Contact:
Emily Simon
617.496.7208
Dan Aykroyd is Harvard Foundation Artist of the Year
Cambridge, Mass. - February 19, 2009 - Renowned Canadian actor, screenwriter, and musician Dan Aykroyd has been named the 2009 Artist of the Year by the Harvard Foundation of Harvard University. Aykroyd will be awarded the Foundation's most prestigious medal, which bears the signature of the University President, at Harvard's annual Cultural Rhythms ceremony on Saturday, February 28, 2009.
"The students and faculty of the Harvard Foundation are honored to present Academy Award nominee Dan Aykroyd with the 2009 Artist of the Year award," said Dr. S. Allen Counter, director of the Harvard Foundation. "His contributions to the performing arts have been appreciated by people throughout the world, and he has demonstrated admirable generosity through his humanitarian efforts."
Aykroyd has had an impressive career in film, television, and music. He received an Academy Award nomination for his role in "Driving Miss Daisy," and his creative talent as a writer and actor in "Saturday Night Live" earned him an Emmy Award. Along with his notable work in films such as "Ghostbusters," "Dragnet," and "Driving Miss Daisy," Aykroyd is also leader of the Blues Brothers Band. Aykroyd is a founder of the House of Blues, a music club chain that hosts musicians of various genres and aims to "celebrate the diversity and brotherhood of world culture."
Charitable efforts and organizations which Aykroyd has supported include the Best Friends Animal Society, Eblen Charities, the Dream Foundation, and Artists Against Racism.
Born in Ottawa in 1952, Aykroyd originally studied criminology and sociology at Carleton University, but he soon chose to pursue his interest in comedy through work with Second City Stage Troupe and went on to gain fame as an original cast member on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL). He revived numerous "SNL" roles in film, most notably fugitive musician Elwood Blues in "The Blues Brothers," which he still plays today.
The Harvard Foundation, Harvard's center for intercultural arts and sciences initiatives, honors the nation's most acclaimed artists and scientists each year. The Harvard Foundation's Artist of the Year award bears the signatures of Harvard's President Dr. Drew Gilpin Faust, the dean of Harvard College, and the Harvard Foundation director. Previous Harvard Foundation awards have been presented to other distinguished artists including Sharon Stone, Andy Garcia, Will Smith, Matt Damon, Halle Berry, Jackie Chan, Denzel Washington, Salma Hayek, and Herbie Hancock.
###
Media Note: The Artist of the Year award will be presented to Dan Aykroyd during the Harvard Cultural Rhythms Festival. The program begins at 3:00 p.m., Saturday Feb. 28, 2009 and will take place in Harvard's historic Sanders Theatre. The award presentation will take place at approximately 4:30 p.m. Aykroyd will be available for interviews immediately following the program (about 5:30 p.m.)