Claim: Dan Aykroyd was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Daniel Edward `` Dan '' Aykroyd -LRB- born July 1 , 1952 -RRB- is a Canadian-American actor , comedian , producer , voice artist , screenwriter , musician and businessman . He was an original member of the `` Not Ready for Prime Time Players '' on Saturday Night Live -LRB- 1975 -- 1979 -RRB- . A musical sketch he performed with John Belushi on SNL , The Blues Brothers , turned into an actual performing band and then a highly successful 1980 film , also called The Blues Brothers . He conceived and starred in Ghostbusters -LRB- 1984 -RRB- , which spawned a sequel -LRB- Ghostbusters II -RRB- 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 , from 1997 -- 98 . Aykroyd is also a successful businessman , having co-founded the House of Blues chain of music venues and the Crystal Head Vodka brand .