Zel
12-10-01, 01:41 PM
"Are the forces of another dimension working in Dan Aykroyd's favour? He goes from the son of the Deputy Minister of Transportation to comic actor to Oscar® nominee without missing a step. In fact he seems to skip along the way.
Daniel Edward Aykroyd was born on Canada Day, July 1, 1952. He grew up in Ottawa and attended Carlton University. Studying a combination of psychology, criminal sociology and political science paid off. His film career easily spans all three disciplines and then some.
Dan began his comedic career producing, co-writing and acting in a series of 15 minute comedy shows for a private cable company while still in University. Finding these shows to be a little more interesting to him than his course load, Dan devoted himself to the entertainment industry.
In 1972, while working on these comedies, he joined the famed comedy ensemble, Second City and worked in both the Chicago and Toronto clubs. Dan was also co-writing and starring in his first feature film Love at First Sight, also in 1972.
In 1975 he became a founding member of Saturday Night Live. He learned the craft of making people laugh with performers who are now considered legends of comedy. People like John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. He left the show in 1979 but carried with him some important connections. For example, his friendship with Belushi lead to a collaboration in record form. They recorded Briefcase Full of Blues in 1979. In 1980 a full-length film version of SNL's Blues Brothers was released. Studio Executives were unsure of its ability to pull in an audience, being the days of disco and punk. Critically it was a success that with time grew into a cult classic. The Blues Brothers turned Aykroyd and Belushi into icons of the early 80’s. In addition to starring in the film, Aykroyd wrote, produced, and executive produced the soundtrack. Spin off productions include the release of a second album, (Made in America), a chain of restaurants, called The House of Blues and a sequel to the original film. Blues Brothers 2000, released in 1998 picked up where the previous film left off. Due to the death of Belushi in 1982, the film dealt with the missing Brother and brought three new characters into the cast.
It's apparent from his list of credits that Aykroyd is a very hard worker. He has been in so many movies that it would be arduous to list them all. Small parts in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, (1984), She's Having a Baby, (1988), and Masters of Menace, (1990), are complemented by larger roles in other films. He played straight man to Eddie Murphy in Trading Places, (1983) a comedy about role- reversal. In 1984, Ghostbusters gave Dan a chance to delve into a topic that is of great interest to him and his ancestors: the paranormal. His great-grandfather corresponded with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his grandfather held seances in the family home and his father is also an avid follower of the paranormal. This makes writing and starring in Ghostbusters a natural result. A huge hit, Ghostbusters went on to become a sequel in 1989 and an animated cartoon.
Dan is well matched when it comes to the company he keeps within his films. He teamed up with SNL alumni Chevy Chase and Bill Murray in Spies Like Us in 1985. In 1988 he joined John Candy for The Great Outdoors. The Couch Trip included his wife, and Caddyshack II reunited him with Bill Murray again.
Dan took on a dramatic role as Jessica Tandy's son in Driving Miss Daisy, (1989). He was nominated for an Oscar® for Best Supporting Actor. This proved his talent does not lie entirely on the comedic side. Another dramatic role surfaced for Aykroyd in My Girl (1991), starring opposite Jamie Lee Curtis. Aykroyd received critical praise for his performance as a single father mortician trying to raise a daughter. His reprised the role in My Girl II in 1994.
Although he only had a small part in Tommy Boy (1995), Aykroyd had the opportunity to work with Chris Farley, John Belushi's successor, according to the media. He kept busy by taking parts in two low impact films in 1996: Sgt. Bilko and Celtic Pride.
At the same time he started working on Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal. The show focused on the work of authentic paranormal activity, as investigated by the Office of Scientific Research and Investigation. Dan acted as host of the show, which has an early Twilight Zone feel to it. Filmed in Toronto, Dan was able to live closer to his home in Kingston, Ontario.
Next in line for Dan Aykroyd was the made-for-TV movie, The Arrow in 1997. Based on the true story of the development of one of the most advanced jet fighters of its era, and how a variety of problems led to the cancellation of the project, the Avro Arrow had reached mythic proportions in Canada and as a result the movie reached a broad national audience. His second role in 1997 was in Grosse Pointe Blank. Dan played a rival assassin opposite John Cusack and turned in a first rate performance with his great comedic timing.
In 1998, Dan got a chance to stretch his vocal talents when the people behind Antz called to say they wanted to use him in the animated feature. Hardly stopping to catch his breath, Dan signed-on for The House of Mirth. Shot in Glasgow Dan stars opposite the X-Files' paranormal queen, Gillian Anderson. Two important milestones for Dan came in 2001. He costarred in Curse of the House of Jade and he announced his intention to retire from acting. House of Jade was a bit of a disappointment for movie-goers and fans of writer-director-actor Woody Allen. Although Dan Aykroyd carried his role well, the movie didn't achieve anything new for Allen and while not panned, it didn't receive the rave reviews necessary to make it a box office hit. As to his retirement, his fans hope it isn't true and that it amounts to, at most, a rest before the next phase of what has been a highly successful career."
written by Siobhan Rossiter
Films:
Love at First Sight (1974) Things We Did Last Summer (TV-77) The Rutles: All You Need is Cash (TV-78) Mr.Mike's Mondo Video (79) 1941 (79) The Blues Brothers (80) Neighbours (81) It Came From Hollywood (82) Dr. Detroit (82) Twilight Zone: The Movie (83) Trading Places (83) Nothing Lasts Forever (84) Ghostbusters (84) Into the Night (84) Spies Like Us (85) Dragnet (87) She's Having a Baby (uncredited, 88) My Stepmother is an Alien (88) The Great Outdoors (88) Caddyshack II (88) The Couch Trip (88) Ghostbusters II (89) Driving Miss Daisy (89) Masters of Menace (90) Loose Cannons (90) Nothing But Trouble (91) My Girl (91) This is My Life (92) Chaplin (92) Sneakers (92) Coneheads (93) My Girl 2 (94) North (94) Exit to Eden (94) The Random Factor (95) Tommy Boy (95) Canadian Bacon (95) Casper (95) Sgt. Bilko (96) Getting Away with Murder (96) Celtic Pride (96) Feeling Minnesota (96) Rainbow (96) My Fellow Americans (97) The Arrow (TV-97) Grosse Pointe Blank (97) Susan's Plan (98) Antz (voice, 98) Blues Brothers 2000 (98) Diamonds (99) Stardom (2000) Loser (2000) The House of Mirth (2000) On the Nose (2000) Hitting the Wall (2000) Unconditional Love (2001) Pearl Harbour (2001) The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001) Let Virginia Ride (2002) The Devil and Daniel Webster (2001) Who Shot Victor Fox (2002)
TV Series: Coming Up Rosie (1975 - 1976) Saturday Night Live (1975-1979) Psi Factor (1996 - ) Soul Man (1997)
Daniel Edward Aykroyd was born on Canada Day, July 1, 1952. He grew up in Ottawa and attended Carlton University. Studying a combination of psychology, criminal sociology and political science paid off. His film career easily spans all three disciplines and then some.
Dan began his comedic career producing, co-writing and acting in a series of 15 minute comedy shows for a private cable company while still in University. Finding these shows to be a little more interesting to him than his course load, Dan devoted himself to the entertainment industry.
In 1972, while working on these comedies, he joined the famed comedy ensemble, Second City and worked in both the Chicago and Toronto clubs. Dan was also co-writing and starring in his first feature film Love at First Sight, also in 1972.
In 1975 he became a founding member of Saturday Night Live. He learned the craft of making people laugh with performers who are now considered legends of comedy. People like John Belushi, Gilda Radner, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray and Chevy Chase. He left the show in 1979 but carried with him some important connections. For example, his friendship with Belushi lead to a collaboration in record form. They recorded Briefcase Full of Blues in 1979. In 1980 a full-length film version of SNL's Blues Brothers was released. Studio Executives were unsure of its ability to pull in an audience, being the days of disco and punk. Critically it was a success that with time grew into a cult classic. The Blues Brothers turned Aykroyd and Belushi into icons of the early 80’s. In addition to starring in the film, Aykroyd wrote, produced, and executive produced the soundtrack. Spin off productions include the release of a second album, (Made in America), a chain of restaurants, called The House of Blues and a sequel to the original film. Blues Brothers 2000, released in 1998 picked up where the previous film left off. Due to the death of Belushi in 1982, the film dealt with the missing Brother and brought three new characters into the cast.
It's apparent from his list of credits that Aykroyd is a very hard worker. He has been in so many movies that it would be arduous to list them all. Small parts in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, (1984), She's Having a Baby, (1988), and Masters of Menace, (1990), are complemented by larger roles in other films. He played straight man to Eddie Murphy in Trading Places, (1983) a comedy about role- reversal. In 1984, Ghostbusters gave Dan a chance to delve into a topic that is of great interest to him and his ancestors: the paranormal. His great-grandfather corresponded with Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, his grandfather held seances in the family home and his father is also an avid follower of the paranormal. This makes writing and starring in Ghostbusters a natural result. A huge hit, Ghostbusters went on to become a sequel in 1989 and an animated cartoon.
Dan is well matched when it comes to the company he keeps within his films. He teamed up with SNL alumni Chevy Chase and Bill Murray in Spies Like Us in 1985. In 1988 he joined John Candy for The Great Outdoors. The Couch Trip included his wife, and Caddyshack II reunited him with Bill Murray again.
Dan took on a dramatic role as Jessica Tandy's son in Driving Miss Daisy, (1989). He was nominated for an Oscar® for Best Supporting Actor. This proved his talent does not lie entirely on the comedic side. Another dramatic role surfaced for Aykroyd in My Girl (1991), starring opposite Jamie Lee Curtis. Aykroyd received critical praise for his performance as a single father mortician trying to raise a daughter. His reprised the role in My Girl II in 1994.
Although he only had a small part in Tommy Boy (1995), Aykroyd had the opportunity to work with Chris Farley, John Belushi's successor, according to the media. He kept busy by taking parts in two low impact films in 1996: Sgt. Bilko and Celtic Pride.
At the same time he started working on Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal. The show focused on the work of authentic paranormal activity, as investigated by the Office of Scientific Research and Investigation. Dan acted as host of the show, which has an early Twilight Zone feel to it. Filmed in Toronto, Dan was able to live closer to his home in Kingston, Ontario.
Next in line for Dan Aykroyd was the made-for-TV movie, The Arrow in 1997. Based on the true story of the development of one of the most advanced jet fighters of its era, and how a variety of problems led to the cancellation of the project, the Avro Arrow had reached mythic proportions in Canada and as a result the movie reached a broad national audience. His second role in 1997 was in Grosse Pointe Blank. Dan played a rival assassin opposite John Cusack and turned in a first rate performance with his great comedic timing.
In 1998, Dan got a chance to stretch his vocal talents when the people behind Antz called to say they wanted to use him in the animated feature. Hardly stopping to catch his breath, Dan signed-on for The House of Mirth. Shot in Glasgow Dan stars opposite the X-Files' paranormal queen, Gillian Anderson. Two important milestones for Dan came in 2001. He costarred in Curse of the House of Jade and he announced his intention to retire from acting. House of Jade was a bit of a disappointment for movie-goers and fans of writer-director-actor Woody Allen. Although Dan Aykroyd carried his role well, the movie didn't achieve anything new for Allen and while not panned, it didn't receive the rave reviews necessary to make it a box office hit. As to his retirement, his fans hope it isn't true and that it amounts to, at most, a rest before the next phase of what has been a highly successful career."
written by Siobhan Rossiter
Films:
Love at First Sight (1974) Things We Did Last Summer (TV-77) The Rutles: All You Need is Cash (TV-78) Mr.Mike's Mondo Video (79) 1941 (79) The Blues Brothers (80) Neighbours (81) It Came From Hollywood (82) Dr. Detroit (82) Twilight Zone: The Movie (83) Trading Places (83) Nothing Lasts Forever (84) Ghostbusters (84) Into the Night (84) Spies Like Us (85) Dragnet (87) She's Having a Baby (uncredited, 88) My Stepmother is an Alien (88) The Great Outdoors (88) Caddyshack II (88) The Couch Trip (88) Ghostbusters II (89) Driving Miss Daisy (89) Masters of Menace (90) Loose Cannons (90) Nothing But Trouble (91) My Girl (91) This is My Life (92) Chaplin (92) Sneakers (92) Coneheads (93) My Girl 2 (94) North (94) Exit to Eden (94) The Random Factor (95) Tommy Boy (95) Canadian Bacon (95) Casper (95) Sgt. Bilko (96) Getting Away with Murder (96) Celtic Pride (96) Feeling Minnesota (96) Rainbow (96) My Fellow Americans (97) The Arrow (TV-97) Grosse Pointe Blank (97) Susan's Plan (98) Antz (voice, 98) Blues Brothers 2000 (98) Diamonds (99) Stardom (2000) Loser (2000) The House of Mirth (2000) On the Nose (2000) Hitting the Wall (2000) Unconditional Love (2001) Pearl Harbour (2001) The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001) Let Virginia Ride (2002) The Devil and Daniel Webster (2001) Who Shot Victor Fox (2002)
TV Series: Coming Up Rosie (1975 - 1976) Saturday Night Live (1975-1979) Psi Factor (1996 - ) Soul Man (1997)