CINXE.COM
Dan Aykroyd
<html> <head> <title>Dan Aykroyd</title> <meta name="googlebot" content="noodp"> <meta name="robots" content="noodp"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/silly-nndb-icon.png" /><style type="text/css"> <!-- .fotmbar { color: #FFFFFF; text-decoration: none} .fotmbar:hover { color: #FFFFFF; text-decoration: underline} .newslink { color: #000000; text-decoration: none} .newslink:hover { color: #000000; text-decoration: none} .proflink { color: #000000; text-decoration: none} .proflink:hover { color: blue; text-decoration: underline} .b1f, .b2f, .b3f, .b4f {font-size:1px; overflow:hidden; display:block;} .b1f {height:1px; background:#e6e6e6; margin:0 5px;} .b2f {height:1px; background:#e6e6e6; margin:0 3px;} .b3f {height:1px; background:#e6e6e6; margin:0 2px;} .b4f {height:2px; background:#e6e6e6; margin:0 1px;} .contentf {background: #e6e6e6; padding: 2px; } .contentf div {margin-left: 5px;} --> </style></head> <body bgcolor=#ffffff> <center> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr><td valign=top><table width=550 cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0><tr><td bgcolor=white><table width="100%" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" background="/nndb.gif"> <tr> <td rowspan="2" align="left" valign="top"><a href="http://www.nndb.com/"><img src="/title.gif" width="260" height="50" border=0 alt="NNDB"></a></td> <td><table width="100%" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="6"> <tr align="center"> <td width="25%" nowrap><b><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is a beta version of NNDB</font></b></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> <tr> <td align="right" valign="middle"><b><font size="-1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"> <form action="http://search.nndb.com/search/nndb.cgi" method="get"> <input type="hidden" name="nndb" value="1"></input> <nobr>Search: <select name="omenu"> <option value="unspecified" selected>All Names</option> <option value="living">Living people</option> <option value="dead">Dead people</option> <option value="bands">Band Names</option> <option value="books">Book Titles</option> <option value="movies">Movie Titles</option> <option value="fulltext">Full Text</option> </select> for <input name="query" value="" size=24 maxlength=96> <input type=submit value="Search"> </font></b></nobr></form></td> </tr> </table> <!-- COPYRIGHT (C) 2008 SOYLENT COMMUNICATIONS --> <!-- ALL RIGHTS RESERVED --> <!-- NO PART OF THIS WEBSITE MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION --> <!-- OF SOYLENT COMMUNICATIONS (ON THE WEB, IN PRINT, OR OTHERWISE) --> <!-- --> <!-- SOYLENT COMMUNICATIONS --> <!-- PO BOX 4436, MOUNTAIN VIEW CA 94040 USA --> </td></tr><tr><td bgcolor=red height=2></td></tr><map name=fool><area coords="102,0,240,14" href="/people/244/000025169/bibliography/" alt="bibliography"></map><tr bgcolor=F0F0F0><td bgcolor=F0F0F0 style="padding: 0px 15px 15px 15px;"><img src="/red-profile-2.gif" align="right" height=15 width=240 border=0 usemap=#fool><br clear="all"><table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 width=100%><tr><td bgcolor=F0F0F0><font size=+3 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Dan Aykroyd</b></font><p><img src="da-sized.jpg" height=295 width=230 align=right hspace=10 vspace=10 alt="Dan Aykroyd"><b>AKA</b> Daniel Edward Aykroyd<p><b>Born:</b> <a href="/lists/700/000106382/" class=proflink>1-Jul</a>-<a href="/lists/951/000105636/" class=proflink>1952</a><br><b>Birthplace:</b> <a href="/geo/861/000069654/" class=proflink>Ottawa, Ontario, Canada</a><br><p><b>Gender:</b> Male<br><b>Religion:</b> <a href="/lists/758/000094476/" class=proflink>Roman Catholic</a><br><b>Race or Ethnicity:</b> White<br><b>Sexual orientation:</b> Straight<br><b>Occupation:</b> Actor<p><b>Nationality:</b> Canada<br><b>Executive summary:</b> <i>Saturday Night Live</i>, <i>Dr. Detroit</i><p>As a young man, Dan Aykroyd was a postal worker. His first success on the verge of show business came in 1972, when he produced, wrote, and appeared in <I>Change for a Quarter</I>, a no-budget 15-minute cable comedy show. Later that year he was invited to join the Second City comedy troupe in Toronto, where he stayed through 1974. After that, Aykroyd was an original Not Ready for Prime-Time Player on NBC's <I>Saturday Night Live</I>, alongside <a href="/people/499/000024427/">Chevy Chase</a>, <a href="/people/970/000023901/">Garrett Morris</a>, <a href="/people/214/000025139/">Laraine Newman</a>, <a href="/people/813/000024741/">Jane Curtin</a>, <a href="/people/289/000048145/">Gilda Radner</a>, and Aykroyd's best friend from Second City, <a href="/people/203/000022137/">John Belushi</a>. On <I>Saturday Night Live</I>, Aykroyd did impressions of <a href="/people/110/000024038/">Richard M. Nixon</a>, <a href="/people/386/000022320/">Jimmy Carter</a>, and <a href="/people/648/000022582/">Julia Child</a>. He was the patriarch of <I>The Coneheads</I>, and a wild and crazy guy alongside <a href="/people/407/000022341/">Steve Martin</a>. But Aykroyd is best remembered from <I>SNL</I> as Elwood Blues.<P> Aykroyd always sincerely loved the blues. As a teen, he once jammed with <a href="/people/833/000055668/">Muddy Waters</a>, when Aykroyd attended a show and Waters's drummer, S. B. Leary, disappeared into the men's room for half an hour. Young Aykroyd drummed for two songs, and described it as a dream come true. Later in life, Aykroyd's financial contributions helped launch the House of Blues chain. Viewers first heard the Blues Brothers on <I>SNL</I> on 17 January 1976. <a href="/people/157/000023088/">Paul Shaffer</a> was the duo's musical director, so it sounded good. After that, Aykroyd & Belushi often warmed up the audience as the Blues Brothers before <I>SNL</I> telecasts, even on nights when the Blues Brothers weren't in the show. In 1978, they opened for Steve Martin's stand-up act at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles, toured as the Blues Brothers, and recorded their album, <I>Briefcase Full of Blues</I>. Aykroyd was co-writer of their hit movie, <I>The Blues Brothers</I> (1980).<P> After Belushi's 1982 death, Aykroyd has said it was difficult to laugh, impossible to do comedy, and unthinkable to sing. He felt as if he had lost a real brother. At Belushi's memorial service, Aykroyd played a tape recording of "2000-Pound Bee", fulfilling a semi-joking promise Aykroyd & Belushi had made to each other. Aykroyd has since resumed being funny, and even sang in the ill-advised Jake-free sequel, <I>Blues Brothers 2000</I>. Mostly, though, he has become a familiar character actor in his middle age. Aykroyd's better films include <I>The Blues Brothers</I> and <I>Neighbors</I> (both with Belushi), <I>Trading Places</I>, <I>GhostBusters</I>, and a string of flops like <I>Coneheads</I> and <I>Nothing But Trouble</I>.<P> In most biographies, Aykroyd is listed as twice married and the father of six. His purported first marriage, however, (to one Maureen Lewis) never happened, and the three sons (Mark, Lloyd, and Oscar) who came from that union never existed. Many years ago, as Aykroyd first became famous, the publishers of <I>Who's Who</I> sent him a blank questionnaire, but Aykroyd bridled at being asked to list all his biographical information. So he made up a phony biography, with a phony wife and three phony children. Referring to outdated editions of <I>Who's Who</I>, lazy reporters have mentioned his fictitious family ever since, as if they're factual. Says Aykroyd: "I will give 10 million dollars to anyone who can find that family and bring the three kids and the wife to me."<P> <p><b>Father:</b> Samuel Cuthbert Peter Hugh Aykroyd (policy adviser in <a href="/people/978/000024906/">Pierre Trudeau</a>'s government)<br><b>Mother:</b> Lorraine Gougeon<br><b>Brother:</b> Peter Aykroyd (psychic researcher)<br><b>Girlfriend:</b> Rosie Schuster (writer for SNL, dated circa 1977)<br><b>Wife:</b> <a href="/people/523/000025448/">Donna Dixon</a> (actress, m. 29-Apr-1983, three daughters)<br><b>Daughter:</b> Danielle Alexandra Aykroyd (b. 18-Nov-1989)<br><b>Daughter:</b> Belle Kingston Aykroyd (b. 9-Jun-1993)<br><b>Daughter:</b> Stella Irene Augustus Aykroyd (b. 5-Apr-1998)<br><p> University: <a href="/edu/642/000068438/">Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada (1969)</a><br><p> <a href="/group/207/000087943/">Second City</a> (1972-74)<br> <a href="/org/379/000167875/">Al Franken for Senate</a> <br> <a href="/honors/534/000044402/">Emmy</a> 1977 for <i>Saturday Night Live</i> (shared)<br> <a href="/honors/699/000165204/">Canada's Walk of Fame</a> 2002<br> <a href="/group/124/000172605/">Roast: Lorne Michaels (2004)</a> <br> Endorsement of <u>Crystal Head Vodka</u> 2008<br> Risk Factors: <a href="/lists/723/000110393/">Heterochromia</a><br> <p> <font size=-2 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">TELEVISION</font><br> <a href="/tv/519/000098225/">According to Jim</a> Danny Michalski (2002-09)<br> <a href="/tv/320/000085065/">Soul Man</a> Rev. Mike Weber (1997-98)<br> <a href="/tv/659/000346618/">PSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal</a> Himself (1996-2000)<br> <a href="/tv/012/000044877/">Saturday Night Live</a> (1975-79)<br><p> <font size=-2 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">FILMOGRAPHY AS DIRECTOR</font><br> <a href="/films/517/000040397/">Nothing But Trouble (15-Feb-1991)</a> <br><p> <font size=-2 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">FILMOGRAPHY AS ACTOR</font><br> <a href="/films/328/000402119/">Ghostbusters (9-Jul-2016)</a> <br> <a href="/films/003/000404785/">Pixels (17-Apr-2015)</a> <br> <a href="/films/818/000383666/">Get on Up (1-Aug-2014)</a> <br> <a href="/films/457/000383305/">Tammy (2-Jul-2014)</a> <br> <a href="/films/196/000377062/">Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return (10-Jun-2013)</a> <font size=-2 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">[VOICE]</font><br> <a href="/films/442/000367338/">Behind the Candelabra (21-May-2013)</a> · Seymour Heller<br> <a href="/films/009/000354941/">The Campaign (4-Aug-2012)</a> · Wade Motch<br> <a href="/films/222/000387058/">Sunset Strip (16-Mar-2012)</a> · Himself<br> <a href="/films/596/000262807/">Yogi Bear (17-Dec-2010)</a> · Yogi Bear <font size=-2 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">[VOICE]</font><br> <a href="/films/134/000171618/">War Inc. (28-Apr-2008)</a> · Mr. Vice President<br> <a href="/films/140/000159660/">I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry (19-Jul-2007)</a> <br> <a href="/films/436/000073217/">Christmas with the Kranks (24-Nov-2004)</a> <br> <a href="/films/657/000088393/">White Coats (10-Sep-2004)</a> · Dr. Cyrill Kipp<br> <a href="/films/995/000032899/">50 First Dates (13-Feb-2004)</a> · Dr. Keats<br> <a href="/films/066/000067862/">Bright Young Things (16-May-2003)</a> <br> <a href="/films/366/000037255/">Unconditional Love (23-Aug-2002)</a> <br> <a href="/films/900/000033801/">Crossroads (11-Feb-2002)</a> <br> <a href="/films/141/000064946/">Earth vs. the Spider (7-Oct-2001)</a> <br> <a href="/films/778/000131385/">On the Nose (21-Sep-2001)</a> <br> <a href="/films/644/000038530/">The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (5-Aug-2001)</a> <br> <a href="/films/838/000040718/">Evolution (8-Jun-2001)</a> <br> <a href="/films/495/000033396/">Pearl Harbor (21-May-2001)</a> <br> <a href="/films/170/000037059/">The House of Mirth (5-Aug-2000)</a> <br> <a href="/films/371/000034269/">Loser (20-Jul-2000)</a> · Dad<br> <a href="/films/070/000129680/">Stardom (17-May-2000)</a> <br> <a href="/films/683/000037572/">Diamonds (6-Sep-1999)</a> · Lance<br> <a href="/films/317/000043188/">Susan's Plan (29-Oct-1998)</a> <br> <a href="/films/541/000041418/">Antz (19-Sep-1998)</a> · Chip <font size=-2 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">[VOICE]</font><br> <a href="/films/894/000038780/">Blues Brothers 2000 (6-Feb-1998)</a> · Elwood Blues<br> <a href="/films/059/000032960/">Grosse Pointe Blank (11-Apr-1997)</a> · Grocer<br> <a href="/films/095/000088828/">The Arrow (12-Jan-1997)</a> <br> <a href="/films/545/000089278/">Michael Jackson: HIStory on Film - Volume II (1997)</a> · Himself<br> <a href="/films/846/000042720/">My Fellow Americans (20-Dec-1996)</a> · William Haney<br> <a href="/films/045/000033943/">Feeling Minnesota (13-Sep-1996)</a> · Ben Costikyan<br> <a href="/films/847/000042721/">Celtic Pride (19-Apr-1996)</a> · Jimmy Flaherty<br> <a href="/films/837/000035732/">Getting Away with Murder (12-Apr-1996)</a> <br> <a href="/films/330/000042204/">Sgt. Bilko (29-Mar-1996)</a> · Col. Hall<br> <a href="/films/053/000262264/">Rainbow (7-Dec-1995)</a> <br> <a href="/films/685/000037574/">Tommy Boy (31-Mar-1995)</a> <br> <a href="/films/845/000042719/">Exit to Eden (14-Oct-1994)</a> <br> <a href="/films/759/000041636/">North (22-Jul-1994)</a> · Pa Tex<br> <a href="/films/627/000037516/">My Girl 2 (11-Feb-1994)</a> · Harry Sultenfuss<br> <a href="/films/594/000032498/">Coneheads (23-Jul-1993)</a> · Beldar<br> <a href="/films/363/000033264/">Chaplin (25-Dec-1992)</a> · Mack Sennett<br> <a href="/films/627/000032531/">Sneakers (9-Sep-1992)</a> · Mother<br> <a href="/films/880/000034778/">This Is My Life (21-Feb-1992)</a> · Arnold Moss<br> <a href="/films/365/000034263/">My Girl (27-Nov-1991)</a> · Harry Sultenfuss<br> <a href="/films/517/000040397/">Nothing But Trouble (15-Feb-1991)</a> · J. P.<br> <a href="/films/756/000138342/">Masters of Menace (7-Sep-1990)</a> <br> <a href="/films/441/000064249/">Loose Cannons (9-Feb-1990)</a> <br> <a href="/films/553/000036445/">Driving Miss Daisy (13-Dec-1989)</a> · Boolie Werthan<br> <a href="/films/658/000034556/">Ghostbusters II (16-Jun-1989)</a> · Dr. Raymond Stantz<br> <a href="/films/864/000032768/">My Stepmother is an Alien (9-Dec-1988)</a> <br> <a href="/films/155/000033056/">Caddyshack II (22-Jul-1988)</a> · Capt. Tom Everett<br> <a href="/films/472/000059295/">The Great Outdoors (17-Jun-1988)</a> · Roman<br> <a href="/films/824/000034722/">The Couch Trip (15-Jan-1988)</a> <br> <a href="/films/567/000040447/">Dragnet (26-Jun-1987)</a> · Friday<br> <a href="/films/115/000033016/">Spies Like Us (6-Dec-1985)</a> <br> <a href="/films/412/000036304/">Into the Night (15-Feb-1985)</a> <br> <a href="/films/498/000107177/">We Are the World (28-Jan-1985)</a> · Himself<br> <a href="/films/267/000035162/">Nothing Lasts Forever (Sep-1984)</a> <br> <a href="/films/522/000033423/">Ghostbusters (8-Jun-1984)</a> · Dr. Raymond Stantz<br> <a href="/films/721/000033622/">Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (23-May-1984)</a> <br> <a href="/films/211/000034109/">Twilight Zone: The Movie (24-Jun-1983)</a> · Passenger<br> <a href="/films/881/000032785/">Trading Places (8-Jun-1983)</a> · Louis Winthorpe III<br> <a href="/films/011/000033909/">Doctor Detroit (6-May-1983)</a> <br> <a href="/films/042/000068835/">It Came from Hollywood (29-Oct-1982)</a> · Himself<br> <a href="/films/837/000034735/">Neighbors (18-Dec-1981)</a> <br> <a href="/films/587/000032491/">The Blues Brothers (16-Jun-1980)</a> · Elwood<br> <a href="/films/635/000033536/">1941 (14-Dec-1979)</a> · Sgt. Frank Tree<br> <a href="/films/103/000083851/">Mr. Mike's Mondo Video (1979)</a> <br> <a href="/films/726/000032630/">The Rutles (22-Mar-1978)</a> <br><p> <br> <p> <table> <tr> <td align=right valign=middle style="padding-right: 5px;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 22px; font-style: italic; color: #ff3333;">New!</span><br> <a href="http://mapper.nndb.com/" class="fotmlink" style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif; font-size: 10px; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none; color: #dd0000;">NNDB MAPPER</a></td> <td valign=middle align=right style="border-left: 1px solid #bbb; padding-left: 5px;">Create a map starting with</td> <td valign=middle align=right><a href="http://mapper.nndb.com/start/?id=25169"><img src="/man.gif" border=0 style="padding: 2px;"></a></td> <td align=left valign=middle> <a href="http://mapper.nndb.com/start/?id=25169">Dan Aykroyd</a></td> </tr> </table> <font face="Trebuchet MS, arial, helvetica, sans-serif" size="-2">Requires Flash 7+ and Javascript.</font> <br><br><p> <font size=-1>Do you know something we don't?</font><br> <font size=-1><a href="http://commentary.nndb.com/submit/feedback/?id=25169" rel="nofollow">Submit a correction or make a comment about this profile</a></font><br> <p> <br><br><p><font size=-1>Copyright ©2019 Soylent Communications</font><p> </td></tr></table> </td></tr> </table> </td> <td width=180 align="center" valign="top" style="padding: 0px 0px 8px 25px;"></td></tr> </table> </center> </body> </html>