Things You Know

The Original GhostbustersThe original four Ghostbusters are Drs. Egon Spengler, Ray Stantz, Peter Venkman, and Winston Zeddemore, assisted by their receptionist and accountant. While they have all moved on from Ghostbusting (in the case of Peter, literally), they still are prominent figures in the world of the paranormal. We all know who they are and what they did. The question is, where are they now?

(pictured: Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Bill Murray, 

and Dan Aykroyd from the movie Ghostbusters)

• Egon Spengler, PHD - Having retired from Ghostbusting, Egon spent some time on the lecture circuit before formally joining the Department of Paranormal Defense. He is the lead architect of the Ectoplasm Shield program that protects the White House, and lends his scientific expertise in the creation of equipment the DOPD uses to protect American interests domestically and abroad.

• Ray Stantz, PHD - As the primary financial backer of Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters International, it was Ray who ended up getting hit the hardest by the lawsuits that eventually brought the Ghostbusters down. After all the lawsuits were settled, Ray was happy to go back to the quiet life running his beloved bookstore, Ray's Occult Books. When the Subprime Mortgage Crisis of 2007 hit, the three mortgages on his childhood home forced him to sell Ray's Occult Books just to keep up with the payments. Seriously depressed, Ray eventually joined the DOPD to assist his old friend and colleague, Egon Spengler. 

• Peter Venkman, PHD - After Ghostbusters International was absorbed by the Federal Government, Peter Venkman's TV show World of the Psychic was picked up by The History Channel. The show went for a 10 year run and spawned the spin-off series Psychic Detectives, where Peter was an Executive Producer. Peter died in 2008 from a fright induced heart attack, some speculate by a ghost sent to kill him. He left behind his wife Dana and adopted son, Oscar Barrett-Venkman, who have both fallen off the radar.  

• Winston Zeddemore, PHD - During the height of the Ghostbusters craze, Winston Zeddemore attended night school to gain a Bachelor's degree in Parapsychology. When the Federal Government stepped in and moved the majority of the Ghostbuster's equipment to Nevada, Winston took the last franchise starter kit and founded the Department of the Paranormal with the State of New York. Ghostbusters: The Video Game was based on an investigation Winston and his new team conducted, with the notable exception that the likenesses of the movie Ghostbusters was used. Winston continued his education, eventually gaining a doctorate, a feat that put him on the same education level with his former colleagues. When New York closed down the Department of the Paranormal, Winston became the Dean of Paranormal Studies at Binghamton University.

The Department of Paranormal Defense (DOPD):After two major supernatural events occurred in New York City in 1983 and 1987, the Federal Government stepped in and nationalized the only paranormal investigation company on the market, Ghostbusters International. In 1990, the Department of Paranormal Defense was founded by President George H. W. Bush. All currently opened Ghostbusters Franchises were optioned to their respective State Governments, which allowed states to protect themselves and service their own citizens. Ghostbusters International HQ equipment was relocated to the remote Nevada Test and Training Range at Grooms Lake, commonly known as Area 51. Nominally headed by the Secretary of Paranormal Defense, the DOPD is responsible for the new Ectoplasm Shield that protects the White House, as well as training and equipping the Paranormal Ranger Service (commonly called The Men In Black) 

Paranormal Containment Oversight Committee (PCOC):When President Bush formed the DOPD,  Congress demanded oversight for the Paranormal Rangers and their containment facilities, voting to create the Paranormal Containment Oversight Committee. They have complete financial and legislative oversight for the DOPD and similar committees have been created in State Legislatures to oversee State-run Ghostbusters agencies. The current chairperson of PCOC is Senator Walter Peck (R-NY).