Dan Aykroyd is a Canadian-American actor, comedian, writer, producer, and musician who rose to fame as an original cast member of Saturday Night Live. He is best known for co-creating and starring in two of the most iconic film comedies of all time, The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters, and for his Academy Award-nominated dramatic work.
Listen to an introduction about Dan Aykroyd
Name: Daniel Edward Aykroyd
Date of Birth: July 1, 1952
Height: 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Place of Birth: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Family:
- Spouse: Donna Dixon (married 1983; separated in 2022 but remain legally married)
- Children: Danielle, Belle, and Stella
- Parents: Samuel Cuthbert Peter Hugh Aykroyd and Lorraine Hélène Marie Aykroyd
Profession: Actor, Comedian, Screenwriter, Producer, Musician, Businessman
Nationality: Canadian-American
College or University Attended: Carleton University
Biography and What Famous For:
Dan Aykroyd began his comedy career at The Second City improvisational troupe in Toronto before moving to New York. In 1975, he became one of the original “Not Ready for Prime Time Players” on the groundbreaking sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live. On SNL, he was known for his rapid-fire delivery, versatile characters like Beldar Conehead and Elwood Blues, and his “Weekend Update” point-counterpoint segment with Jane Curtin.
His partnership with fellow SNL cast member John Belushi led to the creation of The Blues Brothers, a musical act that released a platinum-selling album and starred in the hit 1980 film The Blues Brothers, which Aykroyd co-wrote.
Aykroyd’s greatest commercial success came when he co-wrote and starred in Ghostbusters (1984). His character, the paranormal-obsessed Dr. Raymond Stantz, became a pop culture icon. The film was a worldwide phenomenon that spawned a successful franchise.
While famous for his comedic genius, Aykroyd also proved his dramatic acting talent, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the Best Picture-winning film Driving Miss Daisy (1989). Beyond acting, he is a successful entrepreneur, having co-founded the House of Blues chain of music venues and the award-winning Crystal Head Vodka brand.
Career Highlights:
Television:
- Saturday Night Live (Cast Member, 1975–1979)
- Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal (Host, 1996-2000)
Selected Films:
- The Blues Brothers (1980)
- Trading Places (1983)
- Ghostbusters (1984)
- Spies Like Us (1985)
- Dragnet (1987)
- Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
- My Girl (1991)
- Chaplin (1992)
- Coneheads (1993)
- Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)
- Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021)
Awards (Selected):
