Dan Aykroyd Explains Absence from 'SNL' 50th Anniversary Special

The original cast member cited prior commitments but praised the milestone event as a 'triumphant' celebration of the iconic show.

Dan Aykroyd, a founding member of 'Saturday Night Live,' did not attend the show's 50th anniversary special due to prior commitments, according to his representative.
Aykroyd expressed pride in being part of the show's legacy and congratulated creator Lorne Michaels for the successful event, which he praised as 'triumphant.'
He noted on social media that watching the event from home allowed him to enjoy every moment, sharing that his children commented on his visible joy during the broadcast.
Other notable absences included Bill Hader, who had a longstanding scheduling conflict, and Dana Carvey, who was unable to attend due to illness.
The special featured appearances from numerous past cast members and celebrities, as well as tributes to original cast members who have passed away, like Gilda Radner and John Belushi.