Dan Aykroyd PraisesSNL50th Anniversary Special as 'Triumphant' Following His Absence: 'Well Done as Usual'

Mar. 15, 2025

Dan Aykroyd visits at SiriusXM Studios on April 11, 2013.Photo:Robin Marchant/Getty

Robin Marchant/Getty

Dan Aykroydmight not have been on hand forSaturday Night Live’s 50th anniversary special,but it still got his stamp of approval.

The 72-year-old was among the founding members of the late-night sketch comedy show in 1975 and left many fans confused when he did not join his fellow alums in New York City on Sunday, Feb. 16 for the star-studded three-hour anniversary special.

He acknowledged his absence days later in a Feb. 19poston X as he congratulated everyone involved in the anniversary show, calling it “triumphant.”

“Quote frommy children: ‘Look at daddy’s smile!’ Had it from start to finish.”

Aykroyd concluded the post with a message of congratulations forSNLcreatorLorne Michaels. “Well done as usual.”

John Belushi, Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner on SNL in 1976.NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty

TheBlues Brothersstar, who was onSNLfrom 1975-1979, never explicitly addressed his absence from the weekend’s festivities, but he did reflect on the major moment for the show in anothertweeton the day of the Radio City concert, which he called “as historical as the next moon landing.”

“Cracking a Head with pride at having been a co-founder ofSNLalong with everyone we were together with in those four years, five decades ago,” he wrote.

“Comedy stars of our age all gathered under the aegis of America’s greatest living impresario, my boss Lorne Michaels. People it’s friggin’ Holy!!”

A rep for the comedian toldVarietythat he had “prior commitments” and thus, was unable to attend the festivities.

Jane Curtin, Dan Aykroyd during ‘Weekend Update’ on SNL in 1977.NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty

Aykroyd was not the only face missing from theSNL50extravaganza.Bill Haderwas another alum that fans missed, and his rep told PEOPLE that he “had a longstanding schedule conflict.” Additionally,Dana Carvey’s rep told PEOPLE he had a “bad flu and could not travel” and thus, missed the show.

Also missing was former “Weekend Update” hostColin Quinnand Dick Ebersol, the NBC executive who gave co-creator Michaels the opportunity to create the show in 1975.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Many of the original members ofSNLdid show up to the milestone event to celebrate, includingLarraine Newman,Garrett Morris,Jane CurtinandChevy Chase.

At the end of the show,Newman and Curtin made a poignant effort to honor the late Gilda Radner, whodied from ovarian cancer at 42 in 1989, as they held up a framed photo of her for the cameras to see.

source: people.com