Comedy star in Charlottetown to advance his investment in Ontario wineries
SALLY COLE
The Guardian
Dan Aykroyd is best known for his characters in The Blues Brothers, Ghostbusters and Saturday Night Live.
But Wednesday he was starring in another role — wine promoter.
“This is business, an investment that I want to pay off so that my children don’t have to kiss directors’ asses for a living like I did,” says the movie star who was in Charlottetown to advance his investment in Diamond Estates Wines and Spirits.
He has invested $1 million in a group of Ontario wineries and wants to promote the country’s vintages abroad. He’s so serious about it that he’s turned down five movies in the past year.
“I have eliminated the film projects completely. I just don’t have time to do them anymore. Now if Spielberg calls me I’ll be walking out the door right (now),” he says, laughing.
Hundreds of fans lined up to meet him during an in-store bottle signing at the Oak Tree Place Liquor Store in Charlottetown.
“Everyone has been wonderful. There’s been a lot of reminiscences as people brought me memorabilia to sign. Every movie has a memory, you know,” says Aykroyd, autographing a Ghostbusters videodisc.
Kier Kenny was impressed with the attention he gave people waiting in line.
“It was fabulous. After being there all that time, signing all the autographs, when I told him that the photo wasn’t in focus, he said, ‘Let’s do it ‘right now.’ Then he put his arm around me while someone snapped a picture. I immediately went home and put it up in Facebook. It was fabulous. It was great to meet him. I love his work.”
Aykroyd says there are similarities between promoting wines and films.
“You meet the people. You sit down and sign DVDs or books. You meet the press. I’ve been promoting things ever since I was in the movie business, so really it’s the same duty.”
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