Known for movies
The Blues Brothers (1980)
as 'Joliet' Jake Blues
Saturday Night Live (1975-1981)
as Various / Himself / Samurai Futaba / Larry Farber
Animal House (1978)
as John Blutarsky
1941 (1979)
as Capt. Wild Bill Kelso
Short Info
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Date Of Birth | January 24, 1949 |
| Died | March 5, 1982, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Spouse | Judith Belushi Pisano |
| Mark | Often played comically intense, volatile, even sometimes sloppy man-child characters. |
| Fact | The epitaph on Belushi's tombstone (on Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts) read, "He made us laugh, and now he can make us think." John's grave drew so many curious viewers that his casket had to be moved and reburied in an unmarked corner of the cemetery... after which Belushi's fans posted a new epitaph for him which has since become famous: "He could have given us a lot more laughs, but NOOOOOOO!" (This was taken from one of his more-famous catchphrases on Saturday Night Live (1975)). |
| Payments | Earned $750 /week (1975 season) from Saturday Night Live (1975) |
John Belushi was an American actor, comedian, and musician. He is best known for his work on the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, and for his roles in the films Animal House and The Blues Brothers.
Belushi was born in Chicago, Illinois, on January 24, 1949. His parents, Agnes (née Simon) and Adam Belushi, were first-generation Albanian immigrants. He had four siblings: Peter, James, George, and Agnes. Belushi was raised in Wheaton, a suburb of Chicago.
He attended Wheaton Community High School, where he played football and was a member of the track team. After graduation, he attended the College of DuPage for one semester before transferring to Southern Illinois University Carbondale. There, he became a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and began performing with an improv group called the Compass Players.
Belushi’s first professional acting job was as a player in the Second City, an improv comedy troupe in Chicago. From there, he went on to star in several Broadway and off-Broadway productions, including the original production of National Lampoon’s Lemmings.
In 1975, Belushi was cast as John “Bluto” Blutarsky in the film Animal House. The film was a huge success, and Belushi’s performance as the lovable slob earned him widespread acclaim.
In 1978, Belushi and Dan Aykroyd co-wrote and starred in The Blues Brothers, a film about two musicians who embark on a “mission from God” to save the Catholic orphanage where they were raised. The film was another critical and commercial success, and Belushi’s portrayal of “Joliet” Jake Blues earned him a Golden Globe nomination.
Belushi’s career continued to thrive in the 1980s. He starred in several successful films, including Neighbors (1981), Trading Places (1983), and The Breakfast Club (1985). He also returned to television, starring in the short-lived sitcom Mr. Sunshine (1986).
Sadly, Belushi’s life came to an abrupt end in 1982 when he died of a drug overdose at the age of 33. Despite his untimely death, Belushi left behind a legacy as one of the most talented and beloved comedians of his generation.
General Info
| Full Name | John Belushi |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Date Of Birth | January 24, 1949 |
| Died | March 5, 1982, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States |
| Height | 1.73 m |
| Profession | Screenwriter, Musician, Comedian, Actor |
| Education | Wheaton Warrenville South High School, University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, College of DuPage, Southern Illinois University Carbondale |
| Nationality | American |
Family
| Spouse | Judith Belushi Pisano |
| Parents | Adam Belushi, Agnes Samaras |
| Siblings | Jim Belushi, Marian Belushi, Billy Belushi |
Accomplishments
| Awards | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing - Variety Series |
| Music Groups | The Blues Brothers |
| Nominations | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy-Variety Or Music Program, TV Land Favorite Elvis Impersonation Award, Primetime Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor - Comedy Variety or Variety Musical, People's Choice Award for Favorite Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture |
| Movies | Continental Divide, Neighbors, The Blues Brothers, 1941, Old Boyfriends, The Rutles, Goin' South, Animal House, Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle, The Beach Boys: Good Vibrations Tour, National Lampoon: Lemmings |
| TV Shows | The Richard Pryor Show, Saturday Night Live |
Social profile links
Marks
| # | Marks / Signs |
|---|---|
| 1 | Often known for his expressive eyes and the solitary raised eyebrow |
| 2 | In his trademark comic rantings, he would include a long, detailed explanation of something he was trying to support or confirm, and then broke into a shouting "Buuuut nnnnnOOOOOO!", continuing to rant into the negative. |
| 3 | Often played comically intense, volatile, even sometimes sloppy man-child characters. |
| 4 | On Saturday Night Live, he often did a running act on the Weekend Update section where he would give an editorial speech that starts calmly, but increases in emotional intensity until the end he is screaming and flailing around like a maniac. |
Salary
| Title | Salary |
|---|---|
| Animal House (1978) | $40,000 |
| Saturday Night Live (1975) | $750 /week (1975 season) |
Quotes
| # | Quote |
|---|---|
| 1 | I give so much pleasure to so many people. Why can I not get some pleasure for myself? |
| 2 | Back in Chicago, all we cared about was rock 'n' roll and staying out of the army. |
| 3 | Some comedians love their characters. I don't fall in love with mine. In fact, I get tired of them very fast. You have to be willing to throw it all away. |
Facts
| # | Fact |
|---|---|
| 1 | Since Albania was under communism during his youth, Belushi often told people he was of Greek and Italian descent. |
| 2 | Belushi's nickname "America's Guest" stemmed from his habit of wandering to a random house of a complete stranger, knocking on the door, going in, helping himself to something in the refrigerator and then sleeping on the stranger's couch. Most strangers, recognizing who he was, did not seem to mind Belushi's "visit". |
| 3 | Was good friends with Wrestling Legend Dusty Rhodes. |
| 4 | John was the original choice to be Dan Aykroyd's co-star in Spies Like Us (1985) (in the role that eventually went to Chevy Chase). Aykroyd and Belushi discussed the upcoming movie with Gene Shalit on Today (1952); the clip is included as a special feature on the "Best of John Belushi" DVD. |
| 5 | He discovered the band Fear and brought them to Cherokee Studios to record songs for the soundtrack of a major motion picture, he and Dan Aykroyd were starring in, called Neighbors (1981). |
| 6 | Had appeared with Michael O'Donoghue in "Wolverines", the very first sketch on the first SNL show in 1975. |
| 7 | Was very generous, financially, to family and friends, often loaning them money when they asked. Toward the end of his life, Belushi's business manager asked him to contact several family and friends and generate money by demanding they make good on their loans. Belushi refused. |
| 8 | The Polish rock group Lady Pank (who provided the music for the animated series O dwóch takich, co ukradli ksiezyc (1962)) wrote a song called "John Belushi", which appears on the album "Tacy Sami". The tune was composed by Jan Borysewicz and the lyrics were written by Zbigniew Holdys. |
| 9 | Belushi died in bungalow #3 of the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles. The last two stars to see him alive were Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, both of whom had visited Belushi, on separate occasions, shortly before his death. |
| 10 | While co-hosting an episode of Siskel & Ebert (1986) with Richard Roeper, longtime friend and collaborator Harold Ramis revealed that it was Belushi's longtime ambition to play Ludwig van Beethoven in a feature film. |
| 11 | Older brother of Jim Belushi. Uncle of Robert Belushi. |
| 12 | Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 61-62. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998. |
| 13 | His performance as John "Bluto" Blutarsky in Animal House (1978) is ranked #48 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time. |
| 14 | Attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. He bought his famous "College" shirt seen in Animal House (1978) at a small shirt shop on "The Strip" (Illinois Street or US Route 51) in Carbondale, which still exists. |
| 15 | The epitaph on Belushi's tombstone (on Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts) read, "He made us laugh, and now he can make us think." John's grave drew so many curious viewers that his casket had to be moved and reburied in an unmarked corner of the cemetery... after which Belushi's fans posted a new epitaph for him which has since become famous: "He could have given us a lot more laughs, but NOOOOOOO!" (This was taken from one of his more-famous catchphrases on Saturday Night Live (1975)). |
| 16 | There is a John Belushi Memorial Scholarship for Performing Arts at his alma mater, College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, Illinois). |
| 17 | Chris Farley was an admirer of Belushi and, sadly, Farley too died in his early 30s just when his career appeared to be taking off. |
| 18 | A scene was deleted from 1941 (1979) in which his character met Dan Aykroyd's character right before he boarded the Japanese submarine. They looked at each other as if recognizing each other, a nod to their real life friendship. This was the only scene in the film where they interacted. |
| 19 | His good friend Dan Aykroyd used to refer to the green ghost Slimer from Ghostbusters (1984) as "the ghost of John Belushi", based on the similar party animal personality. |
| 20 | Was billed as "Kevin Scott" on an episode of Saturday Night Live (1975), as a spoof on suggestions that his name Belushi be softened or changed, for the television audience (John's Albanian family had kept the name when they came to America, so he wanted to also.). |
| 21 | Had signed to play a supporting role in Once Upon a Time in America (1984), but died before the film went into production. He was replaced by James Woods. |
| 22 | His favorite comedienne was Lucille Ball, he knew every detail of her life and career. |
| 23 | Was scheduled to present the first annual Best Visual Effects Oscar at the 1982 Academy Awards with Dan Aykroyd, but died weeks before the ceremony. Aykroyd presented the award alone, and stated from the podium: "My partner would have loved to have been here tonight to present this award, since he was a bit of a Visual Effect himself.". |
| 24 | The role of Dr. Peter Venkman in Ghostbusters (1984) was originally written for Belushi. After his death, the role went to fellow SNL player Bill Murray. |
| 25 | Was good friends with fellow Saturday Night Live (1975) player Dan Aykroyd. Belushi personally met with Aykroyd at a speakeasy that Aykroyd frequented to discuss the possibility of Aykroyd joining Saturday Night Live (1975), which is where they hit it off. While they were talking, Aykroyd put on a blues record, which stirred a fascination in Belushi, who was primarily a fan of heavy metal. SNL music director Howard Shore later heard about Aykroyd re-familiarizing Belushi with blues music and suggested that they do a musical sketch, which eventually led to the birth of their popular "Blues Brothers" act. |
| 26 | Made a "Guest Star Appearance" on an episode of the television series Police Squad! (1982) which showed him underwater wearing cement shoes. He died shortly before the episode aired, so the scene was cut and replaced by a segment with William Conrad. After the success of the Naked Gun movies in the early 1990s, ABC-TV re-aired episodes of "Police Squad!" and hoped to re-edit the Belushi scene back into the episode. However, the footage could not be found and is now presumed lost or destroyed. |
| 27 | 4/1/04: Posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6355 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. The ceremony was attended by his brother Jim Belushi and friend and partner Dan Aykroyd. Also in attendance were John's widow Judith Belushi-Pisano and fellow SNL cast member Chevy Chase. |
| 28 | At the time of his untimely death, Belushi was rewriting a script entitled "Noble Rot". |
| 29 | A petition drive was started to have a commemorative stamp printed by the U.S. Postal Service for the actor. |
| 30 | Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. pg. 38-40. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387 |
| 31 | Began his career in Shawnee Summer Theatre of Greene County's youth theatre education program, in Bloomfield, Indiana. |
| 32 | Had starred alone in a black and white Saturday Night Live (1975) sketch titled "Don't Look Back in Anger", in which he played himself as an old man visiting the graves of the other original SNL cast members, himself being the last survivor. In an odd twist of fate, Belushi was the first of the cast to die. |
| 33 | Used to borrow a $20 bill from new acquaintances, judging them from their reactions at his request. |
| 34 | Following his untimely death, he was interred at Abel's Hill Cemetery in Chilmark (on Martha's Vineyard), Massachusetts. His grave is unmarked. |
| 35 | Attended Wheaton Central High School, now Wheaton Warrenville South High School, in Wheaton, Illinois. |
| 36 | Attended Edison Middle School in Wheaton, Illinois. |
| 37 | Raised in Wheaton, Illinois as a child. |
Pictures
Movies
Actor
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neighbors | 1981 | Earl Keese | |
| Continental Divide | 1981 | Ernie Souchak | |
| The Blues Brothers | 1980 | 'Joliet' Jake Blues (as Jake) | |
| 1941 | 1979 | Capt. Wild Bill Kelso | |
| Saturday Night Live | 1975-1979 | TV Series | Various / Samurai Futaba / Himself / ... |
| Old Boyfriends | 1979 | Eric Katz | |
| Grateful Dead: The Closing of Winterland | 1978 | TV Movie | Jake Blues |
| Things We Did Last Summer | 1978 | TV Movie | Jake Blues |
| Goin' South | 1978 | Deputy Hector | |
| Animal House | 1978 | John Blutarsky | |
| The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash | 1978 | TV Movie | Ron Decline, The most feared promoter in the world |
| The Beach Boys: It's OK | 1976 | TV Movie | Cop #2 |
| Shame of the Jungle | 1975 | Craig Baker (English version, voice) |
Writer
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Best of Dan Aykroyd | 1986 | Video | |
| The Best of John Belushi | 1985 | Video written by | |
| Saturday Night Live | TV Series 1 episode, 1976 writer - 21 episodes, 1976 - 1977 written by - 1 episode, 1976 | ||
| The Beach Boys: It's OK | 1976 | TV Movie | |
| Lemmings | 1973 | Video documentary |
Soundtrack
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike & Mike | 2014 | TV Series performer - 1 episode | |
| Animal House of Blues: How a Community Helped Create a Hollywood Blockbuster or Two | 2012 | Documentary performer: "Sweet Home Chicago" | |
| Stealing Time | 2009 | performer: "Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland" | |
| Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd | 2005 | Video performer: "I Don't Know" - uncredited | |
| Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live | 2005 | TV Special documentary performer: "With a Little Help from My Friends" - uncredited | |
| Saturday Night Live: The Best of John Belushi | 2005 | TV Special performer: "What'd I Say", "Soul Man", "With a Little Help from My Friends", "I'm a King Bee" - uncredited | |
| Saturday Night Live Christmas | 1999 | Video performer: "Winter Wonderland" - uncredited | |
| The Blues Brothers | 1980 | performer: "SHE CAUGHT THE KATY" uncredited, "I CAN'T TURN YOU LOOSE" uncredited, "SHAKE A TAIL FEATHER" uncredited, "GIMME SOME LOVIN'", "THEME FROM 'RAWHIDE'" uncredited, "STAND BY YOUR MAN" uncredited, "EVERYBODY NEEDS SOMEBODY TO LOVE" uncredited, "SWEET HOME CHICAGO", "JAILHOUSE ROCK" uncredited | |
| Saturday Night Live | TV Series performer - 13 episodes, 1975 - 1979 writer - 1 episode, 1976 | ||
| Animal House | 1978 | performer: "Money" | |
| Lemmings | 1973 | Video documentary performer: "Lonely at the Bottom", "Megadeath" / writer: "Lonely at the Bottom", "Megadeath" |
Music Department
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lemmings | 1973 | Video documentary musician |
Thanks
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edición Especial Coleccionista | 2011 | TV Series in memory of - 1 episode | |
| Final 24 | 2006 | TV Series documentary in memory of - 1 episode | |
| Employee of the Month | 2004 | special thanks: for paving the way | |
| A Town Called Norris | 1999 | Short very special thanks | |
| Blues Brothers 2000 | 1998 | acknowledgment: for |
Self
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Best of Gilda Radner | 1989 | Video documentary | Himself / Various Characters |
| The Beach Boys: An American Band | 1985 | Documentary | Police Officer #2 (uncredited) |
| Today | 1978-1981 | TV Series | Himself |
| Steve Martin's Best Show Ever | 1981 | TV Special | Zhelezna Postruk |
| Saturday Night Live | 1976-1981 | TV Series | Himself / Samurai Futaba / Eleanor of Gaunt / ... |
| America Alive! | 1978 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Richard Pryor Special? | 1977 | TV Special | Slave Driver / Bartender |
| Lemmings | 1973 | Video documentary |
Archive Footage
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs | 2017 | Documentary | |
| I Am Chris Farley | 2015 | Documentary | Himself |
| Tu cara me suena - Argentina | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| The Seventies | 2015 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Le Fossoyeur de Films | 2015 | TV Mini-Series documentary | |
| Saturday Night Live: 40th Anniversary Special | 2015 | TV Special | Himself - Cast Member (In Memoriam) |
| Entertainment Tonight | 2015 | TV Series | Himself |
| DRUNK STONED BRILLIANT DEAD: The Story of the National Lampoon | 2015 | Documentary | Himself / Actor |
| Welcome to the Basement | 2014 | TV Series | Himself |
| Saturday Night Live: Christmas Special | 2014 | TV Special | Various |
| Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving Special | 2014 | TV Special | Kevin |
| Inside Edition | 2014 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| The O'Reilly Factor | 2014 | TV Series | Bluto |
| Video Games AWESOME! | 2014 | TV Series | John Blutarsky |
| SNL Sports Spectacular | 2014 | TV Movie | Various (uncredited) |
| Saturday Night Live: Thanksgiving | 2013 | TV Special | Kevin (uncredited) |
| Too Young to Die | 2012 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Edición Especial Coleccionista | 2011 | TV Series | John Blutarsky Jake Blues |
| Saturday Night Live Backstage | 2011 | TV Special documentary | Samurai Futaba / Various |
| Saturday Night Live Presents: Sports All-Stars | 2010 | TV Special | Himself (uncredited) |
| Biography | 1996-2010 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| SNL Presents: A Very Gilly Christmas | 2009 | TV Movie | Himself (uncredited) |
| The Tragic Side of Comedy | 2009 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| What If...? | 2009 | TV Series | Voice Talent |
| Saturday Night Live: Just Shorts | 2009 | TV Special | Himself (uncredited) |
| Saturday Night Live Sports Extra '09 | 2009 | TV Special | Himself (uncredited) |
| Animal House: The Inside Story | 2008 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Video on Trial | 2006 | TV Series | Himself |
| Life of Pryor: The Richard Pryor Story | 2006 | TV Movie documentary | |
| The American Dream: The Dusty Rhodes Story | 2006 | Video | Himself |
| Final 24 | 2006 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Saturday Night Live: The Best of Dan Aykroyd | 2005 | Video | Various Characters (uncredited) |
| Saturday Night Live: The Best of Gilda Radner | 2005 | Video | Various Characters (uncredited) |
| Ban the Sadist Videos! | 2005 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Remembering John | 2005 | Video documentary short | Himself / Various roles (uncredited) |
| Transposing the Music | 2005 | Video documentary short | Himself / Various roles (uncredited) |
| Midnight Movies: From the Margin to the Mainstream | 2005 | Documentary | Himself |
| Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live | 2005 | TV Special documentary | Himself |
| Saturday Night Live: The Best of Commercial Parodies | 2005 | TV Movie | Himself (uncredited) |
| Saturday Night Live: The Best of John Belushi | 2005 | TV Special | Himself / Various |
| Saturday Night Live: Presidential Bash 2004 | 2004 | TV Movie | Tom Burke (uncredited) |
| 101 Most Unforgettable SNL Moments | 2004 | TV Movie | Himself |
| Drake & Josh | 2004 | TV Series | 'Joliet' Jake Blues |
| 'Duel': A Conversation with Director Steven Spielberg | 2004 | Video documentary short | Capt. Wild Bill Kelso - in "1941". |
| Sex at 24 Frames Per Second | 2003 | Video documentary | Himself |
| 101 Most Shocking Moments in Entertainment | 2003 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| Saturday Night Live Christmas 2002 | 2002 | TV Special | Santa (uncredited) |
| The Trials of Henry Kissinger | 2002 | Documentary | Henry Kissinger (uncredited) |
| Modern Marvels | 2002 | TV Series documentary | Sumo |
| SNL Remembers John Belushi | 2002 | TV Special | Himself |
| Saturday Night Live: Game Show Parodies | 2000 | TV Special | Joe Mel Jr. (uncredited) |
| Saturday Night Live Christmas | 1999 | Video | Himself / YMCA Santa |
| Saturday Night Live 25 | 1999 | TV Special documentary | Himself / Various (uncredited) |
| SNL: 25 Years of Music | 1999 | TV Movie | Various |
| Saturday Night Live: The Best of Steve Martin | 1998 | TV Special | Hunchback (uncredited) |
| The Yearbook: An 'Animal House' Reunion | 1998 | Video documentary | Himself |
| The Stories Behind the Making of 'The Blues Brothers' | 1998 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Masters of the Martial Arts Presented by Wesley Snipes | 1998 | TV Movie documentary | Himself |
| E! True Hollywood Story | 1998 | TV Series documentary | Himself |
| Joe Cocker: Have a Little Faith | 1996 | Video documentary | Himself |
| The Making of '1941' | 1996 | Video documentary | Himself |
| The Best of the Blues Brothers | 1994 | Video documentary | Jake Blues |
| Best of Schiller's Reel | 1994 | Video | Himself |
| Saturday Night Live Goes Commercial | 1991 | TV Special | Himself (uncredited) |
| When the Applause Died | 1990 | Video documentary | Himself |
| Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary | 1989 | TV Special | Himself |
| The Best of Chevy Chase | 1987 | Video documentary | Himself |
| The Best of Dan Aykroyd | 1986 | Video | Himself / Various Characters |
| The Best of John Belushi | 1985 | Video | Himself / Joliet Jake Blues / Various Characters |
| Hollywood: The Gift of Laughter | 1982 | TV Movie documentary | Actor - 'Animal House' (uncredited) |
| Saturday Night Live | 1979 | TV Series | Himself |
Awards
Won Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Star on the Walk of Fame | Walk of Fame | Motion Picture | On 1 April 2004 (posthumously) at 6355 Hollywood Blvd. |
| 1977 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series | Saturday Night Live (1975) |
Nominated Awards
| Year | Award | Ceremony | Nomination | Movie |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | TV Land Award | TV Land Awards | Favorite Elvis Impersonation | Saturday Night Live (1975) |
| 1979 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Program | Saturday Night Live (1975) |
| 1979 | Stinker Award | The Stinkers Bad Movie Awards | Worst Supporting Actor | 1941 (1979) |
| 1978 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music | Saturday Night Live (1975) |
| 1977 | Primetime Emmy | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Continuing or Single Performance by a Supporting Actor in Variety or Music | Saturday Night Live (1975) |
