---
name: "Dan Aykroyd"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/dan-aykroyd"
fi1m_id: "dan-aykroyd"
imdb_id: "nm0000101"
tmdb_id: 707
wikidata_id: "Q105221"
roles: ["Actor","Writer","Producer"]
born: "1 July 1952"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 18
average_fi1m_score: 61
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 17
updated: "2026-10-04T20:04:30.527340+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Dan Aykroyd

## Identity

Dan Aykroyd

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/dan-aykroyd
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** dan-aykroyd
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000101
- **TMDB ID:** 707
- **Wikidata ID:** Q105221
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Aykroyd, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105221, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000101/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/707

Actor and writer. Born 1 July 1952 in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor, Writer, Producer
- **Born:** 1 July 1952, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
- **Active:** 1980–present
- **Also known as:** Elwood, Daniel Edward Aykroyd, Danny Aykroyd, 댄 애크로이드, 丹·艾克洛德, دن آیکروید
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 18: 17 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Ivan Reitman](https://film.one/person/ivan-reitman.md), [John Landis](https://film.one/person/john-landis.md), [Bill Murray](https://film.one/person/bill-murray.md), [Carrie Coon](https://film.one/person/carrie-coon.md), [Finn Wolfhard](https://film.one/person/finn-wolfhard.md), [Gil Kenan](https://film.one/person/gil-kenan.md), [Harold Ramis](https://film.one/person/harold-ramis.md), [Jason Reitman](https://film.one/person/jason-reitman.md)
- **Primetime Emmy Awards:** 1 Emmy (1 won · 1 nominated)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 61, as actor, over 17 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 67 (9), 1990s 59 (2), 2010s 55 (4), 2020s 61 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 62 to 60 across 14 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 6 at 60–79, 7 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 7 of 14 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 13, Fantasy 7, Action 5, Adventure 5, Crime 2, Drama 2
- **Screen time:** 30 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $2,380m across 16 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dan_Aykroyd, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q105221, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000101/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/707

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*The Blues Brothers*](https://film.one/film/the-blues-brothers.md) (81), [*Ghostbusters*](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters.md) (80), [*Dragnet*](https://film.one/film/dragnet.md) (55)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Trading Places*](https://film.one/film/trading-places.md) (80), [*Pixels*](https://film.one/film/pixels.md) (36)
- **Tubi:** [*Driving Miss Daisy*](https://film.one/film/driving-miss-daisy.md) (68), [*Ghostbusters II*](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-ii.md) (60)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Twilight Zone: The Movie*](https://film.one/film/twilight-zone-the-movie.md) (63), [*Spies Like Us*](https://film.one/film/spies-like-us.md) (47)
- **HBO Max:** [*Behind the Candelabra*](https://film.one/film/behind-the-candelabra.md) (81)
- **Disney+:** [*Ghostbusters: Afterlife*](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-afterlife.md) (55)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Dan Aykroyd

> Dan Aykroyd makes elaborate nonsense sound like a practical matter requiring prompt attention. His brisk, straight-faced conviction makes him a fine supporting player, though it cannot make an overcrowded comedy work.

In *Behind the Candelabra* (2013), Dan Aykroyd’s Seymour Heller treats the complications around Liberace as a scheduling problem. What makes the performance funny is his refusal to be distracted from the practicalities. Steven Soderbergh uses him sparingly, and the dryness suits a film that refuses to smirk at its characters. We rate Aykroyd highly in this sort of part, where his brisk certainty gives a scene its humour without requiring him to dominate it.

The early films gave that certainty larger jobs. He co-wrote *The Blues Brothers* (1980), performing alongside John Belushi, and *Ghostbusters* (1984), written with Harold Ramis. Blues music and the paranormal were his own interests, and his fast, solemn delivery made their elaborate comic possibilities sound entirely reasonable. He is particularly good at delivering pseudo-scientific jargon without pausing to acknowledge its absurdity. *Driving Miss Daisy* (1989), in which he played Boolie Werthan, also established how effectively he could work in a dramatic supporting part.

His film choices have sometimes let him down. In *Grosse Pointe Blank* (1997), he plays Grocer, but our reservations about the film concern its growing satisfaction with its own cleverness. John Cusack and Minnie Driver make the romance worth following; the comedy still fails to find enough uses for its premise. We would not recommend it simply because Aykroyd is in the cast.

*Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024) gives him a proper part as Ray Stantz, still unwilling to stop, rather than just a few lines for old times’ sake. That is welcome, but the film keeps interrupting the Spenglers to accommodate the old team. We were bored when the demon’s history was explained for a second time, because the library scene had already done the job before the laboratory repeated it. Aykroyd’s continued enthusiasm cannot settle six competing storylines or return attention to the family. For a better use of his ability to fit into an ensemble, choose *Behind the Candelabra*.

## Biography

Dan Aykroyd is a Canadian actor, comedian, screenwriter and producer. Born in Ottawa, Ontario, he studied criminology and sociology at Carleton University before joining the Second City improv troupe in Toronto and Chicago.

He was a founding member of the Not Ready for Prime Time Players on Saturday Night Live from 1975 to 1979, where he created the Blues Brothers characters with John Belushi. The 1980 feature film The Blues Brothers followed. Aykroyd co-wrote and starred as Dr. Raymond Stantz in Ghostbusters (1984) and its sequels, including Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) and Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024).

Other notable roles include Seymour Heller in Behind the Candelabra (2013). He received an honorary doctorate from Carleton University in 1994 and was appointed a Member of the Order of Canada in 1998.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, canadaswalkoffame.com.*

## On Fi1m (18)

### Performed in (17) — the average rests on these

- *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024), Fi1m 52, as Ray Stantz — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-frozen-empire.md)
- *Ghostbusters: Afterlife* (2021), Fi1m 55, as Ray Stantz — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-afterlife.md)
- *Ghostbusters* (2016), Fi1m 64, as Cabbie — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016.md)
- *Pixels* (2015), Fi1m 36, as 1982 Championship MC — [page](https://film.one/film/pixels.md)
- *Tammy* (2014), Fi1m 38, as Don — [page](https://film.one/film/tammy.md)
- *Behind the Candelabra* (2013), Fi1m 81, as Seymour Heller — [page](https://film.one/film/behind-the-candelabra.md)
- *Family Guy* (1999), Fi1m 63, as Dan Aykroyd (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *Grosse Pointe Blank* (1997), Fi1m 55, as Grocer — [page](https://film.one/film/grosse-pointe-blank.md)
- *Driving Miss Daisy* (1989), Fi1m 68, as Boolie Werthan — [page](https://film.one/film/driving-miss-daisy.md)
- *Ghostbusters II* (1989), Fi1m 60, as Dr. Raymond Stantz — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-ii.md)
- *Dragnet* (1987), Fi1m 55, as Sgt. Joe Friday — [page](https://film.one/film/dragnet.md)
- *Spies Like Us* (1985), Fi1m 47, as Austin Millbarge — [page](https://film.one/film/spies-like-us.md)
- *Ghostbusters* (1984), Fi1m 80, as Dr. Raymond Stantz — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters.md)
- *Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom* (1984), Fi1m 65, as Art Weber — [page](https://film.one/film/indiana-jones-and-the-temple-of-doom.md)
- *Trading Places* (1983), Fi1m 80, as Louis Winthorpe III — [page](https://film.one/film/trading-places.md)
- *Twilight Zone: The Movie* (1983), Fi1m 63, as Passenger — [page](https://film.one/film/twilight-zone-the-movie.md)
- *The Blues Brothers* (1980), Fi1m 81, as Elwood Blues — [page](https://film.one/film/the-blues-brothers.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *You Had to Be There: How the Toronto Godspell Ignited the Comedy Revolution...* (2026), Fi1m 77, as Self — [page](https://film.one/film/you-had-to-be-there-how-the-toronto-godspell-ignited-the-comedy-revolution.md)

## Complete filmography (128)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *An SNL Thanksgiving* (2024), as (archive footage)
- *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024), as Ray Stantz · Original Film Writer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-frozen-empire.md)
- *The UnBelievable with Dan Aykroyd* (2023), series, Executive Producer
- *Zombie Town* (2023), as Len Carver
- *Ghostbusters: Afterlife* (2021), as Ray Stantz · Original Film Writer, Executive Producer — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-afterlife.md)
- *The Movies That Made Us* (2019), series, as Ray Stantz (archive footage)
- *Defend, Conserve, Protect* (2019), as Narrator
- *The Conners* (2018), series, as Buddy
- *Workin' Moms* (2017), series, as Kate's Dad, Kate's Dad (voice)
- *Ghostbusters* (2016), as Cabbie · Characters, Executive Producer — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-2016.md)
- *Pixels* (2015), as 1982 Championship MC — Fi1m 36, [page](https://film.one/film/pixels.md)
- *Dino Hunt Canada* (2015), series, as Narrator
- *Time Is But a Window: Ghostbusters 2 and Beyond* (2014), Actor
- *Who You Gonna Call?: A Ghostbusters Retrospective* (2014), Actor
- *Get On Up* (2014), as Ben Bart
- *Tammy* (2014), as Don — Fi1m 38, [page](https://film.one/film/tammy.md)
- *Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return* (2014), as Scarecrow (voice)
- *Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving* (2013), as Rick Phillips
- *Behind the Candelabra* (2013), as Seymour Heller — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/behind-the-candelabra.md)
- *Born In Chicago* (2013), as Narrator · Executive Producer
- *The Campaign* (2012), as Wade Motch
- *Yogi Bear* (2010), as Yogi Bear (voice)
- *The Women of SNL* (2010), as Various (archive footage)
- *The Defenders* (2010), series, as Judge Max Hunter
- *Presidential Reunion* (2010), as Jimmy Carter
- *War, Inc.* (2008), as Mr. Vice President
- *Shortcut to Happiness* (2007), as Julius Jensen
- *I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry* (2007), as Captain Tucker
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd* (2005), as Various Characters (archive footage)
- *Living with Fran* (2005), series, Actor
- *Christmas with the Kranks* (2004), as Vic Frohmeyer
- *Ronnie Hawkins: Still Alive and Kickin* (2004), as Narrator
- *White Coats* (2004), as Dr. Cyrill Kipp
- *50 First Dates* (2004), as Dr. Keats
- *James Brown: Soul Survivor* (2003), Actor
- *Bright Young Things* (2003), as Lord Monomark
- *Unconditional Love* (2002), as Max Beasley
- *Crossroads* (2002), as Pete Wagner
- *On the Nose* (2001), as Dr. Barry Davis
- *Earth vs. the Spider* (2001), as Det. Insp. Jack Grillo
- *According to Jim* (2001), series, as Danny Michalski
- *The Curse of the Jade Scorpion* (2001), as Chris Magruder
- *Evolution* (2001), as Governor Lewis
- *Pearl Harbor* (2001), as Captain Thurman
- *The House of Mirth* (2000), as Augustus 'Gus' Trenor
- *Stardom* (2000), as Barry Levine
- *Loser* (2000), as Dad
- *Diamonds* (1999), as Lance Agensky
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dana Carvey* (1999), Actor
- *Tales from the Crypt: The Robert Zemeckis Collection* (1999), as Captain Milligan
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Dan Aykroyd (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *Susan's Plan* (1998), as Bob
- *Antz* (1998), as Chip (voice)
- *Blues Brothers 2000* (1998), as Elwood Blues · Writer, Producer
- *Soul Man* (1997), series, as Rev. Mike Weber · Executive Producer
- *Grosse Pointe Blank* (1997), as Grocer — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/grosse-pointe-blank.md)
- *The Arrow* (1997), as Crawford Gordon Jr.
- *The Arrow* (1997), series, as Crawford Gordon
- *Heritage Minutes: Avro Arrow* (1997), as Crawford Gordon
- *My Fellow Americans* (1996), as President William Haney
- *Feeling Minnesota* (1996), as Det. Ben Costikyan
- *Rainbow* (1996), as Sheriff Wyatt Hampton
- *Celtic Pride* (1996), as Jimmy Flaherty
- *Getting Away with Murder* (1996), as Jack Lambert
- *Sgt. Bilko* (1996), as Colonel Hall
- *Canadian Bacon* (1995), as OPP Officer (uncredited)
- *Casper* (1995), as Dr. Raymond Stantz (uncredited)
- *Tommy Boy* (1995), as Ray Zalinsky
- *The Random Factor* (1995), as Dexter (voice)
- *Live from the House of Blues* (1995), series, Actor
- *Exit to Eden* (1994), as Fred Lavery
- *North* (1994), as Pa Tex
- *My Girl 2* (1994), as Harry Sultenfuss
- *The Nanny* (1993), series, as Repairman (uncredited)
- *The Best of the Blues Brothers* (1993), as Elwood Blues / Self · Writer
- *Coneheads* (1993), as Beldar · Screenplay
- *Chaplin* (1992), as Mack Sennett
- *Sneakers* (1992), as Mother
- *This Is My Life* (1992), as Arnold Moss
- *Two-Fisted Tales* (1992), as Captain Miligan
- *My Girl* (1991), as Harry Sultenfuss
- *Home Improvement* (1991), series, as Mike Weber
- *Heritage Minutes* (1991), series, as Crawford Gordon
- *Nothing but Trouble* (1991), as Judge Alvin 'J.P' Valkenheiser / Bobo · Director, Screenplay
- *Masters of Menace* (1990), as Johnny Lewis
- *The Earth Day Special* (1990), as Vic's Buddy
- *Loose Cannons* (1990), as Ellis Fielding
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Postage Stamp Fellow (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Driving Miss Daisy* (1989), as Boolie Werthan — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/film/driving-miss-daisy.md)
- *Ghostbusters II* (1989), as Dr. Raymond Stantz · Screenplay, Characters — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-ii.md)
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Captain Milligan
- *My Stepmother Is an Alien* (1988), as Steven Mills
- *Caddyshack II* (1988), as Captain Tom Everett
- *The Great Outdoors* (1988), as Roman Craig
- *She's Having a Baby* (1988), as Roman (uncredited)
- *The Couch Trip* (1988), as John W. Burns, Jr.
- *Dragnet* (1987), as Sgt. Joe Friday · Screenplay — Fi1m 55, [page](https://film.one/film/dragnet.md)
- *Citizen Steve* (1987), as Chial Dushane · Director
- *The Real Ghostbusters* (1986), series, Creator
- *One More Saturday Night* (1986), Executive Producer
- *American Masters* (1986), series, as Julia Child (archive footage)
- *Spies Like Us* (1985), as Austin Millbarge · Screenplay — Fi1m 47, [page](https://film.one/film/spies-like-us.md)
- *The Best of John Belushi* (1985), as Various Characters
- *Into the Night* (1985), as Herb
- *On the Scene with the Ghostbusters* (1984), Actor
- *Nothing Lasts Forever* (1984), as Buck Heller
- *Ghostbusters* (1984), as Dr. Raymond Stantz · Screenplay — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters.md)
- *Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom* (1984), as Art Weber — Fi1m 65, [page](https://film.one/film/indiana-jones-and-the-temple-of-doom.md)
- *The Coneheads* (1983), as Beldar (voice)
- *Twilight Zone: The Movie* (1983), as Passenger — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/twilight-zone-the-movie.md)
- *Trading Places* (1983), as Louis Winthorpe III — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/trading-places.md)
- *Doctor Detroit* (1983), as Clifford Skridlow / Doctor Detroit
- *E.T. and Friends: Magical Movie Visitors* (1982), as Beldar Conehead
- *Neighbors* (1981), as Vic
- *Steve Martin's Best Show Ever* (1981), as Yortuk Festrunk / Irwin Mainway / Alexander Haig / Dr. Treves · Writer
- *The Blues Brothers* (1980), as Elwood Blues · Writer — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-blues-brothers.md)
- *1941* (1979), as Sgt. Frank Tree
- *Mr. Mike's Mondo Video* (1979), as Church of Jack Lord Leader / Self
- *The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland* (1978), as Elwood Blues
- *The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash* (1978), as Brian Thigh
- *Love at First Sight* (1977), as Roy
- *The Beach Boys: It's OK* (1976), as Cop #1 · Writer
- *The Beach Boys: It's OK* (1976), as Cop #1 · Writer
- *The Gift of Winter* (1974), as Goodly / Rotten / Maple (voice)
- *Getting Lost*, as (voice)
- *Ghostbusters: Night Shift*, series, Executive Producer
- *Belushi*, Executive Producer
- *Keeper of the Cup*, as The Keeper

## Gallery

- ![Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Raymond Stantz in Ghostbusters (1984)](https://film.one/media/title/1374/still-b0cc69f64d89.jpg) Dan Aykroyd as Dr. Raymond Stantz in *Ghostbusters* (1984) — Image via TMDB
- ![Dan Aykroyd as Louis Winthorpe III in Trading Places (1983)](https://film.one/media/title/1841/still-5c5283b6ed55.jpg) Dan Aykroyd as Louis Winthorpe III in *Trading Places* (1983) — Image via TMDB
- ![Dan Aykroyd as Grocer in Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)](https://film.one/media/title/4533/still-825971dbc347.jpg) Dan Aykroyd as Grocer in *Grosse Pointe Blank* (1997) — Image via TMDB
- ![Dan Aykroyd](https://film.one/media/person/9374/gallery-70841b27258c.jpg) Dan Aykroyd — Rnunezart, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f8/Dan_Aykroyd_cropped.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Founders Dan Aykroyd and John Alexander (2017)](https://film.one/media/person/9374/gallery-5ec34069b8ea.jpg) Founders Dan Aykroyd and John Alexander (2017) — Dustintitus, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Dan_and_John_%282%29.jpg/1280px-Dan_and_John_%282%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Sidelines' host Jon Erlichman interviews Dan Aykroyd about Crystal Head Vodka. (2018)](https://film.one/media/person/9374/gallery-be5d91ee4252.jpg) Sidelines' host Jon Erlichman interviews Dan Aykroyd about Crystal Head Vodka. (2018) — Sidelines (TV Series), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/37/Dan_Aykroyd_Sidelines.jpg/1280px-Dan_Aykroyd_Sidelines.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dan Aykroyd](https://film.one/media/person/9374/gallery-1d77c7b9a9af.jpg) Dan Aykroyd — Image via TMDB
- ![Dan Aykroyd](https://film.one/media/person/9374/gallery-85babef7e0ce.jpg) Dan Aykroyd — Image via TMDB
- ![Dan Aykroyd](https://film.one/media/person/9374/gallery-e151c4337bed.jpg) Dan Aykroyd — Image via TMDB
- ![Dan Aykroyd](https://film.one/media/person/9374/gallery-e065bbcafbb5.jpg) Dan Aykroyd — Image via TMDB
- ![Dan Aykroyd](https://film.one/media/person/9374/gallery-afdbbf49e387.jpg) Dan Aykroyd — Image via TMDB
- ![Dan Aykroyd](https://film.one/media/person/9374/gallery-ddf09ef89a34.jpg) Dan Aykroyd — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1990: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Driving Miss Daisy*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- 1978: Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (nominated), for *Saturday Night Live*
- 1977: Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (won), for *Saturday Night Live*

### Other awards — 4 won, 5 nominated

- Great Immigrants Award 2007: Great Immigrants Award (won)
- Canada's Walk of Fame 2002: Canada's Walk of Fame (won)
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple/Ensemble 1994: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple/Ensemble (nominated), for *Exit to Eden*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 1994: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (nominated), for *North*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director 1992: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Director (nominated), for *Nothing but Trouble*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay 1992: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screenplay (nominated), for *Nothing but Trouble*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 1992: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (won), for *Nothing but Trouble*
- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award 1989: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor - Razzie Award (won), for *Caddyshack II*
- Hugo Awards 1985: Best Dramatic Presentation (nominated), for *Ghostbusters*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/dan-aykroyd