Below is a compiled list of the most interesting facts about Dan Aykroyd. Check it out!
Daniel Edward Aykroyd was born on July 1, 1952 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, to Lorraine Hélène (Gougeon), a secretary from a French-Canadian family, and Samuel Cuthbert Peter Hugh Aykroyd, a civil engineer who advised prime minister Pierre Trudeau. Aykroyd attended Carleton University in 1969, where he majored in Criminology and Sociology, but he dropped out before completing his degree. He worked as a comedian in various Canadian nightclubs and managed an after-hours speakeasy, Club 505, in Toronto for several years. He worked with Second City Stage Troupe in Toronto and started his acting career at Carleton University with Sock’n’Buskin, the campus theater/drama club. Married to Donna Dixon since 1983, they have three daughters. His parents are named Peter and Lorraine and his brother Peter Aykroyd is a psychic researcher. Dan received an honorary Doctorate from Carleton University in 1994 and was made a Member of the Order of Canada in 1998.
Interesting Facts about Dan Aykroyd
- Biography in: “Who’s Who in Comedy” by Ronald L. Smith. pg. 32-33. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387
- He was considered for the role of Alan Parish in Jumanji (1995) that went to Robin Williams.
- As a child in the early 1960s, he was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome and Asperger syndrome. The symptoms had mostly subsided by the time he was 14.
- Proposed to Donna Dixon on Fran Drescher’s porch. Drescher played a major role in getting them together from the start, after they all starred in Doctor Detroit (1983) together.
- Was offered the role of “D-Day” in National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978), but turned it down due to his commitment to Saturday Night Live (1975). According to John Landis, Lorne Michaels threatened to fire Aykroyd if he took the role.
- Aykroyd and John Belushi were scheduled to present the first annual Best Visual Effects Oscar at the 1982 Academy Awards, but Belushi died weeks before the ceremony. Aykroyd presented the award alone, and stated from the podium: “My partner would have loved to have been here tonight to present this award, since he was a bit of a Visual Effect himself.”
- Good friends with novelist Patricia Cornwell.
- Was once engaged to Carrie Fisher.
- Has played harmonica since he was 17 years old.
- He was going to star opposite John Belushi in a film adaptation of “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” until Belushi’s death put an end to that.
- On his passport, he lists his occupation as “Writer”.
- Co-owns House of Blues with friend Isaac Tigrett
Personal Quotes by Dan Aykroyd
I accept sceptics, you’ve got to have challenges.
Dan Aykroyd
There’s huge, massive mother ships going up to the Yukon. They’ve been filmed and are on video.
Dan Aykroyd
Well, the common enemy in North America is the Western consumer. The consumer has driven oil up to $50 a barrel so we have to have these wars. I think it’s incumbent upon us to.
Dan Aykroyd
We have the most beautiful planet – the Rockies, the purple fields of the United States, the Lake District, the Pyrenees, the turquoise seas of the tropics.
Dan Aykroyd
