Dan Aykroyd
In 1975, Aykroyd became one of the original 'Not Ready for Prime Time Players' on the debut season of Saturday Night Live. The sketch show made him a star and birthed characters and ideas he later turned into hit movies. It launched a Hollywood career spanning four decades.
Ottawa Roots
Born in Ottawa in 1952, Dan Aykroyd grew up in a family interested in spiritualism. He honed his improv skills with Toronto's Second City troupe before heading to American television.
SNL and the Movies
As an original Saturday Night Live cast member from 1975, he created beloved characters alongside John Belushi. He spun several into films, most notably The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters.
Beyond the Screen
Aykroyd proved his dramatic range with an Oscar-nominated turn in Driving Miss Daisy. Off-screen he co-founded the House of Blues clubs and the Crystal Head Vodka brand.
Career Timeline
- 1973Joins Second City comedy troupe in Toronto
- 1975Original cast member on Saturday Night Live debut
- 1980Co-writes and stars in The Blues Brothers
- 1983Stars opposite Eddie Murphy in Trading Places
- 1984Co-writes and stars in blockbuster Ghostbusters
- 1985Co-writes and stars in Spies Like Us
- 1989Earns Oscar nomination for Driving Miss Daisy
- 1992Co-founds the House of Blues music club chain
- 1993Co-writes and stars in Coneheads film
- 2007Co-founds Crystal Head Vodka brand
Biggest Hits
- Aykroyd conceived the original Ghostbusters story, inspired by his real lifelong fascination with the paranormal and spiritualism.
- He was ordained to officiate, and a longtime member, of the Spiritualist movement tied to his family's interest in the supernatural.
Portrait: Rnunezart · CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons