Comedy legend Dan Aykroyd used social media to celebrate the birthday of his longtime friend and co-star Bill Murray. The tribute included a rare anecdote from the tumultuous production of the 1989 sequel Ghostbusters II. Aykroyd dubbed Murray the Murricane, highlighting decades of creative partnership and friendship.

Production memories often involve grueling hours and technical headaches on set. For Aykroyd and Murray, those long nights in New York City occasionally boiled down to outright mischief. Their impromptu vehicle heist through municipal property stands out as a defining moment of off-script camaraderie.

Appropriating the Motor Pool in Central Park

Filming a major studio sequel in New York requires heavy logistical coordination, including secured street closures and dedicated motor pools. During a night shoot for Ghostbusters II, Aykroyd and Murray bypassed security protocols entirely. They commandeered two fully functional police motorcycles assigned to the production.

The scale of a major Hollywood production usually demands strict adherence to safety rules and equipment tracking. Studio insurance policies and local precinct rules leave very little room for unauthorized stunts on public grounds. Yet, genuine star power and late night fatigue combined to bend those rules completely out of shape during the Manhattan shoot.

• Vehicles Involved: Two fully equipped municipal style police motorcycles from the movie property pool.
• Location: A closed off section of Central Park during late night production hours.
• Action: The actors spent an hour chasing each other with active emergency lights and sirens blaring.
• Resolution: Zero legal or studio consequences, justified by the duo as a perquisite of playing the franchise heroes.

One night shooting GB2, we appropriated two fully equipped police motorcycles from the movie motor pool and spent an hour chasing each other around a closed Central Park with full lights and sirens. No consequences. After all, we were Ghostbusters. – Dan Aykroyd

A Decades Long Cinematic Partnership

The bond between Aykroyd and Murray extends far beyond two films and an unauthorized midnight joyride. Their professional intersection began on the stages of Saturday Night Live before spilling over into feature films. Over the decades, they have shared screen credits across numerous projects, anchoring major studio comedies and independent cinema alike.

Television writers rooms and sketch comedy boot camps forged a unique trust between these performers long before they ever strapped proton packs to their backs. That foundational trust allowed them to take massive comedic risks in front of the camera, knowing the other person would always catch the punchline.

Collaborative Filmography

Reviewing their shared cinematic output reveals a partnership that spans dramatic cameos, sketch films, and blockbuster franchises.

1. Saturday Night Live (1975 to 1979) – Sketch comedy foundation
2. Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video (1979) – Early cinematic collaboration
3. Ghostbusters (1984) – Cultural phenomenon and blockbuster hit
4. Nothing Lasts Forever (1984) – Unreleased satirical feature
5. She’s Having a Baby (1988) – Cameo appearances
6. Ghostbusters II (1989) – The infamous motorcycle heist era
7. Ghostbusters (2016) – Franchise reinvention appearances
8. Ghostbusters: Afterlife (2021) – Legacy sequel return
9. Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024) – Continuing the paranormal saga

Behind the Scenes of Improvised Comedy

Murray’s legendary aversion to strict script adherence remains well documented in industry lore. During interviews with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association following the release of the original 1984 film, Murray admitted to discarding the majority of his written dialogue. He estimated that he improvised up to 80 percent of his lines, relying instead on the structural framework provided by co-writers Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, alongside director Ivan Reitman.

This loose approach to filmmaking created an environment where spontaneity reigned supreme both on and off camera. While writers crafted elaborate mythologies involving spectral physics and supernatural entities, the actors treated production sets as living playgrounds. The Central Park motorcycle incident represents this exact philosophy translated into physical reality.

Recent Updates and Future Projects

Aykroyd’s recent social media activity offers fans a window into historical nostalgia, contrasting sharply with his recent personal health updates. The co-creator recently underwent emergency foot surgery to treat a severe infection, forcing him to postpone a planned promotional tour for his upcoming literary debut, Soulhider, to May 18, 2027.

Meanwhile, Murray maintains an active slate of upcoming film projects. Industry databases list multiple feature roles in development, including the mystery comedy drama The Springs, the thriller The Ploughmen, the crime drama Quiet Land, and an untitled romantic comedy project. As both actors enter their mid-70s, public reflections like Aykroyd’s birthday tribute remind audiences of a different era of Hollywood filmmaking defined by unchecked creative freedom and enduring friendship.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did Dan Aykroyd share the Ghostbusters II story?

Dan Aykroyd shared this anecdote on social media to celebrate Bill Murray’s birthday.

What did Aykroyd and Murray do in Central Park?

They commandeered two production motorcycles and chased each other with sirens blaring.

Did the actors face any consequences for the motorcycle ride?

No studio or legal consequences occurred because of their star status on the set.

What upcoming project did Aykroyd postpone?

Aykroyd postponed his literary debut tour for Soulhider following foot surgery.