'Ghostbusters' and 'Groundhog Day. If a scene didnt work, Id just say, O.K., lets start lighting, and Bill and I would talk for half an hour, and wed get something great. Harold Ramis sudden death left Hollywood in shock, and many friends and former co-stars in mourning. Feb. 25, 2014 -- The death of "Ghostbusters" star and iconic Hollywood writer Harold Ramis caught some off-guard. "Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my brilliant, gifted, funny friend, co-writer/performer and teacher Harold Ramis. Ramis co-wrote and directed Analyze This! "Groundhog Day" became an instant classic, and in a bittersweet sort of irony, the conflicting tone of the film (as Murray's philosophical musings on life and fulfillment clashed with Ramis' heartwarming tone) is one of the reasons the comedy is so fondly remembered. Robin Thicke, Paula Patton Announce Separation. Another Ghostbusters star, Dan Aykroyd, said, Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my brilliant, gifted, funny friend, co-writer/performer and teacher Harold Ramis. And I dont know where that went, but its there on film. Following his brother Brians lead, Murray had joined the Second City workshops, but found it difficult to pay the bills. Almost the entire cast is returning for theGhostbusterssequel except two of the original actors: Rick Moranis and the late Harold Ramis. Murray, despite his status as one of the most beloved actors in history, has always had a reputation as someone with whom it's tough to collaborate. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Working off a script that Ramis wrote, Ivan Reitman employed Murray to star in his film, Meatballs. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Bill would give you his kidney if you needed it, but he wouldnt necessarily return your phone calls.". Bill Murray worked with Ramis on numerous projects over many decades, and finally. Whether as a writer, director, actor, or some combination of all three, he had his hand in infallible classics like Animal House, Caddyshack, SCTV, National Lampoons Vacation, Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and Stripes. If any film director knew what made Bill Murray tick, it would have been Harold Ramis.After all, the two of them both came up through Chicago's Second City improv theater, they wrote several projects together, and they were co-stars in films like Ghostbusters and Stripes.Ramis directed Murray in two films 1980's Caddyshack and 1993's Groundhog Day and while working on the latter . He issued a statement about Ramis death, but its a little lacking in any sort of warmth. During his career, the prolific actor inhabited an array of troubled characters. Sam Raimi On Spider-Man Vs Vampires . He was a truly funny and highly intelligent man with great honesty and a great appreciation for the best kind of comedy.. He didnt get the part. The legendary comedian admitted as much during his recent interview with Ellen DeGeneres, saying that the pair were "greatly . Ive had many dreams about him, that were friends again. He gets hit by a bus in Manhattan, and then Murray was coming back as a ghost. His close friend and constant collaborator Harold Ramis died last week at 69 years old. He would show up late to work, throw tantrums, and generally disagree with many of Ramis choices. Bill would give you his kidney if you needed it, but he wouldnt necessarily return your phone calls.. So his daughter stepped up. In her memoir, Ghostbuster's Daughter: Life with My Dad, Harold. God bless him, Bill Murray said in a statement Monday about the late Harold Ramis. his own rewrites of Ramis' already rewritten script. The crowd took notice and applauded Murray's kind words. Harold Ramis died on February 24, 2014 at age 69 from complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis. He was a rock for us. He said his surgery was a success, but he needs time to heal before he can tour again. It would also turn out to be the albatross that would drive a wedge between their professional and personal relationship. The falling out got under his skin Stiel says that her dad told her he felt alternately heartbroken, confused, and yet unsurprised by the rejection.Just before Ramis died, Murray showed up unannounced at his old friends house at 7 a.m. with a box of doughnuts and a police escort. So, it will be very interesting.. God bless him. This email will be used to sign into all New York sites. "So, it will be very interesting." Ghostbusters: Afterlife moved off. Also, several of Murray and Ramis friends including Michael Shamberg, a Hollywood producer and Ramis college buddy believe that Murray had grown disenchanted with the notion that Ramis was responsible for his best work. They sat next to Ramis for an hour until he was done, and then Ramis took them out to dinner. Many fans of comedy great Harold Ramis were devastated to hear of his passing and took to various social media to comment on his death. Bill Murray shed a tiny bit more light on the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife when he dropped by (via digital chat) Thursdays Ellen DeGeneres Show. Priscilla Presley Preps for a Fight Over Lisa Marie's Trust Which Puts Her at Odds With Granddaughter Riley Keough, 23 Things You Probably Didnt Know About Drake, Watch Jennifer Aniston put a ballsy BBC reporter to shame (VIDEO), Anna Kendrick has a perfect formula for drunk tweeting, Harold Ramis sudden death left Hollywood in shock, Dusting the cobwebs off 10 classic horror movie one-liners, President Obama pays tribute to the late Harold Ramis. Ghostbusters: Afterlife moved off of its July 10 release date to March 5, 2021 due to the novel coronavirus pandemic. May he now get the answers he was always seeking.. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis bustin' ghosts in the 1984 comedy (Image by Columbia Pictures) Bill Murray really missed working alongside Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis while filming the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Bill Murray And Harold Ramis Will Save Us From The Zombie Apocalypse. Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen attended the 2005 Deauville American Film Festival in France, and when they heard Ramis was there, too, they set about tracking him down, locating him at a hotel restaurant where he was doing a press junket for his movie The Ice Harvest. Murray landed his first starring role with the film Meatballs in 1979. Repeating it every day.. Bill would give you his kidney if you needed it, but he wouldn't necessarily return your phone calls.". Paul Rudd also stars as a summer school teacher. "Harold Ramis and I together did the 'National Lampoon Show' off Broadway, 'Meatballs,' 'Stripes,' 'Caddyshack,' 'Ghostbusters' and 'Groundhog Day. Ramis' words rang true in the ensuing years, as the pair went on collaborate on classics like "Meatballs," "Stripes," "Caddyshack," and the blockbuster sensation "Ghostbusters.". All rights reserved. The first was a surprise hit, necessitating a sequel. Harold Ramis' sudden death left Hollywood in shock, and many friends and former co-stars in mourning. Stripesthe third collaboration between Murray and Ramis was their first time starring opposite each other, and the film was a hit: with a budget of $10 million, the film grossed $83 million. His marriage was dissolving, and his demeanor on the set was increasingly erratic. So I told Harold, One, I want you to co-star in my movie, and, two, I want you to rewrite it for two really intelligent guysyou and Bill.. They were so much a part of the creation of it and the fun of it, Murray, wearing a panda mask, toldDeGeneres. It was so rushed into production that Ramis would write (or rewrite) scenes at the same time that the crew would scout filming locations for those very scenes. Its a huge hole in my life, Ramis added in the interview. He did show up, and the film would mark the beginning of his ascension into movie star status. Billy Murray paid tribute to Harold Ramis, the leading light of American comedy who died last week at the age of 69, while presenting the best cinematography prize at the 86th Academy Awards ceremony. Ramis had pretty much lost his ability to speak by that. Epic Ghost In Elevator Prank. From the very start of the production, Murray made it clear thathis vision for "Groundhog Day"was in stark contrast to the vision Ramis had in mind, even going so far as to do his own rewrites of Ramis' already rewritten script. Oh, Loosey! With Bill Murray, Harold Ramis, Warren Oates, P.J. Ramis was a talented actor, writer and director, was Murrays co-star in Stripes and the two Ghostbusters films, and wrote Meatballs and Caddyshack. Bill Murray, who worked with Ramis not only on the "Ghostbusters" movies but a slew of other projects, was one of them. Indeed, that's exactly what they had planned. They didnt rehash the events from the set ofGroundhog Day,choosing instead to hang out for a couple of hours, laugh, and make amends. Ramis, 69, passed away Monday from complications from autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, which he had been suffering from since 2010. '", He continued, "He earned his keep on this planet. Murray wanted the film to be an existential, chilling picture, while Ramis wanted it to be a studio-friendly comedy. At the 2014 Academy Awards, Bill Murray less than one week removed from the death of his former friend and collaborator Harold Ramis was presenting the Oscar for Best Cinematography. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter, Bill Murray shed a tiny bit more light on the upcoming 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife' when he visited Thursday's 'Ellen DeGeneres Show.'. What Id want to say to him is just what we tell our children: You dont have to throw tantrums to get what you want. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. The two buried the hatchet. The arrest gave Murray the motivation to throw himself headfirst into his comedy and acting prowess. Privacy Policy and Brian Doyle Murray convinced his superstar brother to visit Ramis as he lay dying in his North Shore home. His eyes welled up, and for one brief second, the normally reserved and collected actors face crumpled into a look of sorrow. God bless him.. In the throes of a bitter divorce, Murray's frustration at life boiled over into his work, and his push for the film to become a more serious contemplation on the meaning of life seems more understandable when you look at it through his perspective. Perhaps, they reminisced about their time at Second City. Murray's statement is noteworthy since he and Ramis had a fruitful creative partnership which saw Ramis write the actor's hit comedies "Meatballs" (1979) and "Caddyshack" (1980), and co-star together in 1981's "Stripes," 1984's "Ghostbusters" and its 1989 sequel. Now that Meredith is gone, it is business as usual at Grey Sloan Memorial. So you want us to move the generator, the catering tent and all the trucks, cause theyll be in the shot. Oh, is that what all that stuff is?, Ramis eventually asked the director of photography where he thought the camera should go, and from that moment on everything ran smoothly with the understanding that I knew nothing and should not be consulted on anything technical.. Ramis would leave the theater briefly after an LSD trip led to a revelation that he didnt belong on the stage. With their professional relationship at a strain, Ramis sent Rubin to work with Murray on the script in lieu of their usual collaborative writing sessions. He earned his keep on this planet. Earlier in their careers, Harold Ramis had praised the conflicting styles he and Bill Murray brought to their projects, but those differences in vision began to take more of a toll during the filming of "Groundhog Day." 2023 TIME USA, LLC. 02/24/14 AT 10:23 PM EST. Everything Murray and Ramis touched had turned to gold. Legal Statement. Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day, Get the scoops first! Despite making six movies together, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis did not maintain a healthy relationship after filming "Groundhog Day" in 1993. ET's Lauren Zima chats with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson at the premiere of 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife,' in theaters Nov. 19. . Bill Murray, left, and Harold Ramis, right, pictured here alongside Dan Aykroyd in "Ghostbusters," did not get along during the filming of "Groundhog Day. The young comedic upstarts would also star in a National Lampoon stage show produced by filmmaker Ivan Reitman. Harold Ramis for 'Caddyshack,' 'Ghostbusters' and 'Groundhog Day.'" "There are so many pride issues about reaching out," Ramis explained. ", "It was Harold who acted out and gave me the inspiration for the character of Clark Griswold," the former "SNL" star added. It seems that, over the years, Murray was able to squash some of that pride, as the two reconciled shortly before Ramis' death in 2014, but the lasting impact their feud had on the film industry itself can never be undone. Youve got some Janning to do! Ramis worked with Bill Murray on . All rights reserved. Bill Murray and Harold Ramis were a comedic duo that dominated '70s and '80s cinema. Screenwriter Danny Rubin had written a script for a film called Groundhog Day, in which its main character would find himself in a loop, repeating the same day over and over. However, the film's success will be overshadowed forever by what happened behind the scenes, where Ramis and Murray broke off their decades-long friendship. While Murray was mum on the situation, Ramis candidly spoke about how the divorce affected him. Murray and Ramis would star in two more films together in the 80s: Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2. Youd do a movie with Bill, a big comedy in those early days, just knowing he could save the day no matter how bad the script was, that wed find something through improvisation. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. (Michael Ochs Archives), "Its a huge hole in my life," Ramis said of the loss. Harold Ramis (right) co-wrote and starred in 1981s Stripes with Bill Murray. Soles, the stars of the film 'Stripes'. Ramis dream of speaking to Murray again did eventually happen. To the best of her knowledge, she only knows of one project he wanted to act in that he wasnt sought out for or otherwise involved in its creation: the Coen Brothers A Serious Man. For Ivan Reitmans fourth directorial effort, he had a had a military-themed script that was penned for Cheech and Chong. Actors Bill Murray and Harold Ramis are seen in the film "Stripes. Harold Ramis and I together did the National Lampoon Show off Broadway, Meatballs, Stripes, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital When it was released in 1978, Animal House earned a whopping $141 million, which at the time was a record-breaking haul for the comedy genre. Just say what you want.. During the filming, Murrays life was tumultuous. Two friends who are dissatisfied with their jobs decide to join the army for a bit of fun. Read: Harold Ramis, 'Ghostbusters' Star and Writer, Dead at 69. ET's Lauren Zima chats with Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson at the premiere of 'Ghostbusters: Afterlife,' in theaters Nov. 19. (Joel Ryan/Joel Ryan/Invision/AP). How Groundhog Day Ruined Harold Ramis And Bill Murray's Friendship. Actor Harold Ramis, who starred in and co-wrote the hit comedy Ghostbusters, dies aged 69. . "Harold had an extraordinary impact on my career and I loved him like a brother. (Columbia Pictures/Archive Photos), CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER, Ramis, for his part, expanded on the rift, saying after filming, "At times, Bill was just really irrationally mean and unavailable; he was constantly late on set What Id want to say to him is just what we tell our children: You dont have to throw tantrums to get what you want. Market data provided by Factset. The actor talked about all the projects the duo worked on together. What would make it even worse? At a 1980 press junket for the film, Kenney became distraught and despondent, and was asked to leave by the films producers. Despite making six movies together, Bill Murray and Harold Ramis did not maintain a healthy relationship after filming "Groundhog Day" in 1993. After the film was complete, the bond between Harold Ramis and Bill Murray was shattered, and the two did not speak again for 21 years. Murray can currently be seen in George Clooneys Monuments Men and in Wes Andersons upcoming The Grand Budapest Hotel. Ramis, who died in 2014 after suffering. May he now get the answers he was always seeking," Ramis' "Ghostbusters" co-star Dan Aykroyd said in a statement. and Analyze That! (Click on the media bar below to hear Harold Ramis) https://www.hollywoodoutbreak.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Harold_Ramis_Groundhog_Day-Bill_Burray_.mp3 Groundhog Day is available on DVD, Blu-Ray, and most digital platforms.The post Harold Ramis On Bill Murray: A Careless Perfectionist appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak. It was a fleeting glance that seemed to last an eternity. All Rights Reserved. Meatballs also signaled something else, the start of one of the most successful pairings in film history. I was really copying Harolds impression of Clark. *Sorry, there was a problem signing you up. Ramis died in 2014 at the age of 69. Bill Murray joined Hollywood stars Dan Akroyd, Billy Crystal, Steve Carell in the outpouring of grief over Harold Ramis' death The talented comedy hero died at 69 just before 1:00am. Bill Murray said Harold Ramis, who died in 2014, was "always very kind" and "gracious" By Benjamin VanHoose Published on June 16, 2020 11:38 AM These Ghostbusters alums still hold late. Living up to his elusive nature, no one was certain Murray was going to play the lead, even up until the first day of production. Ramis had pretty much lost his ability to speak by that point, so Murray did most of the talking. ", Sean Young (left), Harold Ramis (second from left), Bill Murray (second from right) and P.J. At times, Bill was just really irrationally mean and unavailable; he was constantly late on set, Ramis told The New Yorker in 2004. Some things we learned about Ramis in Ghostbusters Daughter: After co-writing Animal House and Meatballs, Ramis stepped behind the camera for the first time with Caddyshack. By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. Bill Murray, who worked with Harold Ramis on a half-dozen projects in the 1980s and 1990s, issued this statement to TIME through his lawyer in the wake of Ramis death on Monday morning: Harold Ramis and I together did the National Lampoon Show off Broadway, Meatballs, Stripes, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day. Caroline Thayer is an entertainment writer for Fox News Digital. I was a huge fan of Ghostbusters at the time so getting to meet with and talk to Egon was a HUGE deal for me as a kid. God bless him.. Legal Statement. two reconciled shortly before Ramis' death. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Suddenly, she slaps him surprisingly hard across the face. It was Harold who acted out and gave me the inspiration for the character of Clark Griswold, Chase added.