Popular TV Star Dies At 66, Tributes Pour In

Popular TV Star Dies At 66, Tributes Pour In

Saturday Night Live star Peter Aykroyd has died, aged 66, it has been confirmed.

The official Twitter page for Saturday Night Live shared a video clip of Java Junkie featuring the late star alongside the caption: “Peter Aykroyd 1955-2021.

“SNL ’79-’80 ‘The Java Junkie’”

Peter’s death comes just days after he celebrated his 66th birthday on November 19.

The late star entered the showbiz circuit back in the 1970s with small roles in The New Avengers and Second City TV.

His big break came in 1979 when he joined Saturday Night Live as a writer and featured player.

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Later that year, he took the lead role as Joe in Tom Schiller’s film, Java Junkie.

As well as writing Saturday Night Live, Peter was cited as a co-creator on Canadian sci-fi drama Psi Factor: Chronicles. of the Paranormal that aired between 1996 and 2000.

While at Saturday Night Live, he scooped several awards including Outstanding Writer in a Variety or Music Programme.

Fans took to social media to share their condolences, with one writing: “RIP Peter Aykroyd, great in Doctor Detroit and he also wrote produced and sang songs for a bunch of dan’s movies (check out his IMDB for the full list) condolences to the Aykroyd family.”

“Very bummed to hear the surprising news that Peter Aykroyd has passed. The dude contributed some fine material in S5 and Java Junkie is one of the most underrated pre-tapes in the show’s history. Farewell, good sir,” wrote a second.

“My heart goes out to the Aykroyd family,” typed a third.

Before a fourth added: “Farewell #PeterAykroyd. Godspeed to you and deepest sympathy to your family.”

“Peter Aykroyd Jr. had a birthday 2 days ago and now he’s dead. That sucks. R.I.P #SNL,” tweeted a fifth.

Peter is survived by his brother, Dan Aykroyd, his sister-in-law Donna Dixon and his niece, Danielle Aykroyd.

Currently, there has been no cause of death has been released.