In 1984, a music video was created to promote the release of Ghostbusters, and it was filled with numerous celebrity cameos. “Ghostbusters” was written by Ray Parker Jr., who was inspired to model it in the form of an advertising jingle for the ghost-hunting business within the film. It was a surprise hit, staying at the number one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks, and the music video shortly followed to capitalize on this success.
Although music videos were still a new medium in 1984, Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman made the unprecedented decision to make the promotional film himself. The iconic Ghostbusters music video features a young woman (played by actress Cindy Harrell) who is haunted by Parker's ghost as he sings the film’s theme song, including the popular refrain of “who you gonna call?” The response to this question is the title of the film and song, shouted out as part of the chorus.
For the music video, several celebrities appeared inside a neon frame to shout “Ghostbusters!” None of the actors were paid for their appearance, which makes the odd assortment of cameos even more intriguing, especially given the standing of some of these major names.
Chevy Chase - Along with Ghostbusters' Dan Aykroyd, Chevy Chase was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live. The actor/comedian had also just appeared with actress Sigourney Weaver in the 1983 comedy adventure, Deal of the Century, providing another connection to the cast of Ghostbusters.
Irene Cara - Parker's "Ghostbusters" was nominated for Best Original Song at the 57th Academy Awards. This was the award singer and actress Irene Cara had won the previous year with the theme song for the film Flashdance, which Paramount+ is developing as a show. Cara is also known for recording the title song for the 1980 film Fame, in which she had the starring role.
John Candy - Reitman and the music video crew made an unplanned visit to the set of the film Brewster’s Millions to film John Candy's cameo, which makes more sense when considering his many connections to the cast and crew of Ghostbusters. Candy originally rose to fame alongside Ghostbuster cast members Harold Ramis and Rick Moranis on the Toronto-based variety series, Second City Television (SCTV), and had even been considered for the role that eventually went to Moranis. Candy had also appeared in Reitman’s 1981 comedy, Stripes, which starred Murray and Ramis.
Melissa Gilbert - Melissa Gilbert is likely best known for playing Laura Ingalls Wilder in the NBC series Little House on the Prairie, a show which had just ended a successful nine-season run in 1983.
Ollie E. Brown - Along with providing the percussions for “Ghostbusters,” Ollie E. Brown was known for being half of the dance-pop duo, Ollie & Jerry, which had a hit in 1984 with "Breakin'... There's No Stopping Us.”
Jeffrey Tambor - Modern audiences may know Jeffrey Tambor best for his dual roles as the twin Bluth brothers on Arrested Development, and as Maura Pfefferman on Transparent.
George Wendt - George Wendt was a former member of the improvisational theater troupe Second City along with Ghostbuster stars Murray, Ramis, and Aykroyd, though he was best known for playing Norm Peterson in the popular sitcom Cheers.
Al Franken - Before serving as a United States senator, Al Franken was a staff writer and performer on Saturday Night Live and had appeared in Trading Places, which starred Aykroyd.
Danny DeVito - Likely best known by modern audiences for his role as Frank Reynolds on It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Danny DeVito rose to fame on the sitcom Taxi, which had just ended in 1983 after five seasons.
Carly Simon - Along with Irene Cara, award-winning musician Carly Simon provided backup vocals for the single “Ghostbusters” before appearing as one of the cameos in the video. Hit songs including “You're So Vain” and "Nobody Does It Better" made Simon one of the top artists of the 1970s.
Peter Falk - Peter Falk is best known for playing the title detective in the TV series Columbo, for which he won four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe.
Teri Garr - Teri Garr rose to fame playing the role of Inga in Mel Brooks's Young Frankenstein, and a few years before the release of Ghostbusters she had starred in Tootsie, which featured a supporting performance by Murray.