Ramis died at his Chicago-area home Monday morning surrounded by family and friends, according to a statement from United Talent Agency.
According to the statement, Ramis died from complications related to auto-immune inflammatory vasculitis, a condition he battled for the past four years. The rare disease involved a swelling of the blood vessels.
"His creativity, compassion, intelligence, humor and spirit will be missed by all who knew and loved him," the agency said in a statement.
His best known acting role was as Dr. Egon Spengler in the 1984 film "Ghostbusters," which he co-wrote with Dan Aykroyd. He got his Hollywood breakthrough in 1978 when he co-wrote "National Lampoon's Animal House."
Born in Chicago, Ramis got his start in comedy at the famed Second City improve theater troupe in 1969.
He also went on to write the 1981 film "Stripes" and wrote and directed the 1999 film "Analyze This." Most recently, he wrote, directed and co-produced the 2009 film "Year One," starring Jack Black and Michael Cera.
Ramis is survived by his wife Erica, sons Julian and Daniel, daughter Violet and two grandchildren.
ABC News contributed to this report.
