Best 'SNL' alums - Dan Aykroyd

Dan Aykroyd will be forever linked with the late John Belushi, but that partnership shouldn't overshadow Aykroyd's ability to portray the affable comic lead as well as a sturdy character actor.

The erstwhile Elwood Blues snagged a series of major hits during his career peak, including "Ghostbusters" and "Trading Places." He also starred in more than his fair share of clunkers (Consider "Doctor Detroit," "My Stepmother is an Alien" and "Caddyshack II" as a Whitman's Sampler of his sour confections).

But step back and check out the fella's range. He can play the square-jawed, uptight Joe Friday ("Dragnet") as well as a prototypical southern gentleman in "Driving Miss Daisy" (which earned him his sole Oscar nomination). He's no longer an A-lister, and even the B-list might be a stretch, but he still can twist mediocre movies like "Christmas with the Kranks" to do his bidding.