Biography of Dan Aykroyd

He conceived and starred in Ghostbusters , which spawned a sequel and eventually an entire media franchise. In 1990, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the 1989 film Driving Miss Daisy. He starred in his own sitcom, Soul Man . Aykroyd is also a businessman, having co-founded the House of Blues chain of music venues and the Crystal Head Vodka brand.

Aykroyd was born on July 1, 1952 at The Ottawa Hospital in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He grew up in Ottawa, Canada's capital, where his father, Samuel Cuthbert Peter Hugh Aykroyd, a civil engineer, worked as a policy adviser to Canadian Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. His mother, Lorraine Helene Marie, was a secretary. His mother was of French Canadian descent and his father is of English, Scottish, Irish, French, and Dutch ancestry. His brother, Peter, is also an actor.

Aykroyd was born with syndactyly, or webbed toes, which was revealed in the film Mr. Mike's Mondo Video and in a short film on Saturday Night Live titled "Don't Look Back In Anger". Aykroyd was raised in the Catholic Church, and until age 17, he intended to become a priest. He attended St. Pius X and St. Patrick's high schools, and studied criminology and sociology at Carleton University, but dropped out before completing his degree. He worked as a comedian in various Canadian nightclubs and ran an after-hours speakeasy, Club 505, in Toronto for several years.

Since childhood, Aykroyd has struggled with symptoms of Tourette's syndrome and Asperger's syndrome.

Aykroyd developed his musical career in Ottawa, particularly through his regular attendances at Le Hibou, a club that featured many blues artists.

Full name: Dan Aykroyd

Born: July 1, 1952

Birthplace: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada