Where are the Ghostbusters Today?
Can you believe it’s been 36 years since the release of the original Ghostbusters film?? Where has the time gone? It may feel a little longer than yesterday that we were watching the entire team covered in the marshmallow goo from Mr. Stay Puft, but certainly not three decades.
The Story of The Ghostbusters
For those not familiar with the famous live-action story, the movie focuses on the story of three parasychology professors and a retired marine who remove ghosts from their clients’ homes. The leader, Peter Venkman (Bill Murray), along with his comrades, Ray Stantz (Dan Aykroyd) Egon Spengler (Harold Ramis) and Winston Zeddemore (Ernie Hudson), first opened up shop in hopes to receive calls from terrified customers after witnessing paranormal activity. Things were slow at first, but with a little patience, they got their first call and the business picked up dramatically, so much they made their own TV commercial.
After the film was enjoyed and critically appraised by many, Ghostbusters II came out on June 16th, 1989 with some of the original cast, including Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler.
There was even a 2016 reboot with female characters, however, it had a ton of backlash from fans of the original movies that didn’t want to see women play the roles of Ghostbusters.
So where is the original cast of Ghostbusters today? Well here you go!
1. Bill Burray (Peter Venkman)
The unofficial leader of the Ghostbusters team was Peter Venkman, played by Bill Murray. He was known for his laid back, blunt character who had a big crush on one of the ghost’s victims Dana Barrett (Sigourney Weaver).
Since his role in Ghostbusters, Murray has had some major success in the film industry, starring in movies including Nothing Lasts Forever, Little Shop of Horrors, Scrooged, What About Bob?, Groundhog Day, Wild Things, Rushmore, Lost in Translation, Broken Flowers, Zombieland, Get Low, Moonrise Kingdom, Hyde Park on Hudson, The Grand Budapest Hotel, St. Vincent, Aloha and The Dead Don’t Die. He also had a small role in the 2016 Ghostbusters film with the females, starring as Martin Heiss.
Up next, Bill Murray will star in Zombieland: Double Tap, The French Dispatch and On the Rocks. In the TV world, Murray made guest appearances in Alpha House, Parks and Recreation and Angie Tribeca. You may have also seen him in the Netflix holiday movie A Very Murray Christmas (2015).
Right now, you can find him on the Facebook Watch series Bill Murray & Brian Doyle-Murray’s Extra Innings.
Bonus Fact: He is currently working on reprising his role as Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters: The Afterlife alongside his fellow cast members, set to premiere in 2021.
As for his awards, he won his first Emmy in 1977 for writing a variety of skits for SNL and won his latest Primetime Emmy Award in 2015 for his supporting role as Jack Kennison in Olive Kitteridge.
2. Dan Aykroyd (Ray Stantz)
Dan Aykroyd played Dr. Raymond Stantz, who was the driving force of the the Ghostbusters, and yet a klutzy scientist. Dan Aykroyd’s first glance into fame was on a little Canadian show when he was 17, followed by performing in a number of blues halls and comedy clubs.
After landing a writing job for Saturday Night Live, he chose to join the cast instead before it became a major success from 1975 to 1979. He was one of the major contributors that made it into the legendary show it is today.
With amazing impersonations, he was presented with extreme characters, especially in The Blues Brothers as it was made into both a band and movie in 1980.
Aykroyd had also created the Ghostbusters movie, created from his fascination with paranormal activity. The original writing of the script was pretty extreme that included time travel, but with the addition of co-star and co-writer Harold Ramis, the foundation became more solid. He had also originally wrote the role of Venkman for Belushi, but reshaped the role after the death of his friend in 1982.
3. Sigourney Weaver (Dana Barett)
Sigourney’s role as Dana Barett certainly wasn’t an easy one. How does one act when possessed by a ghost? But she pulled it off quite well! Even when she wasn’t coming face to face with the monstrous beings, she had to play off the flirtatious compliments from Bill Murray.
Since her major role in the paranormal film, she’s been in a ton of movies, including: Dave, Death and the Maiden, Galaxy Quest, Holes, Baby Mama, WALL-E, Avatar, Paul, The Cabin in the Woods, A Monster Calls and The Assignment. She also made an appearance in the Ghostbusters reboot as Dr. Rebecca Gorin.
Up next, this actress has so much in store, including Avatar 2, Avatar 3 and My Salinger Years.
In her career, Weaver was nominated for three Academy awards from the movies in Alien, Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl, of which she won Golden Globes from the last two.
4. Rick Moranis (Louis Tully)
Moranis makes for the perfect techno, computer science nerd, although he worked as an accountant in the Ghostbusters film. During the shooting, he was also working on Shop of Horrors and Spaceballs. A lot of work if you ask me, but Moranis is nothing short of famous!
Since his walk into fame from the second Ghostbusters movies, Moranis starred in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Parenthood, My Blue Heaven, The Flintstones, Big Bully and Brother Bear and Brother Bear II, voicing Rutt the Moose. He also co-created the animated sitcom Bob & Doug with Dave Thomas.
As of now, he turned down the chance to appear in the 2016 Ghostbusters film, but still isn’t retired. He is working on the film Shrunk, playing Wayne Szalinski, although the release date is yet to be announced. His latest TV appearances include Prop Culture and An Afternoon with SCTV, both starring as himself.
5. Harold Ramis (Dr. Egon Spengler)
Harold Ramis plays the no-shame, science nerd, Dr. Egon Spengler, who is also Peter’s second-in-command. He also co-wrote the Ghostbusters movie script with Dan Aykroyd.
Even after showing his face in the famous Hollywood movie, Ramis starred in Airheads, As Good As It Gets, The Last Kiss, Knocked Up and Year One, although he is most popular for his work as a writer.
Ramis’ big debut was in 1980 when he wrote Caddyshack. He went on to write various other movies, including Back to School, Caddyshack II and Rover Dangerfield as well as wrote and directed Groundhog Dog, Analyze This, Bedazzled, Analyze That and Year One.
In 1993, he won the best original screenplay BAFTA for Groundhog Day. Sadly, he died at the age of 69 in 2014 from autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, which he had been battling since 2010.
6. Ernie Hudson (Winston Zeddemore)
The infamous military hero and the only one without a science background, Winston was the marine veteran who decided to become a Ghostbuster when their services were in higher demand.
After shooting the film, Zeddemore moved on to star in Airheads, The Basketball Diaries, Congo, Shark Attack, Miss Congeniality, Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Turning Point, You’re Not You, God’s Not Dead 2, Spaceman and Nappily Ever After. He also played Uncle Bill Jenkins in the 2016 reboot. He’s also made numerous guest TV appearances, including in Desperate Housewives, Bones, How I Met Your Mother, Grey’s Anatomy, Once Upon A Time, Angie Tribeca, Blue Bloods and Arrow, in addition to filming Oz, the TV series from 1996 to 2004 and 10-8: Offers on Duty.
Zeddemore is currently working on a new TV series, L.A.’s Finest as Joseph Burnett. He will also star in the new Ghostbusters: Afterlife film.
7. Annie Potts (Janine Melnitz)
Who could have played a better secretary than little Annie? So cute with her little whiny voice when answering the phone. After her big breakthrough in Ghostbusters, Potts appeared in Crimes of Passion, Pretty in Pink and Jumpin’ Jack Flash, and after Ghostbusters II, Texasville, Breaking the Rules, Elvis Has Left the Building, Two For One, Humor Me and Happy Anniversary.
Did you know she also starred as Bo Peep in Toy Story, Toy Story, and Toy Story 4? Her TV shows include Designing Women from 1986 to 1993, Love & War, and Any Day Now from 1998 to 2002. She currently stars as Meemaw in Young Sheldon.
8. David Margulies (Lenny Clotch)
While his role was small, David Margulies played the mayor of New York City where he was faced with the big decision on whether or not to let the Ghostbusters tackle the paranormal activity levitating around the skyscraper.
Since his role in Ghostbusters, he’s appeared in: Out on a Limb, A Stranger Among Us, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, All Good Things and Fading Gigolo. He’s also starred in two TV shows, The Sopranos and Madoff.
Sadly, David Margulies passed away at the age of 79 in 2016 after losing a battle to cancer. RIP.
Are You Excited for the New Ghostbusters Movie?
All of the characters from the Ghostbusters movies have had significant success from the iconic 80s movie, starring in movies, TV shows and even live productions. I’m so excited to see them in the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife movie, which is set to debut in 2021 with almost all of the original characters.
But who was your favorite character from the original movie? Have you enjoyed watching them in other movies and TV shows? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
