'Java Junkie' Tribute to Peter Aykroyd, Former SNL Cast Member, Dead at 66

The Saturday Night Live team paid tribute to former writer and cast member Peter Aykroyd with a clip from the short film 'Java Junkie,' following his death at the age of 66.

SNL yesterday announced Aykroyd's death in a tribute card to the former member and shared the 1979 Tom Schiller short film 'Java Junkie.'

The clip was shared near the end of the program and later confirmed again with a tweet sent from SNL's Twitter account.

No further information about Aykroyd's death was shared in the SNL post and there have been no updates about it as of Sunday morning.

Canadian Aykroyd, younger brother of comedy icon Dan Aykroyd, joined SNL in 1979 and was writer and cast member for the NBC series' fifth season.

For Aykroyd's efforts on the show, he and other members of the SNL team were nominated for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program at the 1980 Primetime Emmy Awards.

Following his death, actor and voice artist Wes Johnson paid tribute to Aykroyd in a tweet, which read: "Farewell #PeterAykroyd. Godspeed to you and deepest sympathy to your family."

Many others also paid tribute to the actor and writer on social media and sent the Aykroyd family their well-wishes.

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, in November 1955, Aykroyd would later go on to have starring roles in several films and TV series, including 1993's Coneheads alongside his brother Dan.

Aykroyd also replaced brother Dan in the role of Elwood in The Blues Brothers: The Animated Series, although the series was ultimately canceled and its eight episodes never aired.

He would also co-create Canadian science-fiction drama Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal, which ran for 88 episodes between 1996 to 2000.

The announcement of Aykroyd's death comes as his brother Dan had been promoting Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the latest installment of the Ghostbusters franchise.

SNL earlier this year lost former cast member Norm MacDonald who died aged 61 following his private battle with cancer.

MacDonald was perhaps best-known for his five-year run as a cast member of SNL in the 1990s, during which he spent three years as host of the "Weekend Update" segment.

During his run on the sketch comedy show, he was also known for his impressions of Burt Reynolds, Larry King, Bob Dole and others.

Prior to his stint on SNL, MacDonald wrote for 'The Dennis Miller Show' and on the sitcom Roseanne.

Peter Aykroyd was an SNL cast member
Peter Aykroyd joined Saturday Night Live for a season in 1979. In this photo, Peter Aykroyd can be seen in a tribute card using a still image from the short film 'Java Junkie.'Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live

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