Editing Dan Aykroyd (section)

==Career==
===''Saturday Night Live''===
Aykroyd gained fame on the American late-night comedy show ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL''). He was originally hired, and paid $278 a week (equivalent to $1,603 in 2024), as a writer for the show, but became a part of the cast before the series premiered. The original cast was referred to on the show as "The Not Ready For Prime Time Players". Aykroyd was the youngest member of the cast, and appeared on the show for its first four seasons, from 1975 to 1979. He brought a sensibility to the show which combined youth, unusual interests, talent as an [[impersonator]], and a manic intensity. Guest host [[Eric Idle]] of [[Monty Python]] said that Aykroyd's ability to write and act out characters made him the only member of the ''SNL'' cast capable of being a Python.<ref name="snl20050220">{{cite episode|title=Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live|series=''SNL''|network=NBC|airdate=February 20, 2005}}</ref>

He was known for his impersonations of celebrities such as [[Jimmy Carter]], [[Vincent Price]], [[Richard Nixon]], [[Rod Serling]], [[Tom Snyder]], and [[Julia Child]]. He was also known for his recurring roles, such as Beldar, father of the [[Coneheads]] family; with [[Steve Martin]], Yortuk Festrunk, one of the "Two Wild and Crazy Guys" brothers from [[Bratislava, Slovakia]]; sleazy late-night cable TV host E. Buzz Miller and his cousin, corrupt maker of children's toys and costumes Irwin Mainway (who extolled the virtues and defended the safety of the "Bag-o-Glass" toy); Fred Garvin, a male prostitute; and high-bred but low-brow critic [[Leonard Pinth-Garnell]]. Aykroyd and [[Jane Curtin]] parodied the Point/Counterpoint segment on the CBS news show ''[[60 Minutes]]'', which featured the liberal [[Shana Alexander]] and the conservative segregationist [[James Kilpatrick]], by portraying the two as hating each another; Aykroyd's first words in response to Curtin's point were, "Jane, you ignorant slut!".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/point-counterpoint-lee-marvin-and-michelle-triola/2846665|title=Point Counterpoint: Lee Marvin and Michelle Triola|date=March 17, 1979|website=Nbc.com|access-date=May 30, 2018}}</ref>

Aykroyd's eccentric talent was recognized by others in the highly competitive ''SNL'' environment; when he first presented his "Super Bass-O-Matic '76" sketch, a fake TV commercial in which a garish, hyper-pitchman (based on [[Ron Popeil]]) touts a [[blender (device)|food blender]] that turns an entire [[striped bass|bass]] into liquid pulp, the other writers and cast members considered the sketch "so exhilaratingly strange that many remember sitting and listening, open-mouthed... Nobody felt jealous of it because they couldn't imagine writing anything remotely like it."<ref>Hill and Weingrad p. 143</ref> Aykroyd later said that the inspiration for the sketch was seeing his aunt Helene Gougeon (a culinary writer and food columnist in [[Montreal]]) put a bass into a blender in order to make a [[bouillabaisse]] when he was 12 years old.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ware|first=Grahame|date=2010|title=Ackroyd explains the origins of the Bass-O-Matic sketch on SNL|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c06HorsmhjY| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/c06HorsmhjY| archive-date=December 11, 2021 | url-status=live|website=Food Channel}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|author-link=Marc Maron|date=|title=WTF Podcast Episode 1108 Dan Aykroyd, approx 36 minute mark - he saw his Aunt Helen cooking up a bouillabaisse from a fish in a blender - Bass-O-Matic|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgqFuS9T4s4| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122145242/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WgqFuS9T4s4| archive-date=January 22, 2021 | url-status=dead|access-date=January 15, 2021|website=YouTube}}</ref>

While Aykroyd was a close friend and partner with fellow cast member [[John Belushi]] and shared some of the same sensibilities, Aykroyd was more reserved and less self-destructive. Aykroyd later recalled that, unlike Belushi and others of his peers, he was uninterested in recreational drug use.<ref>"I was never into the powders or pills. I tried it all but didn't like that clenched-teeth feeling. I didn't like the 'I'm a palpitating rabbit and I'm gonna solve the world's problems' feeling either. I drank some beers. I'm still here." Sean O'Hagan, [http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2003/sep/28/features.review "I'm still haunted by Belushi"], ''The Observer'' September 2003.</ref>

In 1977, he received an [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series|Emmy Award]] for writing on ''SNL''; he later received two more nominations for writing and one for acting. In ''[[Rolling Stone]]''{{'}}s February 2015 appraisal of all 141 ''SNL'' cast members to date, Aykroyd was ranked fifth (behind Belushi, [[Eddie Murphy]], [[Tina Fey]], and [[Mike Myers]]). "Of all the original [''SNL''] greats, Aykroyd is the least imitated", they wrote, "because nobody else can do what he did."<ref>''Rolling Stone'', issue 1229, February 26, 2015, p. 32.</ref>

In later decades, Aykroyd made occasional guest appearances and unannounced [[Cameo appearance|cameo]]s on ''SNL'', often impersonating the American politician [[Bob Dole]]. He also brought back past characters including Irwin Mainway and Leonard Pinth-Garnell. In 1995, he appeared on the show to introduce a performance by Canadian rock band [[The Tragically Hip]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Rudnick |first=Natasha |title=The Tragically Hip: 10 Essential Songs |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/the-tragically-hip-10-essential-songs-97420/grace-too-1994-98177/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |access-date=May 28, 2019 |date=August 19, 2016}}</ref> Aykroyd, who is a fan of the band, had personally lobbied [[Lorne Michaels]] to book them as musical guests.<ref>{{cite news |title=Dan Aykroyd on the Tragically Hip, the blues, ghosts and the Caesar |url=https://www.cbc.ca/radio/q/thursday-may-16-2019-dan-aykroyd-ahmed-best-jar-jar-binks-and-more-from-nunavut-1.5136928/dan-aykroyd-on-the-tragically-hip-the-blues-ghosts-and-the-caesar-1.5137189 |work=[[CBC Radio]] |access-date=May 28, 2019}}</ref>

During some guest appearances, he resurrected the Blues Brothers musical act with frequent host [[John Goodman]] in place of Belushi, who was by then deceased. He became the second member of the original cast to host ''SNL'' in May 2003, when he appeared in the season finale. During his monologue, he performed a musical number with [[James Belushi]] similar to the Blues Brothers, but neither Aykroyd nor Belushi donned the black suit and sunglasses. On March 24, 2007, Aykroyd appeared as a crying fan of ''[[American Idol]]'' finalist [[Sanjaya Malakar]] (played by [[Andy Samberg]]) during "Weekend Update". On February 14, 2009, he appeared as U.S. House Minority leader [[John Boehner]]. Aykroyd also made a surprise guest appearance, along with many other ''SNL'' alumni, on the show of March 9, 2013.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/justin-timberlake-snl-seth-meyers-429238|title=Seth Meyers Reveals Squabbling Behind Justin Timberlake's 'SNL' (Video)|last=Couch|first=Aaron|date=March 15, 2013|website=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref>

===''The Blues Brothers''===
{{main|The Blues Brothers}}

Aykroyd was a close friend of [[John Belushi]]. According to Aykroyd, their first meeting helped spark the Blues Brothers act. When they met in a club that Aykroyd frequented, he played a blues record in the background, and it stimulated a fascination with blues in Belushi, who was primarily a fan of heavy rock bands at the time. Aykroyd educated Belushi on the finer points of blues music, and with a little encouragement from then-''SNL'' music director [[Paul Shaffer]], it led to the creation of their Blues Brothers characters.<ref>{{Cite magazine |title=The Blues Brothers - Soul Man |magazine=[[Paste (magazine)|Paste]] |date=September 14, 2015 |url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/12/the-blues-brothers-soul-man.html |access-date=January 20, 2018 |archive-date=January 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120124345/https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2010/12/the-blues-brothers-soul-man.html| url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2013/01/making-of-blues-brothers-budget-for-cocaine |title=Making Blues Brothers With John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd—"We Had a Budget for Cocaine" |last=Zeman |first=Ned |magazine=[[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]] |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 20, 2018}}</ref>

Backed by such experienced professional R&B sidemen as lead guitarist [[Steve Cropper]], sax man [[Lou Marini]], trumpeter [[Alan Rubin]], and bass guitarist [[Donald "Duck" Dunn]], the Blues Brothers proved more than an ''SNL'' novelty. Taking off with the public as a legitimate musical act, they performed live gigs and in 1978 released the hit album ''[[Briefcase Full of Blues]]'' (drawn from the fact that Aykroyd, as "Elwood Blues", carried his blues harmonicas in a briefcase that he kept handcuffed to his wrist, in the manner of a CIA courier; Belushi originally carried the key to those handcuffs). ''Briefcase Full of Blues'' eventually sold 3.5 million copies, and is one of the highest-selling blues albums of all time.<ref name="AustinSound" /> The band was much further popularized in the 1980 film ''[[The Blues Brothers (film)|The Blues Brothers]]'', which Aykroyd co-wrote. A sequel, titled ''[[Blues Brothers 2000]]'', was released in 1998 and featured John Goodman as Belushi's replacement.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

[[Cherokee Studios]] in Los Angeles was a regular haunt for the original Blues Brothers in the early days of the band. Belushi and Aykroyd became fixtures at the recording studio, while Blues Brothers band member Steve Cropper called Cherokee his producing home. Whenever they needed a bass player, they were joined by another band member, Donald "Duck" Dunn. During this time, Cropper, along with producing partner and Cherokee owner [[Bruce Robb (producer)|Bruce Robb]], worked on a number of music projects with the two comedians/musicians, including Belushi's favourite band, [[Fear (band)|Fear]], and later Aykroyd's movie ''Dragnet''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

The Blues Brothers Band continues to tour, both with  and without Aykroyd. The band features original members Cropper and Marini, along with vocalist [[Eddie Floyd]]. Aykroyd sometimes performs as Elwood, along with Belushi's younger brother [[Jim Belushi]], who plays "Brother Zee" on stage. They are most frequently backed by the Sacred Hearts Band.<ref>{{cite web|author=Karen|url=http://www.jimbelushi.ws/jim-sacredhearts.htm|title=Jim Belushi and the Sacred Hearts|publisher=Jimbelushi.ws|date=January 28, 2011|access-date=May 16, 2011|archive-date=August 9, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110809121903/http://www.jimbelushi.ws/jim-sacredhearts.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Other film and television work===
[[File:Greatoutdoors aykroyd.jpg|thumb|left|Aykroyd (right) on the set of ''[[The Great Outdoors (film)|The Great Outdoors]]'', 1987]]

Concurrent with his work in ''Saturday Night Live'', Aykroyd played the role of Purvis Bickle, lift operator at the fictitious office block 99 Sumach Street in the [[CBC Television]] series ''[[Coming Up Rosie]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://broadcasting-history.com/programming/television/coming-rosie|title=Coming Up Rosie - History of Canadian Broadcasting|website=[[The Canadian Communications Foundation]]|access-date=May 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220504152157/https://broadcasting-history.com/programming/television/coming-rosie|archive-date=May 4, 2022|url-status=|date=October 2003|last=Corcelli|first=John}}</ref>

After leaving ''SNL'', Aykroyd starred in a number of films, mostly comedies, with uneven results both commercially and artistically. His first three American feature films all co-starred Belushi. The first, ''[[1941 (film)|1941]]'' (1979), directed by [[Steven Spielberg]], was a [[box office bomb|box-office disappointment]]. The second, ''The Blues Brothers'' (1980), which he co-wrote with director [[John Landis]], was a massive hit. The third, ''[[Neighbors (1981 film)|Neighbors]]'' (1981) had mixed critical reaction, but was another box-office hit. One of his best-received performances was as a blueblood-turned-wretch in the 1983 comedy ''[[Trading Places]]'', in which he co-starred with fellow ''SNL'' alumnus [[Eddie Murphy]] and [[Jamie Lee Curtis]]. He also appeared in ''[[Twilight Zone: The Movie]]'' in the prologue and at the end of Segment Four as the passenger and the ambulance driver.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In the early 1980s, Aykroyd began work on a script for the film that eventually became ''[[Ghostbusters]]'', inspired by his fascination with [[parapsychology]] and his belief in ghosts. The script initially included a much greater fantasy element, including [[time travel]], but this was toned down substantially through work on the script with [[Harold Ramis]] (who became a co-writer) and director [[Ivan Reitman]]. Aykroyd originally wrote the role of Dr. Peter Venkman with Belushi in mind, but rewrote it for [[Bill Murray]] after Belushi's death. Aykroyd joked that the green ghost, later known as "Slimer", was "the ghost of John Belushi" and was based on Belushi's party-animal personality. ''Ghostbusters'' was released in 1984 and became a huge success for Aykroyd, who also appeared as one of the lead actors; the film earned nearly {{US$|300{{nbsp}}million|link=yes}} on a {{US$|30{{nbsp}}million}} budget.  Aykroyd also briefly appeared in the hit 1984 action-adventure film ''[[Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom]]'' as an escort with a British accent.  
[[File:Dan Aykroyd on set of MTV Music Television NYC.jpg|thumb|right|Aykroyd as a guest MTV VJ in 1982]]
Aykroyd's next major film role was in the 1985 spy comedy film ''[[Spies Like Us]]'', which like ''The Blues Brothers'' was co-conceived and co-written by Aykroyd, and directed by Landis. Aykroyd had again intended for Belushi to be the other lead in the film; the part was instead given to ''SNL'' alumnus [[Chevy Chase]]. The film was intended as an homage to the [[Bob Hope]]/[[Bing Crosby]] ''[[Road to ...]]'' movies of the 1940s to 1960s. Bob Hope made a cameo appearance in the film.<ref>{{cite news |first=Janet |last=Maslin |author-link=Janet Maslin |title=Screen: 'Spies Like Us' |work=[[The New York Times]] |department=Movies |page=C14 |date=December 5, 1985 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/06/movies/screen-spies-like-us.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=January 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803204736/https://www.nytimes.com/1985/12/06/movies/screen-spies-like-us.html |archive-date=2019-08-03 |url-status=live}}</ref>

''[[Dragnet (1987 film)|Dragnet]]'', in which Aykroyd co-starred (with [[Tom Hanks]]) and co-wrote, was released in 1987. The film was both an homage and a satire of the [[Dragnet (franchise)|previous ''Dragnet'' series]], with Aykroyd playing Sgt. [[Joe Friday]] as a police officer whose law-and-order attitude is at odds with modern sensibilities.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 1988, Aykroyd co-starred (with [[John Candy]]) in the comedy film ''[[The Great Outdoors (film)|The Great Outdoors]]''.  Aykroyd appeared in four other films released in 1988 (''[[The Couch Trip]]'', ''[[She's Having a Baby]]'', ''[[Caddyshack II]]'', and ''[[My Stepmother Is an Alien]]''), all of them critical and commercial failures.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

A sequel to ''Ghostbusters'', ''[[Ghostbusters II]]'', was released in 1989; Aykroyd and the other co-creators were reluctant to make another ''Ghostbusters'' film, but succumbed to pressure from the film's studio, [[Columbia Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news |title= Ghostly Movie |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |date=May 17, 1987 |url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-05-17-ca-380-story.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=November 8, 2010 |first=Leonard |last=Klady}}</ref> The film, while considered inferior to the original, was another big hit, earning {{US$|215{{nbsp}}million}}. Aykroyd was nominated for an [[Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor]] for 1989's ''[[Driving Miss Daisy]]''. He was the fourth ''SNL'' cast member to be nominated for an Oscar, following [[Joan Cusack]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newsweek.com/looking-all-snl-staffers-received-oscar-nods-429584|title=A Look at All the 'SNL' Staffers Who've Received Oscar Nominations|website=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=May 4, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160330053848/https://www.newsweek.com/looking-all-snl-staffers-received-oscar-nods-429584|archive-date=March 30, 2016|date=February 23, 2016|last=Hoglund|first=Andy|url-status=live}}</ref>

Aykroyd's directorial debut was 1991's ''[[Nothing but Trouble (1991 film)|Nothing but Trouble]]'' starring [[Demi Moore]], Chevy Chase, [[John Candy]], and Aykroyd, sporting a bulbous prosthetic nose. The film was a critical and box-office flop. Most of Aykroyd's other films in the 1990s were similarly poorly received, including ''[[Chaplin (film)|Chaplin]]'' (1992), ''[[Coneheads (film)|Coneheads]]'' (1993, also based on a ''SNL'' skit), ''[[North (1994 film)|North]]'' (1994), ''[[Exit to Eden (film)|Exit to Eden]]'' (1994), ''[[Canadian Bacon (film)|Canadian Bacon]]'' (1995), ''[[Getting Away with Murder (1996 film)|Getting Away with Murder]]'' (1996), and ''[[Blues Brothers 2000]]'' (1998). Four exceptions were ''[[My Girl (film)|My Girl]]'' (1991), which starred Jamie Lee Curtis, and [[Macaulay Culkin]], ''[[Sneakers (1992 film)|Sneakers]]'' (1992), which starred [[Robert Redford]], ''[[Tommy Boy (film)|Tommy Boy]]'' (1995), which starred ''SNL'' alumni [[David Spade]] and [[Chris Farley]], in which Aykroyd played the role of Ray Zalinsky, and ''[[Grosse Pointe Blank]]'' (1997), in which Aykroyd had a well-received role as a rival hit man.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 1994, Aykroyd made a guest appearance in an episode of the sitcom ''[[The Nanny]]'' as a refrigerator repairman. In 1997, he starred as an Episcopal priest in the ABC sitcom ''[[Soul Man (TV series)|Soul Man]]'', which lasted two seasons. In 1998, he voiced the role of Chip, a wasp, in [[DreamWorks Animation]] film ''[[Antz]]''.

In 2001, Aykroyd starred in the [[Woody Allen]] film ''[[The Curse of the Jade Scorpion]]''. Most of his subsequent film roles have tended to be small character parts in big-budget productions, such as a father in ''[[Loser (film)|Loser]]'' (2000), a signals analyst in ''[[Pearl Harbor (film)|Pearl Harbor]]'' (2001), a neurologist in ''[[50 First Dates]]'' (2004), an annoying neighbor in ''[[Christmas with the Kranks]]'' (2004), and a fire captain in ''[[I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry]]'' (2007).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dan Aykroyd {{!}} Writer, Actor, Producer |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000101/ |access-date=2025-03-09 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> 

In 2009, Aykroyd and Ramis wrote and appeared in ''[[Ghostbusters: The Video Game]]'', which also featured Bill Murray, [[Ernie Hudson]], [[Annie Potts]], [[William Atherton]], and [[Brian Doyle-Murray]]. In 2010, he played the voice of the title character, [[Yogi Bear]], in the live-action/CGI-animated-film ''[[Yogi Bear (film)|Yogi Bear]]''. That same year, Aykroyd and Chevy Chase guest-starred in the ''[[Family Guy]]'' episode "[[Spies Reminiscent of Us]]", an homage to ''Spies Like Us''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Other television series that Aykroyd appeared in included ''[[According to Jim]]'' (2002–2009, which starred [[Jim Belushi]]), ''[[Living with Fran]]'' (2006), and ''[[Workin' Moms]]'' (2017–2023). Aykroyd appeared in two February 2011 episodes of CBS's ''[[The Defenders (2010 TV series)|The Defenders]]'' as Judge Max Hunter, which also starred Jim Belushi.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/News/Dan-Aykroyd-Defenders-1026196.aspx|title=Dan Aykroyd to Reunite with Jim Belushi on The Defenders|work=TV Guide |publisher=TVGuide.com|access-date=November 30, 2010}}</ref> He also appeared on ''Top Chef Canada'' as a guest judge.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/17/AR2011021706507.html |title=TV Highlights: Dan Aykroyd on 'The Defenders'; Dina Lohan on '20/20'; 'Gold Rush: Alaska' finale |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=February 18, 2011 |url-access=subscription |access-date=February 20, 2011}}</ref>  He had supporting roles in the 2012 political comedy film ''[[The Campaign (film)|The Campaign]]'', which starred ''SNL'' alum [[Will Ferrell]], and in the 2013 [[HBO]] film ''[[Behind the Candelabra]]''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

In 2014, Aykroyd voiced the role of [[Scarecrow (Oz)|Scarecrow]] in ''[[Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return]]'', and had a supporting role in the comedy film ''[[Tammy (film)|Tammy]]''.  In 2015, he appeared in a [[State Farm]] insurance commercial along with [[Jane Curtin]] and [[Laraine Newman]], as the [[Coneheads]], talking to "Jake", a State Farm agent,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/coneheads-statefarm-saturday-night-live-characters-in-commercial-1201492023/|title=Coneheads: 'Saturday Night Live' Characters Turn Up in State Farm Ad – Variety|last=Steinberg|first=Brian|date=May 11, 2015|website=variety.com|access-date=December 6, 2019}}</ref> and played the [[Master of ceremonies|emcee]] of the video game championship in the science fiction comedy film ''[[Pixels (2015 film)|Pixels]]''.{{Citation needed|date=December 2023}}

Aykroyd was one of the executive producers of ''[[Ghostbusters (2016 film)|Ghostbusters]]'' (2016), a long-discussed reboot of the [[Ghostbusters (franchise)|''Ghostbusters'' franchise]], which was released in 2016. Aykroyd had a cameo appearance in the film, along with many of the rest of the surviving original ''Ghostbusters'' cast.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2015/03/ghostbusters-channing-tatum-joe-and-anthony-russo-drew-pearce-ivan-reitman-dan-aykroyd-1201388917|title=Sony Plans New 'Ghostbusters' Film With Russo Brothers, Channing Tatum & 'IM3' Scribe Drew Pearce |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=March 9, 2015|access-date=March 9, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/ghostbusters-expanding-franchise |title=Reitman, Aykroyd Team For 'Ghostcorp'; Expanding "Ghostbusters" Franchise |magazine=[[Fangoria]] |date=March 9, 2015 |access-date=March 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907061214/http://www.fangoria.com/new/ghostbusters-expanding-franchise/ |archive-date=September 7, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In early 2021, Aykroyd provided the voice of the Postage Stamp Fellow in the episode ''[[The Dad-Feelings Limited]]'' in the TV series ''[[The Simpsons]]''. He also reprised his role of Dr. Ray Stantz in the movie ''[[Ghostbusters: Afterlife]]'' (2021). Aykroyd expressed interest in having the surviving three actors of the original Ghostbusters team continuing to reprise their roles for as many sequels as possible while they were alive. Aykroyd again reprises his role in ''[[Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire]]'' (2024).<ref>{{cite web |last=Fidducia |first=Christopher |title=Ghostbusters 4, 5 & 6 Could Happen With Original Team, Says Dan Aykroyd |url=https://screenrant.com/ghostbusters-4-afterlife-sequel-returning-cast-dan-aykroyd/ |website=[[Screen Rant]] |access-date=December 23, 2021 |date=December 18, 2021}}</ref>

===Other musical endeavours===
Aykroyd participated in the recording of "[[We Are the World]]" in 1985, as a member of the chorus. He wrote the liner notes for fellow Ottawa-born blues musician [[JW-Jones]]'s album ''Bluelisted'' in 2008. Until its ending in 2018, he hosted the internationally syndicated radio show "Elwood's BluesMobile", formerly known as the ''House of Blues Radio Hour'', under his Blues Brothers moniker Elwood Blues.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thebluesmobile.com/ |title=TheBluesmobile.com |publisher=TheBluesmobile.com |access-date=May 16, 2011}}</ref>