Saturday Night Livepaid tribute to Peter Aykroyd, one of the most distinguished cast members of the show, who passed away earlier this month. The 20th November episode of the NBC show remembered the beloved comedian and writer with a tribute card that was displayed on camera. The episode also marked the hosting debut of Simu Liu, the Canadian actor currently best known for his role in the MCU filmShang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
Peter Aykroydpassedon the 6th of November following a“septicemia from an internal infection precipitated by an untreated abdominal hernia,”as was reported toUSA Todayby his brother and originalSaturday Night Livecast Dan Aykroyd.
In addition to the tribute card,Saturday Night Livealso posted a tweet with Tom Schiller’s short filmJava Junkie, featuring Peter Aykroyd. The short is from 1979, the same year younger Aykroyd joinedSNL.
The formerSaturday Night Livewriter Alan Zweibel posted a tribute to Aykroyd as well, calling him"a very funny, really nice guy"on Facebook.
A look at Peter Aykroyd’s Decorated Career: from Saturday Night Live to Nothing but Trouble
Aykroyd’s journey into the world of TV and writing began with minor roles inThe New AvengersandSecond City TV.However, his first major break was inSaturday Night Liveas a writer and an actor. Although he was a part ofSNLfor only one season (1979-80), his work there got him an Emmy nomination for Best Writing in a Variety or Music Program, one that he shared with several other writers.
The same year he featured in Tom Schiller’s short filmJava Junkieas the character Joe, a regular person who is down on his luck and tries to drown his sorrows in coffee.
Following his work atSNL, his career took a similar trajectory as his elder brother, originalSNLcastDan Aykroyd. The two brothers even co-wrote the 1991 horror comedy filmNothing but Trouble. While Peter Aykroyd wrote the story, Dan wrote the screenplay. He featured in a number of Dan Aykroyd films as well, likeConeheads,Dragnet,andDr. Detroit. His overall acting career is a long list, including TV shows likeJusticeandThe Blues Brothers Animated Series.
Peter Aykroyd also created the Canadian Sci-Fi showPSI Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal,which aired successfully from 1996 to 2000. The show featured his brother Dan Aykroyd as the host.
