How Autism Shaped Dan Aykroyd’s Comedy Genius

How did Dan Aykroyd's neurodivergence positively impact his career? Well, for one, Dan has a few distinct obsessions, a known characteristic of folks with Asperger's. When someone like Dan finds something they're interested in, they can spend hours upon hours researching it and can launch into longwinded, one-sided conversations detailing the topic. In a work environment, this zeal can mean tremendous productivity and focus. Director and producer Ivan Reitman said in a 2014 Vanity Fair piece: "We probably had 10 Aykroyd ideas in various phases of development" at any given moment.

For the Ontario native, the paranormal was an early preoccupation, stoked by his paternal family's absorption in the subject. Dan's great-grandfather was a dentist and a mystic and psychic researcher who would host Sunday morning séances at his farmhouse in the 1930s and 40s. A young Dan became fixated with Hans Holzer, the ghost hunter, which eventually led to the birth of "Ghostbusters".

Aykroyd is also a big believer in aliens and UFOs. In a 2024 Esquire profile, he says: "I know for sure that many different types of species are operating hyper-advanced aerodynamic platforms, and they're visiting Earth, coming and going like taxis. [They could be] interdimensional, inter-realm, interplanetary." Dan created and happily played the lead role in the 1993 sci-fi comedy film "Coneheads" based on SNL sketches about human-like extraterrestrials stranded on Earth. Millennials might not remember the plot of this movie, but chances are the bald egg-headed characters swirl nostalgically in their childhood memory banks. Whether Dan intended this or not, the alien characters' monotonous, formal manner of speaking and their inability to understand idiomatic expressions provide insight into both the immigrant and autistic person's experiences.

Aykroyd's passions aren't restricted to the otherworldly. There's natural history and geology, with the entertainer accompanying paleontologists on dinosaur digs. Then there's his long-held fascination with law enforcement and blues music, which converged in the 1980 cult classic comedy "The Blues Brothers", the result of his very first screenplay. The first draft came in at a whopping 350 pages (triple the norm), written in free verse rather than the standard format. The recidivist characters had super granular backgrounds, likely thanks to Dan's attention to detail and memory, and his college-level criminology studies informed the script. Aykroyd's co-star was the late great John Belushi, who died prematurely at 33 due to drug addiction. John's brother Jim would come to join Dan as the other half of an actual touring blues band. Talk about multi-talented. Dan then went on to parlay his enjoyment of blues and booze into a chain of concert venues and restaurants, as well as a lucrative alcohol brand by the name of Crystal Head Vodka. Today, he is worth an estimated $135m, a result of channeling a deep well of energy into his various interests.

Asperger's traits have manifested in other areas of Dan's career, too. He's always been inclined to play fast-talking, awkward geniuses or nerdy and eccentric types. Hone in on the dialogue, and you'll notice him spitting out technical information. Or zoom in on his "SNL" stint, and you'll find someone who is extraordinarily good at impersonations—Aykroyd's Richard Nixon impression is a case in point. A recent New York Times article speaks to his adeptness at disappearing into characters. As a kid looking in the mirror, he would become completely engrossed with the different faces and voices he could make.

In the book "Nine Minds: Inner Lives on the Spectrum" by Daniel Tammet, the author writes that Aykroyd "didn't listen to his partners on stage as the others did; he fixed on specific words in a sketch, either written in advance or just that moment improvised, and on the flood of associations they set off inside him." People on the spectrum process information and perceive situations differently, often visually, and this can be a strength. Different feelings and patterns come to the fore, and an unorthodox approach can give rise to fresh ideas and innovative solutions. Talent rep Michael Ovitz has said of Dan: "He was the Mount Vesuvius of original ideas."

No wonder, then, that respected publications have put out articles with titles like "When Disability Isn't a Special Need but a Special Skill" and "Neurodiversity is a Competitive Advantage."

Neurodivergent children in supportive environments are much more likely to succeed than their counterparts who lack encouragement and adaptive coping mechanisms. The same goes for atypical adults in the working world. For Dan Aykroyd, relatively happy early years at home could be a key factor in his success story. He has called his dad wonderful and described how his mom would help him with his essays without letting him off the hook. His family clearly had a kooky side, too, what with all the spectral goings on and openness to unconventional beliefs, and this would have fostered empathy to elevate his writing. Having parents who lean into the quirks and singular interests of neurodivergent children can nurture the kind of confidence and expertise that leads to personal and professional gains.

Today, the entertainment industry, among others, has been actively working on inclusive management and recruitment reforms such as noninterview assessments that accommodate neurodivergent individuals, and companies like Netflix and Disney have taken on dozens of autistic employees. Talent, once hired, should be allowed messier workspace layouts, for example, with fidget toys and foam rollers in the mix where necessary. Neurotypical employees should be educated on neurodivergence and allyship and guided on communication protocols. For instance, it's advised to avoid metaphors that folks on the spectrum may take literally and to give autistic employees space to socially recharge during break times if desired.

The growing needs of audiences have also meant more "relaxed screenings" at film festivals. These involve less sensory overload, with limited seating capacity, higher lighting levels, lower sound, and chill-out rooms to decompress during moments of overwhelm.

"If you were to get rid of all the autism genetics, there would be no more Silicon Valley," said Temple Grandin during a classic TED talk. Humanity has progressed when people have thought outside the box, and yes, Elon Musk is neurodivergent -- it's estimated that 15 percent of the people in the world have some form of neurodivergence. That's millions of people and a whole lot of potential—unearthing that potential takes patience and understanding. For Mr. Aykroyd, who has been described as a writing genius with a wonderful brain, the main takeaway is this: "People shouldn't look at Asperger's as a handicap but as an advantage." Unusual ASD traits can be a springboard for achievement without defining one's entire identity.