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Eugene Levy remembers his friend Ivan Reitman

Actor and comedian Eugene Levy remembers his longtime friend Ivan Reitman as a “natural producer” who “literally changed the face of comedy in Hollywood.”

“We all know he was destined to be a great producer and director,” Levy said in an interview with CTV News Anchor Director and Senior Editor Lisa LaFlamme. “He was destined for great things — we knew that in school.”

Levy and Reitman met in the late 1960s at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ont. Reitman will go on to produce or direct such classic comedies as Animal House, Ghostbusters and Kindergarten Cop.

He died on February 12 at the age of 75.

At McMaster, Levy remembers Reitman turning their “underground” group of student films into “a club that really makes money.”

“He would run all-night horror film festivals in college,” Levy said. “We have a huge audience and he can sponsor shows for beginner filmmakers like me.”

Levy said Reitman even gave him his first break from the business – serving coffee on the Toronto set of the 1971 Foxy Lady comedy. For his second film, the horror comedy Cannibal Girls in 1973, Reitman cast Levy as the lead character.

“It was my first acting role on film, as a professional — and when I say expertise, I mean you get paid for it!” Levy said. “But nevertheless, that is what Ivan did for me. If he hadn’t given me that coffee business in 1970, I don’t even know if I would have gotten into this business, but I owe Ivan a lot.”

Levy went on to star in the SCTV sketch comedy series before starring in and co-writing hits such as Best in Show and A Mighty Wind. From 2015 to 2020, he worked alongside his son Dan Levy on the award-winning comedy series Schitt’s Creek, which they co-created.

While editing the show, Levy recalled running into Reitman at the same set, where Reitman was working with his daughter Catherine Reitman on her comedy series Workin’ Moms.

“We talked about it, how can you believe we are here working on our children’s programs?” Levy said. “It was unbelievable and we are both sharing that experience. It’s pretty crazy! ”

Friends for more than five decades, Levy has seen Reitman’s career rise to the heights of Hollywood.

“He was destined to get to the top and he got there,” Levy said. “He’s a wonderful, wonderful man.”

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