Trivia

His mother, Klara (Raab), was an inmate at Auschwitz and his father, Ladislav, later Leslie, Reitman, was an underground resistance fighter against the Nazis. His family was Jewish.

He and Jason Reitman are one of only two father/son producing teams to be nominated for an Best Picture Oscar (for In the Air (2009) in 2010). The other is Mario Cecchi Gori and Vittorio Cecchi Gori for Le facteur (1994).

Liked to place his children: Caroline Reitman, Catherine Reitman and Jason Reitman in his movies.

He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7020 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on May 5, 1997.

He has produced two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant": American College (1978) and S.O.S. fantômes (1984). He has also directed one film that is in the registry: Ghostbusters.

According to his audio commentary on S.O.S. fantômes (1984), the proton packs were much heavier than they looked, and some were heavier than others depending on what was demanded of certain scenes. None of the actors enjoyed wearing them, but according to Reitman, Harold Ramis complained the least (he would not say who complained the most).

Founder of the McMaster Film Board at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Student films include: "Freak Film" and "Orientation", which was distributed in Canada by 20th Century Fox as a short opening for a Dustin Hoffman vehicle. Reitman was arrested with Dan Goldberg for producing a "Columbus of Sex" at McMaster in 1970. The film was based on the Victorian novel "My Secret Life". During the trial, the men who went on to form Northern Lights Entertainment, were offered $175,000 by MGM to make a feature to be called "Foxy Ladies". They were the first Canadians convicted under Canada's decency laws, despite widespread critical acclaim and support from the arts community. They were fined $300.00 and put on a year's probation.

Worked on films in Canada with David Cronenberg.

Was interested in directing Batman (1989).

He was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of Canada) by the Governor General of Canada on December 30, 2009 for his services to filmmaking.

Received his Bachelor of Music degree from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (1969).

Was originally going to direct La Panthère rose (2006), but chose not to, staying on as producer of the film.

The only director of a Ghostbusters film who did not direct an episode of The Office (2005). Co-star and co-writer Harold Ramis also directed multiple episodes of the show.

Started three production companies after leaving Cinépix: Ivan Reitman Productions (from 1977 until 1991), Northern Lights Entertainment (from 1991 until 1998) and The Montecito Picture Company (from 1998 onwards).

He provides the voice of Zuul the evil spirit in the Ghostbusters film.

Ivan and his family donated the land his father had bought in the 1950s and employed as a parking lot for the downtown sector to the TIFF org. it's now where the TIFF Bell Lightbox stands.

Attended the 2008 Academy Awards with his son Jason Reitman.

In 1983, he was nominated for two Broadway Tony Awards for "Merlin": as Best Director (Musical) and as one of the co-producers of the Best Musical nominee.

He politically considered himself a "conservative-slash-libertarian".

He has produced one film that has been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: In the Air (2009).