Jack Webb created the 1950s hit Dragnet and starred as Sgt. Joe Friday. In 1987, Dan Aykroyd did an amazing job of recreating the role of Joe Friday, partnered with Tom Hanks, in a parody of the original television show, in the movie, Dragnet.
It’s no accident Aykroyd plays a police officer convincingly with a special penal code ambiance. He’s a natural, influenced by his maternal grandfather, a career Royal Canadian Mounted Police Staff Sergeant. It inspired Aykroyd to have a life long interest in law enforcement. He studied criminology at Carleton University for four years, and wrote papers about outlaw motorcycle gangs.
Akyroyd was awarded a Doctorate in Literature (Honoris Causa) from Carleton University in 1997 for recognition of his Saturday Night Live writing and for co-writing LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT, BLUES BROTHERS, SPIES LIKE US, DRAGNET, GHOSTBUSTERS, GHOSTBUSTERS II, CONEHEADS, NOTHING BUT TROUBLE (VALKENVANIA), BLUES BROTHERS II. He also contributed uncredited material to the films NEIGHBORS and THE GREAT OUTDOORS.
In addition to being an incredible comedian on Saturday Night Life and starring in numerous motions pictures, he also loves music. In 1993, Aykroyd was one of the founders of House of Blues Entertainment Inc. with locations nationwide.
House of Blues Entertainment Inc. was wholly acquired by Live Nation, the country’s largest live-entertainment and venue-management company, in 2006. As Elwood Blues, Dan hosts the 15 year running House of Blues Radio Hour which is syndicated on 180 radio stations through Dial Global Inc. Join Elwood Blues, on Sundays in Phoenix on KJAZZ, from 7 – 8 PM.
As a savvy business man, Aykroyd continues his incredible journey in life by constantly seeking out new opportunities. Aykroyd is the importer to Canada for the Patron Spirits Company of Las Vegas Nevada. Patron Tequila is one of the most successful luxury tequilas in the world and Dan has been proud to work with them and his Canadian co-distributor Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits to make Patron the number one dominant luxury tequila in Canada.
Aykroyd, along with his partners, has launched several wines bearing his name including the Dan Aykroyd Discovery Series and the award-winning Dan Aykroyd Signature Reserve VQA Vidal Ice wine which was named Canadian Wine of the Year by the Wine Council of Ontario this year. Also the newly released Dan Aykroyd Sauvignon Blanc has won a gold medal at the Canadian Wine Awards. In 2008 Aykroyd launched his wines in the United States as well as the Newfoundland produced Crystal Head Vodka.
In 2009 Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits will be completing construction on the Dan Aykroyd Winery at the town of Lincoln in the heart of the Niagara Wine region. The $12 million, 45,000-square-foot winery will feature a multi-level hospitality building and will pay tribute to the region’s terroir, which contribute to give its specific personality to the wine, and to Dan Aykroyd’s 30-plus years of work on stage, radio, television, recording and film by showcasing some of his favorite memorabilia throughout the building.
This inspiring man has been married to actress Donna Dixon for 25 years and they have three daughters.
For more info:
Comments