Who was John Belushi? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: John Adam Belushi

Died At Age: 33

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Judith Belushi Pisano (m. 1976–1982), Judith Belushi Pisano (m. 1976–1982)

father: Adam Anastos Belushi

mother: Agnes Demetri

siblings: Billy Belushi, Jim Belushi, Marian Belushi

Born Country: United States

Actors Comedians

Died on: March 5, 1982

place of death: Los Angeles, California, United States

City: Chicago, Illinois

Notable Alumni: College Of DuPage, University Of Wisconsin–Whitewater

Cause of Death: Combined Drug Intoxication

Ancestry: Albanian American

U.S. State: Illinois

More Facts

education: College Of DuPage, University Of Wisconsin–Whitewater

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What was John Belushi's most famous role?

John Belushi is best known for his role as John "Bluto" Blutarsky in the film "Animal House."
2

What was the cause of John Belushi's death?

John Belushi died of a drug overdose on March 5, 1982, at the age of 33.
3

Did John Belushi have any notable collaborations with other actors?

John Belushi frequently collaborated with Dan Aykroyd, with whom he starred in "The Blues Brothers" and were both part of the original cast of "Saturday Night Live."
4

What was the impact of John Belushi's comedic style on future generations of comedians?

John Belushi's physical comedy and improvisational skills were highly influential and inspired many comedians who came after him.
5

What were some of the popular sketches John Belushi performed on "Saturday Night Live?"

Some of John Belushi's famous sketches on "Saturday Night Live" include the Samurai Futaba, the Blues Brothers, and his impersonation of Joe Cocker.

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Childhood & Early Life

John Adam Belushi was born on January 24, 1949, in the Humboldt Park area in the city of Chicago, Illinois, USA, to Adam Anastos Belushi and Agnes Demetri. Belushi’s father was an Albanian immigrant, while his mother was a second generation Albanian immigrant. Belushi had two younger brothers and a sister.

John Belushi was educated at ‘Wheaton Central High School,’ located in Wheaton, Illinois. During his years at school, Belushi was involved in sports and music. He played football for the school, and became a part of a music band as well. However, his ambition was to become an actor.

After graduating from high school, John Belushi performed in a few summer productions before joining the ‘University of Wisconsin.’ Later on, he studied at the ‘College of DuPage.’ Belushi received his associate degree in the year 1970, but he had already found his calling as a comic.

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American Actors

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Career

John Belushi became a founding member of the three member comedy troupe ‘The West Compass Trio’ in Chicago. In 1971, he received his big break when he got an offer from ‘The Second City’ to become a member of their cast, post which his career took off.

John Belushi became a cast member of ‘National Lampoon Lemmings’ alongside people like Chevy Chase and Christopher Guest. In 1972, they produced a parody of the iconic music festival ‘Woodstock.’ The following year, Belushi wrote, directed, and acted in the radio program ‘The National Lampoon Radio Hour.’

In 1975, the producers of the popular TV show ‘Saturday Night Live’ approached him with an offer to appear on the show, and he appeared on the show for four years. Subsequently, John Belushi appeared as a guest artist on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ However, his association with the show was marred by frequent conflicts with the producers due to his drug-related problems. He created the act ‘The Blues Brothers’ during his time there.

John Belushi forayed into the big screen with the release of three films in 1978. These films were ‘Old Boyfriends,’ ‘Goin’ South,’ and ‘Animal House.’ ‘Animal House,’ made with a budget of $2.8 million, was a highly acclaimed film and went on to earn in excess of $140 million. The same year, ‘The Blues Brothers’ act from ‘Saturday Night Live’ signed up with ‘Atlantic Records’ and released the album ‘Briefcase Full of Blues.’

In 1979, John Belushi starred in the Steven Spielberg film ‘1941’ and followed it up with films like ‘The Blues Brothers’ (1980) and ‘Neighbors’ (1981). He acted with his longtime collaborator Dan Aykroyd in all those films. He also starred in the film ‘Continental Divide’ in 1981.

Major Works

John Belushi appeared in successful movies and was also the member of a music band. However, his most important and iconic work was for the television show ‘Saturday Night Live’ where he served for four years starting from 1975. ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine adjudged him the best performer among all the cast members who appeared on ‘Saturday Night Live.’

Awards & Achievements

In 2004, he was honored with a star on the ‘Hollywood Walk of Fame.’

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Personal Life & Legacy

John Belushi got married to Judith Jacklin in 1976 after having been in a relationship with her for some years. They did not have any children.

John Belushi died on March 5, 1982 due to drug overdose in a room at the ‘Chateau Marmont Hotel’ in Hollywood. He was only 33 years old.

Following an orthodox Christian funeral, his mortal remains were interred at the ‘Abel's Hill Cemetery’ in Chilmark, Massachusetts.

Facts About John Belushi

John Belushi was a talented musician and could play several instruments, including the drums and the harmonica.

Belushi was known for his incredible ability to imitate others, often entertaining his friends and colleagues with spot-on impressions.

Despite his larger-than-life persona on screen, Belushi was reported to be a gentle and kind-hearted person off-camera, known for his generosity and sense of humor.

Belushi was a dedicated environmentalist and was passionate about protecting the planet. He was actively involved in various conservation efforts during his lifetime.

In addition to his comedic talents, Belushi was also a skilled martial artist, studying various disciplines such as karate and judo throughout his life.

John Belushi Biography

You wanted to know

What was John Belushi's most famous role?

What was the cause of John Belushi's death?

Did John Belushi have any notable collaborations with other actors?

What was the impact of John Belushi's comedic style on future generations of comedians?

What were some of the popular sketches John Belushi performed on "Saturday Night Live?"