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Dan Aykroyd has shared a wild backstage tale: during the shoot for Ghostbusters II, he and Bill Murray slipped away on two police motorcycles and tore around a closed Central Park with lights and sirens blazing. The anecdote arrived as part of a warm birthday post for Murray, and it reads like the kind of mischievous movie-set story fans expect from the Ghostbusters duo.
How the Central Park joyride unfolded
According to Aykroyd’s recollection, the episode happened one night while filming Ghostbusters II in New York. The pair found two bikes from the production’s motor pool, turned on their emergency gear and spent roughly an hour racing through the park. He emphasized the stunt didn’t provoke any legal fallout.
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- Where: Closed section of Central Park, NYC.
- When: During the night shoots for Ghostbusters II, 1988–89.
- What they used: Two fully equipped police motorcycles from the set.
- Outcome: No arrests, just a memory Aykroyd shared while celebrating Murray’s birthday.
From small-stage partners to Hollywood teammates
Aykroyd and Murray first crossed paths in the 1970s as both were establishing their comic voices. Their early careers led them to Saturday Night Live, where Aykroyd was an original cast member and Murray joined shortly after. That era cemented a lasting friendship.
Key career steps together
- 1970s: Early comedy scene, where their friendship started.
- Late 1970s–early 1980s: SNL years—Aykroyd as founding player, Murray joining in season two.
- 1984: The original Ghostbusters film, alongside Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson.
- 1989: Ghostbusters II, the production during which the motorcycle incident occurred.
How Ghostbusters shaped their public image
The Ghostbusters films turned the quartet—Aykroyd, Murray, Ramis and Hudson—into a cultural touchstone. The team reunited for Ghostbusters II, later made cameo appearances in the 2016 reboot, and returned to the franchise in recent sequels.
- 1984: Ghostbusters — breakout hit that defined the franchise.
- 1989: Ghostbusters II — set the stage for the Central Park anecdote.
- 2016: Reboot — included brief appearances by original cast members.
- 2021 and 2024: Afterlife and Frozen Empire — original stars reprised roles.
Behind the scenes: friendships, pranks, and phone calls
Their long bond has been punctuated by playful behavior and unexpected outreach. Co-star Ernie Hudson has said Bill Murray still calls him at random to invite him to things. Murray’s spontaneous style of communicating remains a running joke among his old collaborators.
Hudson’s take: Murray calls without warning and often proposes engagements Hudson can’t accept. The humor is mutual; Hudson jokes that Murray answers in ways others might not when the roles are reversed.
Where the actors stand now: careers and quieter lives
As the years have passed, the members of the original cast have adjusted their public lives. After Harold Ramis’s death in 2014, the surviving trio continued to honor the franchise through cameos and full returns in later films.
Dan Aykroyd’s recent lifestyle
Aykroyd has moved away from a constant Hollywood presence. He spends increasing time in Canada and describes driving cautiously in Los Angeles. He also mentioned keeping to himself at night inside his gated community, a routine he playfully labeled “prison hours.”
Filmography highlights tied to the story
- Ghostbusters (1984) — The original that launched the phenomenon.
- Ghostbusters II (1989) — Production during which the motorcycle caper happened.
- Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) — Modern sequel bringing back original cast members.
- Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) — Latest franchise installment featuring the returning stars.
