The original Ghostbusters was one of the defining movies of its decade, and its cast comprised some of the biggest stars in comedy at the time. Released to immediate fanfare in 1984, Ghostbusters became a cultural phenomenon and has had a lasting impact as a franchise well into the 21st century through sequels and other media. With its mix of acerbic wit and goofball humor, the movie has its own comedic language that few films have been able to replicate. Ultimately, Ghostbusters shines because of its cast, which represents the cream of the comedy crop of the 1980s.
One of Ghostbusters' strongest elements is its buddy comedy angle, and the assembled cast of ghost-hunting heroes exudes a sense of camaraderie and fun. Outside the main characters of the original Ghostbusters, the movie has a sparse, but well-cast set of supporting players who offer a contrast to the goofy energy of the leads. Legitimate actors like Sigourney Weaver give the audience someone to root for, and director Ivan Reitman was able to brilliantly marry all the film's disparate elements into a cohesive story. Even if one piece of this stellar Ghostbusters cast had been different, the movie wouldn't have had the same timeless spirit.
Bill Murray As Peter Venkman
Acting as the mouthpiece for the group, Bill Murray plays Peter Venkman, the Ghostbuster more interested in pursuing women than catching ghosts. Murray is one of the most successful former Saturday Night Live cast members, and he appeared in many of the biggest comedies of the '80s, like Caddyshack and Scrooged. After his part in the cast of Ghostbusters, Murray's most famous role came as Phil in 1993's Groundhog Day, and a decade later, he snagged an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for his turn as Bob Harris in 2003's Lost in Translation. He also co-stars in most of Wes Anderson's movies and plays Lord Krylar in the MCU.
Dan Aykroyd As Ray Stantz
Played by Murray's fellow former SNL colleague Dan Aykroyd, Ray Stantz is the heart of the Ghostbusters and is best remembered for his bubbly enthusiasm for the paranormal. Though his portrayal of Elwood Blues in the 1980 cult classic The Blues Brothers was his breakout movie role, Aykroyd co-wrote and starred in Ghostbusters, which truly made him a Hollywood superstar. Though Ray would eventually become synonymous with Aykroyd, he followed the success of Ghostbusters with a string of hits throughout the 1980s and 1990s. One of Dan Aykroyd's biggest mainstream roles came as Boolie Werthan in 1989's Driving Miss Daisy, and he was nominated for an Oscar for the role.
Sigourney Weaver As Dana Barrett
Cast in the movie as the Ghostbusters' very first customer, as well as Peter's love interest, Sigourney Weaver plays Dana Barrett, a woman whose apartment is the subject of a mysterious haunting. Sigourney Weaver's horror movies put her on the map, and her turn as Ellen Ripley in 1979's Alien made her the ultimate interstellar scream queen. She reprised that iconic role in several sequels while also delivering award-winning performances in movies like 1988's duo of Gorillas in the Mist and Working Girl. Weaver has managed to attach herself to several major franchises, and she appeared in both 2009's Avatar and its 2022 sequel Avatar: The Way of Water.
Harold Ramis As Egon Spengler
Harold Ramis appears in the cast of Ghostbusters as Egon Spengler, the team's tech genius who is the most soft-spoken of the bunch, and he also co-wrote the movie with Aykroyd. Mostly known for his work behind the camera, Harold Ramis directed such classic comedies as Caddyshack, National Lampoon's Vacation, and Groundhog Day while only making sporadic appearances on screen. Spengler was Ramis's most famous role by far, but he also famously played Russell Ziskey in the 1981 army comedy Stripes, which he co-wrote. Besides appearing in 1989's Ghostbusters II, Ramis also had a humorous turn as Dr. Bettes in the award-winning comedy As Good as It Gets in 1997.
Ernie Hudson As Winston Zeddemore
Brought in to join the team after their infamous hotel escapade in the middle of the movie, Winston Zeddemore is the working-class Ghostbuster who is just along for the paycheck and provides an outsider's perspective. Zeddemore was a breakout role for Ernie Hudson, and it continues to be his most famous part. However, outside Hudson's role in the Ghostbusters movie franchise cast, he also appeared as Detective Albrecht in the 1994 cult classic The Crow and landed major roles as Jacob on Grace and Frankie, "Magic" on 2022's Quantum Leap reboot, and L.C. Duncan on BET's The Family Business.
Rick Moranis As Louis Tully
Rick Moranis plays Louis Tully, a nerdy accountant and neighbor of Dana Barrett who unintentionally crosses paths with the Ghostbusters. After his breakout role in the cast of Ghostbusters, Moranis became even more famous for his turns as Seymour in the musical film Little Shop of Horrors in 1986 and Dark Helmet in the following year's Spaceballs. Though Moranis didn't return for Ghostbusters: Afterlife, his career has always been closely associated with the comedy franchise. Moranis is also known for his earlier work on SCTV and for playing Wayne Szalinski in 1989's Honey, I Shrunk The Kids and its sequels, which gained him an even larger audience in the 1990s.
Ghostbusters Supporting Cast & Characters
Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz - Though Annie Potts's turn as the Ghostbuster's sarcastic receptionist, Janine, is her most famous role, the accomplished comedy actor also appeared in other '80s classics like Pretty in Pink, and Jumpin' Jack Flash, both in 1986. She was also one of the stars of the sitcom Designing Women. Pott's other most famous part came as the voice of Bo Peep in 1995's Toy Story, a role she would also reprise for the sequels.
William Atherton as Walter Peck - Ostensibly the villain of the film, William Atherton plays Walter Peck, a man with a grudge against the Ghostbusters who tries to shut them down, causing chaos in the process. A prototypical yuppy heel, Atherton's most famous part came as Richard Thornburg in 1988's Die Hard.
David Margulies as Mayor Lenny Clotch - Appearing among the cast of Ghostbusters as the mayor of New York City, David Margulies plays the hapless public servant who isn't sure about the services that the title characters provide his city. Most remembered for his appearance in the Bob Fosse biopic All That Jazz in 1979, Margulies also appeared in other '80s classics like Brighton Beach Memoirs and 9 1/2 Weeks, both in 1986.
Slavitza Jovan as Gozer - Actor Slavitza Jovan appears in the cast of Ghostbusters as the physical form of Gozer in the movie's exciting climax. Ghostbusters was Jovan's most famous film, though she also appeared as a scary nurse in the 1999 remake of House of Haunted Hill.