Peter Aykroyd death: Former Saturday Night Live writer and cast member dies at 66
Former Saturday Night Live writer and cast member Peter Aykroyd has died at the age of 66.
The news of Aykroyd’s death was announced on the Saturday (20 November) episode of the show hosted by actor Simu Liu.
The producers played a tribute clip for their former team member titled “The Java Junkie”.
Born in Ottawa, Aykroyd was the younger brother of actor and comedian Dan Aykroyd. He was a cast member and writer in the fifth season of SNL, which ran from 1979 to 1980.
Peter Aykroyd
1955-2021
SNL '79-'80
"The Java Junkie" pic.twitter.com/5IJWJTezgz— Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) November 21, 2021
During his career, Aykroyd wrote the 1990s film Nothing but Trouble and co-created the Canadian sci-fi show Psi Factor with Christopher Chacon and Peter Ventrella. The show was hosted by his big brother Dan and ran for 88 episodes.
In 1997, Aykroyd and Jim Belushi provided the voices of Elwood Blues and Jake Blues for the cartoon The Blues Brothers: Animated Series.
The former SNL cast member also appeared in films such as Spies Like Us, Dragnet and Coneheads.
Many colleagues and fans have paid tribute to Aykroyd on social media.
Thank you for sharing this very difficult to find classic Schiller film as a tribute to Peter Aykroyd. This was fantastic then, is fantastic now, and always will be. And Peter is a large part of the reason why. He will be missed. https://t.co/HlRCRT4PZ7
— Soaps and Sci-Fi (@SoapsandSciFi) November 21, 2021
I was going to post about the film maker Dan Aykroyd and discovered that his brother actor comedian Peter Aykroyd passed away today. RIP. pic.twitter.com/oR600LmURC
— Ellenieanna (@ellenieanna) November 21, 2021
Very saddened to hear of Peter Akyroyd's death. Aside from briefly being an SNL cast member, he co-wrote NOTHING BUT TROUBLE with his brother Dan, and also composed a lot of songs for Dan's movies. https://t.co/jIneddYiP1
— Mike McGranaghan (@AisleSeat) November 21, 2021
I worked w/#PeterAykroyd .He was a very funny, really nice guy who starred in Tom Schiller's short "The Java Junkie" & contributed to the soundtrack of "Dragnet"-a movie I co-wrote w/his brother @dan_aykroyd
My fondest thoughts & condolences go out to Danny & the Aykroyd family. https://t.co/bNpJ03KkJs— Alan Zweibel (@AlanZweibel) November 22, 2021
Just found out that Peter Aykroyd died and I’m sad because Nothing But Trouble is one of my favorite movies. 💜 pic.twitter.com/ZUPFmgCFBB
— Crystal🦇Tate (@Crystal_Tate) November 22, 2021
Actor Laraine Newman wrote: “So sad to hear that Peter Aykroyd passed away. Gilda Radner took me to see him at Second city in Toronto and I was dazzled. What a brilliant improviser.”
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