Dan Aykroyd gave Bill Murray’s birthday celebration a nostalgic twist by sharing a surprising story from the making of Ghostbusters II.
The actor and Ghostbusters co-creator recently looked back on one of the more unusual adventures he and Murray experienced while filming the 1989 sequel in New York.
According to Aykroyd’s recollection, the two stars once took police motorcycles from the movie’s motor pool and spent an hour riding around a closed Central Park with their lights and sirens on.
Dan Aykroyd Remembers a Wild Night
Aykroyd shared the story in a social media birthday tribute to Murray, who turned 76 on September 21.
Rather than simply posting a conventional birthday message, Aykroyd used the occasion to remember one of the many experiences he and Murray shared during their long friendship and professional partnership.
He recalled that during production of Ghostbusters II, the pair took two fully equipped police motorcycles from the film’s motor pool.
They then rode around a closed Central Park for roughly an hour, chasing each other while the motorcycles’ lights and sirens were operating.
The story quickly attracted attention because it offers an unusual behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of one of Hollywood’s most recognizable comedy sequels.
The Story Happened During ‘Ghostbusters II’
Ghostbusters II was released in 1989 and brought back the original team of paranormal investigators.
Murray played Peter Venkman, while Aykroyd returned as Ray Stantz. Harold Ramis played Egon Spengler and Ernie Hudson returned as Winston Zeddemore.
The sequel followed the Ghostbusters as they became involved with another supernatural threat in New York.
The production included extensive filming in New York City, making the city’s streets and landmarks an important part of the movie’s visual identity.
Central Park Became Their Personal Playground
Central Park is one of New York’s most recognizable locations, but on the night described by Aykroyd, the area was closed.
That gave the two actors an unusual opportunity to ride the motorcycles without normal public traffic around them.
Aykroyd’s recollection suggests that the experience was less about filming a planned sequence and more about the actors taking advantage of an unusual moment during production.
The story has since become another colorful anecdote associated with the friendship between two actors who helped define American comedy during the late 20th century.
Aykroyd’s Birthday Tribute to Murray
Aykroyd’s post was also a tribute to Murray’s long career.
He described Murray in extremely complimentary terms and reflected on the many adventures they had shared over the years.
The birthday message reminded fans that their relationship extends well beyond the Ghostbusters franchise.
The pair had already worked together in comedy before the first Ghostbusters movie, and their collaborations helped establish them as two of the most recognizable comedy performers of their generation.
How Dan Aykroyd and Bill Murray Became Ghostbusters
The relationship between Aykroyd and Murray became especially famous through Ghostbusters, which arrived in theaters in 1984.
Aykroyd co-created the concept and starred as Ray Stantz, while Murray played the wisecracking Peter Venkman.
The film became a major success and eventually developed into a large entertainment franchise spanning movies, television, games, comics and merchandise.
The original cast returned for Ghostbusters II five years later.
Fans Continue to Revisit the Original Movies
The motorcycle story has given fans another reason to revisit the original Ghostbusters films and their behind-the-scenes history.
For audiences who grew up with the franchise, Aykroyd’s recollection provides a reminder of the chemistry among the original cast.
It also demonstrates why stories from film productions can remain interesting decades after a movie’s release.
In this case, the anecdote is not connected to the plot of Ghostbusters II. It is Aykroyd’s personal recollection of something that happened while the movie was being made.
A Friendship That Spans Decades
Aykroyd and Murray’s professional relationship stretches back decades and includes several comedy projects beyond Ghostbusters.
Their shared history includes work during the early years of their careers as well as their later appearances in the Ghostbusters franchise.
That long connection made Aykroyd’s birthday tribute particularly meaningful to fans of the movies.
The Central Park motorcycle story now joins a long list of memorable anecdotes surrounding the making of the franchise.
Why the Story Is Getting Attention Now
The story resurfaced because Aykroyd chose to share it while celebrating Murray’s 76th birthday.
Rather than focusing solely on Murray’s career achievements, the actor offered fans a personal memory from their time together.
That combination of nostalgia, Hollywood history and an unusual behind-the-scenes story quickly attracted attention from entertainment audiences.
For Ghostbusters fans, it is another entertaining piece of history from the era of the original cast.
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