Can you guess who “he” is? If you’re thinking Dan Aykroyd, you are correct. Well done!
Aykroyd is the endlessly talented comedian, actor, writer, and serial entrepreneur, who co-wrote and starred in the original Ghostbusters movie that became a cultural phenomenon.
That was in 1984. Fast forward to 2013, when it’s reported that Aykroyd has a mild form of Asperger’s syndrome, a condition that affects social and communication skills in children and adults. Today, Asperger’s is included in the myriad of conditions that make up the autism spectrum.
In an interview at the time, Aykroyd credited his Asperger’s with the creation of Ghostbusters. He said one of his symptoms is an intense interest (to the point of obsession) with ghosts and law enforcement. He’s so obsessed that he even carries around a police badge with him. Obsessions like Aykroyd has can be a source of enjoyment and a way for people with autism to cope with everyday life.
Aykroyd said in another interview that he has been able to channel his experience of being on the autism spectrum into his creative work, like filmmaking and live performances. He’s been able to turn a challenge into a positive, entertaining fans around the world since his early appearances as an original cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL) and even before that in the comedy troupe Second City.
Growing up in Canada
While Aykroyd’s discovery that he was on the spectrum came much later in life, his childhood was unique in that he was diagnosed with Tourette’s syndrome at the age of 12. Tourette’s is a condition characterized by involuntary sounds and movements known as tics.
In Aykroyd’s case, he is said to have experienced physical tics and nervousness, and he made grunting noises that made him more introverted and less outgoing as a child. He received therapy for Tourette’s over two years, and his symptoms eased when he was 14.
Interestingly, according to a study by the University of California San Francisco, around one in five (20%) of children with Tourette’s syndrome also meet criteria for autism.
With his Tourette’s more manageable, Aykroyd began to get involved with student theater and developed as a blues musician. He would go onto college to study criminology and sociology with the hopes of landing a job in law enforcement, but he left school to purse comedy in Toronto.
SNL launched it all
Aykroyd’s entry in The Canadian Encyclopedia states that he stood out from his SNL cast mates by having a mania and energy that few comics could match and became known for his hilariously over-the-top takes on personalities, such as Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, and Julia Child. His best fictional character is arguably Elwood Blues, one of the infamous Blues Brothers opposite his best friend John Belushi.
In this video, he again credits his “touch” of Asperger’s and the ability it gave him as a kid to get absorbed in “a look, a face, a voice” as the beginnings of what would become a decades-long, successful career in comedy.
The Blues Brothers would become a widely popular movie and the duo could be seen on tour as late as 2022, with Jim Belushi taking over the second-half of the singing and dancing duo after the untimely death of his brother John.
In addition to SNL, The Blues Brothers, and Ghostbusters, Aykroyd has had memorable roles in numerous movies, such as Trading Places with SNL alum Eddie Murphy, Dragnet with Tom Hanks, and The Great Outdoors with John Candy. But it was the period drama Driving Miss Daisy that won him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Beyond showbiz
Aykroyd has also been successful in the business realm. He is co-founder of the House of Blues, an American chain of live music concert halls and restaurants, as well as co-founder of the Canadian spirits company Crystal Head Vodka – another obsession of his.
He’s definitely a man of many talents, as he’s described in this 2023 article. He’s also turned into a worthy role model for others on the autism spectrum.
“I know a lot of talented people on the spectrum. I’m not medically diagnosed, but I know I have a touch of it. It helps with the focus, and there’s something in the mind that pops creatively with people on the spectrum. It’s a good community and people shouldn’t look at it as a handicap, but as an advantage.”
ABA therapy can help!
If your child has recently been diagnosed with autism, early intervention ABA therapy can help them build on their strengths and interests, while giving them the skills to manage their unique challenges better.
To learn more and get started, go here to find an accredited ABA therapy provider near you.
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