In his prepared speech, Aykroyd credited Murphy’s “power” for the success of their film “Trading Places.”

Dan Aykroyd’s daughter Belle appears in his place at Eddie Murphy AFI tribute event: ‘Life got in the way’

In his prepared speech, Aykroyd credited Murphy's "power" for the success of their film "Trading Places."

By Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence

Derek Lawrence is a former associate editor at **. He left EW in 2022.

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May 31, 2026 6:00 p.m. ET

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Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy in 'Trading Places'. Credit:

- Dan Akyroyd had to bow out of Netflix's *AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy.*

- The actor's daughter stepped in to pay tribute to his *Trading Places *costar.

- Aykroyd credited Murphy with the success of their hit 1983 comedy.

To honor his former costar Eddie Murphy, Dan Aykroyd traded places with his daughter.

Countless comedy legends appeared at Netflix's *AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy* (including his in-law Martin Lawrence), but Aykroyd was suddenly unable to attend and speak in-person about his *Trading Places* partner.

"My father wanted to be here, planned to be here, wrote these remarks, and then life got in the way," Aykroyd's daughter Belle said onstage at the event.

Dan Aykroyd; Eddie Murphy.

Noam Galai/Getty; ROBYN BECK/AFP via Getty

The *Saturday Night Live* legends starred together in John Landis' hit 1983 comedy *Trading Places*. The beloved Christmas film found Murphy's street hustler Billy Ray and Aykroyd's wealthy businessman Louis swapping lives as a result of a nature versus nurture bet between Louis' bosses.

Aykroyd had already completed his time as an original *SNL* cast member and scored success on the big screen with Landis' *The Blues Brothers*, which he co-wrote with the director. Meanwhile, Murphy was still in the midst of his iconic *SNL* run, and, at 22 years old, was making just his second film appearance. Within a year, *Beverly Hills Cop* would be released and Murphy would catapult to the top of Hollywood's A-list.

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Even though Aykroyd couldn't be present, his daughter delivered his prepared remarks.

"Good evening, sir," Belle read. "We made a big hit classic movie together, man. A critical and financial success. *Trading Places* is now in the pantheon of Christmas movies, for Baby Jesus' sake. It was a solid script with a great director, John Landis, plus talented and well-liked actors, but Eddie, it was you. It was your power, brilliance, talent, skills, and vibrant charisma that propelled the movie into the realm of the greats."

Aykroyd's speech then concluded with his memorable quote to Murphy in *Trading Places*: "Looking good, Billy Ray."

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