Line #4 Creator/DanAykroyd


1	[[quoteright:280:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dan_aykroyd.jpg]]
2
3	->''"[[Main/AcCENTupontheWrongSylLABle AYYYYYYYYYY]]-kroyd."''
4	-->-- '''[[WebVideo/JonTron Jon Jafari]], commenting on the weird spelling of his name.'''
5
6	Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd [[UsefulNotes/KnightFever CM]] (born July 1, 1952 in Ottawa, Ontario) is a well-known and celebrated Canadian/American comedian, actor, musician, ufologist and entrepreneur. He is also a Reserve Commander in the Louisiana Police, and carries his badge with him at all times -- even stepping in to pull over a speeding driver, once.
7
8	Both parents were in the civil service, and his family is steeped in Spiritism -- something that both generations of Aykroyds highly regard. This would be the basis for ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}'', although Dan's father Peter still protests about the inclusion of the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man. Aykroyd Sr. has published a book about the Spiritism tradition that runs in their family, to which Dan contributed the foreword.
9
10	In his youth, Dan was sent to a Catholic "seminary" high school, ostensibly to become a priest -- but was later kicked out for a prank involving dressing a pig up as the Pope. It was at his next high school that he found his love of acting and the stage. This remained with him, as Dan went on to perform comedy at various clubs, while studying criminology at Carleton University.
11
12	Aykroyd eventually joined the renowned [[Creator/TheSecondCity Second City]] comedy troupe in UsefulNotes/{{Toronto}}. During this time, he was also running an after-hours speak-easy, where he and Creator/JohnBelushi hung out when the latter came to Toronto. Belushi complimented Aykroyd's taste in music, and Aykroyd, surprised by Belushi's lack of knowledge of the blues (considering John was from UsefulNotes/{{Chicago}}, where blues became well known), offered to teach Belushi about the blues. That night, the Blues Brothers were born.
13
14	In 1975, John and Dan went to UsefulNotes/NewYorkCity, where they joined [[Series/SaturdayNightLive NBC's Saturday Night]] (the original name of ''Saturday Night Live''), headed up by an old friend of Dan's, Creator/LorneMichaels. Dan became well known for his impersonations of UsefulNotes/JimmyCarter and UsefulNotes/RichardNixon, his highly energetic advertisements -- such as the Super Bass-O-Matic -- and also hosted ''Weekend Update'' alongside Creator/JaneCurtin. Other characters created by Dan would also go on to gain a following, including Fred Garvin (Male Prostitute), Irwin Mainway (a maker of dangerous toys), Beldar of the Coneheads (this would later be made into a movie), and of course, his musical group/act with John Belushi and the ''SNL'' house band, Film/TheBluesBrothers, which Dan and Creator/JohnLandis later turned into a highly successful movie.
15
16	Over the decades, Aykroyd has occasionally turned up in ''SNL'', mostly in cameos (some of which were on episodes hosted by Creator/JohnGoodman). Aykroyd, despite his reluctance to do so, became the most recent member of the original cast to come back and host ''SNL'' on the last episode of the 2002‒03 season (season 28).
17
18	In 2010, he participated in [[http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/f5a57185bd/funny-or-die-s-presidential-reunion?rel=prog_related&rel_pos=1 a reunion of the parodied Presidents of the United States]], which also featured Creator/ChevyChase.
19
20	In 1982, John Belushi (Aykroyd's friend and comedy partner) died of a drug overdose, becoming the very first deceased ''SNL'' cast member. Four weeks later, when presenting the Academy Award for Best Visual Effects, Aykroyd commented that, "my partner would have loved to have been here to present this award, given that he was something of a visual effect himself." He has also been known to refer affectionately to Slimer from ''Ghostbusters'' as "the ghost of John Belushi", owing to the Onionhead's party-animal personality.
21
22	Following ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'', Dan Aykroyd has had a successful career as an actor and writer, creating several more movies alongside friends from ''SNL'' and Second City, including ''Film/NineteenFortyOne1979'', ''Neighbours'', ''Film/SpiesLikeUs'', ''Film/{{Coneheads}}'', and ''Film/{{Ghostbusters 1984}}''. He has also starred in other movies such as ''Film/MyGirl'' (and [[Film/MyGirl2 its sequel]]), ''Film/{{Sneakers}}'', ''Film/TradingPlaces'', ''Literature/ExitToEden'', ''Film/DrivingMissDaisy'' (which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor) and ''Film/GrossePointeBlank''. Further work has included ABC's sitcom, ''Soul Man'', in which Dan played a widowed Episcopal priest, a role he also played in a ''Series/HomeImprovement'' episode, "Losing My Religion".
23
24	Aykroyd also sung in the choir on 1985's "Music/WeAreTheWorld" fundraiser single. In 1998, Aykroyd was awarded membership of the Order of Canada, a prestigious civilian honour given to those who make Canada, and the world, a better place.
25
26	In addition to acting and writing, Aykroyd has turned entrepreneur, establishing a restaurant chain with Isaac Tigrett, House of Blues, which serves Louisiana cuisine, as well as being a music venue. Despite the chain now being owned by Live Nation, Dan is still involved with House of Blues, and performs at the venues as Elwood Blues, alongside Creator/JamesBelushi as Zee (Zurashayda) Blues. House of Blues also has a [[http://www.thebluesmobile.com radio hour]] that is broadcast on a weekly basis by Dial Global, produced by Ben Manilla. Dan hosts the show as Elwood, sometimes simply providing linking material for themed shows, and sometimes interviewing blues, soul and R&B musicians.
27
28	As many fans will attest, Aykroyd can also be seen at special events across America, where he will happily sign bottles of Crystal Head Vodka, and his wine brand. He has even appeared in ''Hot Mixology'', a show which explains the science of mixing drinks, to promote Crystal Head (the episode also had him doing their requisite PSA about responsible drinking). He is kept busy by his work with House of Blues, Crystal Head Vodka, and the wine label.
29
30	Which brings us to the elephant in the room: Dan Aykroyd is kind of a kook. The whole idea behind Crystal Skull vodka is that he's obsessed with those {{crystal skull}} "artifacts" and believes they were created by [[AncientAstronauts ancient aliens]]. He's serious about the occult and UFO conspiracies. Before you dismiss his beliefs entirely, without them, ''Ghostbusters'' never would have existed. It's a testament to the usefulness of "off the reservation"-type thinking. His family believed in ghosts, too: he got the inspiration for the movie from his father and great-grandfather, who would regularly hold seances in their parlour in Ontario.
31
32	Despite being kept busy by his work with House of Blues, Crystal Head Vodka (based on his fascination with {{Crystal Skull}}s), and the wine label, Dan still somehow finds time to turn up in films and on television, including his appearance on the ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' episode, "[[Recap/FamilyGuyS8E3SpiesReminiscentOfUs Spies Reminiscent of Us]]". There's also the 2009 ''[[VideoGame/GhostbustersTheVideoGame Ghostbusters]]'' video game, and his title role in the Creator/WarnerBros ''Film/YogiBear'' movie.
33
34	He's been described by Creator/JohnCleese as "The only American[[note]]He left out Creator/TerryGilliam, and despite that Aykroyd is originally from Ontario, which is a Canadian province.[[/note]] worthy of being a [[Creator/MontyPython Python]]."
35	----
36	!!Film roles:
37
38	* ''Film/NineteenFortyOne1979'' - Sgt. Frank Tree
39	* ''Film/TheBluesBrothers'' (1980) - Elwood Blues
40	* ''Film/Neighbors1981'' (1981) - Vic
41	* ''Film/TradingPlaces'' (1983) - Louis Winthorpe III
42	* ''Film/DoctorDetroit'' (1983) - Clifford Skridlow/Doctor Detroit
43	* ''Film/TwilightZoneTheMovie'' (1983) - Passenger
44	* ''Film/{{Ghostbusters\|1984}}'' (1984) - Dr. Raymond "Ray" Stanz
45	** ''Film/GhostbustersII'' (1989)
46	** ''Film/GhostbustersAfterlife'' (2021)
47	** ''Film/GhostbustersFrozenEmpire'' (2024)
48	* ''Film/IndianaJonesAndTheTempleOfDoom'' (1984) - Art Weber (cameo)
49	* ''Film/SpiesLikeUs'' (1985) - Austin Millbarge
50	* ''Film/{{Dragnet}}'' (1987) - Sgt. Joe Friday
51	* ''Film/TheGreatOutdoors'' (1988) - Roman Craig
52	* ''Film/MyStepmotherIsAnAlien'' (1988) - Steven Mills
53	* ''Film/DrivingMissDaisy'' (1989) - Boolie Werthan
54	* ''Film/NothingButTrouble'' (1991) Judge Alvin Valkenveiser [[ActingForTwo and Bobo]] (also wrote and directed, [[CreatorKiller once]])
55	* ''Film/MyGirl'' (1991) - Harry Sultenfuss
56	** ''Film/MyGirl2'' (1994)
57	* ''Film/{{Sneakers}}'' (1992) - Mother
58	* ''Film/{{Chaplin}}'' (1992) - Mack Sennett
59	* ''Film/{{Coneheads}}'' (1993) - Beldar Conehead
60	* ''Film/{{North}}'' (1994) - Pa Tex
61	* ''Film/ExitToEden'' (1994) - Fred Lavery
62	* ''Film/TommyBoy'' (1995) - Ray Zalinsky
63	* ''Film/{{Casper}}'' (1995) - Dr. Ray Stanz (cameo)
64	* ''Film/MyFellowAmericans'' (1996) - President William Haney
65	* ''Film/CelticPride'' (1996) - Jimmy Flaherty
66	* ''Film/GrossePointeBlank'' (1997) - Grocer
67	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Antz}}'' (1998) - Chip (voice)
68	* ''Film/BluesBrothers2000'' (1998) - Elwood Blues
69	* ''Film/PearlHarbor'' (2001) - Capt. Thurman
70	* ''Film/{{Evolution\|2001}}'' (2001) - Governor Lewis
71	* ''Film/FiftyFirstDates'' (2004) - Dr. Joseph Keats
72	* ''Film/ChristmasWithTheKranks'' (2004) - Vic Frohmeyer
73	* ''Film/INowPronounceYouChuckAndLarry'' (2007) - Captain Tucker
74	* ''Film/ShortcutToHappiness'' (2007) - Julius Jenson
75	* ''Film/BehindTheCandelabra'' (2013) - Seymour Heller
76	* ''Film/GetOnUp'' (2014) - Ben Bart
77	* ''Film/{{Pixels}}'' (2015) - Captain Phineas Tucker
78	* ''Film/Ghostbusters2016'' (2016) - Taxi Driver (cameo)
79
80	!!Television roles:
81	* ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' (1975-1979) - regular cast member
82	* ''Series/TalesFromTheCrypt'' (1991) - Captain Milligan (in [[Recap/TalesFromTheCryptS3E14Yellow "Yellow"]])
83	* ''Series/PsiFactor'' (1996-2000) - Host
84	* ''Series/SoulMan'' (1997-1998) - Rev. Mike Weber (main character)
85	* ''Series/HomeImprovement'' (1997) - Rev. Mike Weber (CrossOver with ''Series/SoulMan'')
86	* ''Series/AccordingToJim'' - Officer [[TheDanza Danny]] Michalski (Recurring role)
87
88	!!Western Animation roles:
89	* ''WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy'' (2009) - Himself (in [[Recap/FamilyGuyS8E3SpiesReminiscentOfUs "Spies Reminiscent of Us"]])
90	* ''WesternAnimation/LegendsOfOzDorothysReturn'' (2014) - Scarecrow

Context Creator / DanAykroyd