John Belushi

John Belushi was an American actor best known for his roles in Animal House, The Blues Brothers, and the comedy series Saturday Night Live. He gained fame for his energetic performances and unique style of humor.

Personal and Family Life

Born on January 24, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, John was raised in a family of Albanian descent. He had a brother, Jim Belushi, who also became an actor. John married Judith Belushi-Pisano in 1976, but their marriage was challenged by his struggles with addiction.

Career

John’s career took off after he joined Saturday Night Live in 1975, where his wild antics became a hallmark of the show. Prior to that, he performed at the famous comedy club Second City and achieved recognition through the off-Broadway rock musical National Lampoon’s Lemmings. His role as “Bluto” in Animal House made him a household name, and he later starred in the cult classic The Blues Brothers.

Death and Legacy

On March 5, 1982, John Belushi was found dead in his hotel room from an overdose of cocaine and heroin at the age of 33. Despite his troubled life, he left a lasting impact on comedy and film, remembered for his raw talent and unforgettable characters. His charitable acts and friendships also show a different side to the legendary funnyman.

Filmography

Title Release Date Character
The Blues Brothers 1980-06-16 ‘Joliet’ Jake Blues
1941 1979-12-14 Capt. Wild Bill Kelso
Continental Divide 1981-09-18 Ernie Souchak
Goin’ South 1978-10-06 Hector
The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash 1978-03-22 Ron Decline
Neighbors 1981-12-18 Earl Keese
The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story 2006-06-06 Himself
Lemmings 1973-01-25 Various
Old Boyfriends 1979-03-22 Eric
The Blues Brothers Live at Winterland 1978-12-31 Joliet Jake Blues
Saturday Night Live: Christmas 1999-12-01 Himself
Saturday Night Live: The Best of John Belushi 2005-08-06 Self / Various
Steve Martin’s Best Show Ever 1981-11-25 Zhelezna Postruk
Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd 2005-09-06 Various Characters
The Best of the Blues Brothers 1994-07-26 Jake Blues (archive footage)
Animal House 1978-07-28 John “Bluto” Blutarski
Drunk Stoned Brilliant Dead: The Story of the National Lampoon 2015-01-25 Self / Actor
Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary 1989-09-24 Self
Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live 2005-02-20 Self
Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes 1998-08-18 Self
The Beach Boys: It’s OK 1976-11-22 Cop #2
The Stories Behind the Making of ‘The Blues Brothers’ 1998-09-08 Self
The Yearbook: An Animal House Reunion 1998-10-13 Self – Bluto
The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations Tour 1976-08-05 Cop #2
The Things We Did Last Summer 1978-10-28 Himself
Animal House: The Inside Story 2008-08-13 Self
Belushi 2020-10-14 Self
Cola Wars 2019-07-01 Self
Studio 54 2018-06-15 Self
The Best of John Belushi 1985-08-03 Various characters
TVTV: Video Revolutionaries 2018-10-19 Self
Zappa 2020-11-27 Self
Frank Zappa: The Broadcast Archives 2008-04-01 Self
The Making of ‘1941’ 1996-05-28 (archive)
Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special 2015-02-15 Self – Cast Member
La Honte de la jungle 1975-09-04 Craig Baker (voice)
The Blues Brothers: Transposing The Music 2005-08-30 Self – Archive Footage
The Richard Pryor Special? 1977-05-05 Slave Driver / Bartender