John Belushi – Biography, Wife, Brother, Family, Net Worth, His Death

Before his death, John Belushi was an American comedian, actor and singer. As a regular on NBC Sketch’s Saturday Night Live (SNL) comedy show , he showed intense energy and was very strident. During the show, John Belushi created a series of characters that were well received, including his standout performances such as Henry Kissinger and Ludwig Van Beethoven.

Youth and career

John Adam Belushi was born on December 24, 1949 in Chicago to his mother, Agnes Demetri, and father, Adam Anastos Belushi, both Albanian immigrants. He grew up in Wheaton, a western suburb of Chicago, alongside his three siblings. John attended Wheaton Community High School where he first met his wife. In 1965, he formed a band, The Ravens, with his high school classmates. He played drums and contributed vocals to their only single Listen to Me/Jolly Green Giant. The song was unsuccessful, and the Ravens eventually broke up after he enrolled in the College of DuPage.

After seeing the Compass Players, John Belushia then started his own comedy troupe in Chicago, which he dubbed The West Compass Trio with two friends, Tino Insana and Steve Beshekas. The trio was a hit and they caught the eye of Bernard Sahlins, founder of The Second City. He attended their performances and asked John Belushi to be part of the cast of The Second City. In 1972 he moved to New York and began working as a writer, director and actor for the National Lampoon Radio Hour produced by the National Lampoon Magazine team. In 1975, the Chicago native was recommended to Lorne Michaels for membership on the television show, Saturday Night Live.(SNL). He had the opportunity and worked for four years on the series with successful characters such as the belligerent Samurai Futaba, Greek owner of the Olympia Café and Captain James T. Kirk.

Later he formed “The Blues Brothers” with Dan Aykroyd. They were originally intended to prepare the audience before the start of a show, but were eventually introduced primarily as musical guests. In 1978, he became a notable face on the big screen, appearing in such films as Friends, Goin’ South, and Pet Shop ; the latter grossing over $141 million, it has become one of Hollywood’s defining works.

With the Blues Brothers making waves on SNL, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd decided to make this band a real band. To this end, they called on instrumentalists. In 1978, the band released their first album. Briefcase full of blues with hot singles like Rubber Biscuit and Soul Man.

The American comedian continued his film career with Dan Aykroyd. They co-starred in 1941, Neighbors and The Blue Brothers. John Belushi continued to work on various film projects until his death.

Family: brother, wife

As mentioned earlier, John Belushi has three siblings: an older brother – Jim, an older sister – Marian and a younger brother – Billy.

His brother, Jim, is an actor, singer, musician and comedian. Jim has appeared in films such as Stock Exchanges, About Last Night, Salvador, Mister Destiny, Underdog, and The Ghost Writer.

Jim Belushi has been married three times with three children to show: a son, Robert James, born October 23, 1980, a daughter, Jamison Bess, born July 28, 1999, and a son, Jared James, born February 8. 2002.

Judith Jacklin married John Belushi on December 31, 1976. They had the opportunity to grow up in the same neighborhood and also attended Wheaton Community High School. They also moved to New York together, where Judith became an associate producer of the comedy radio show, National Radio-Lampoon Hour. She also made uncredited appearances in John’s films Pet Shop and The Blues Brothers. Judith has also worked as a set designer for all four Blues Brothers albums, which are Briefcase Full of Blues, Made in America, The Blues Brothers Movie Soundtrack and The Best of Blues Brothers.

After John’s death, Judith eventually remarried to producer and NightOwl Productions owner Victor Pisano on October 7, 1990.

John Belushi – Net worth

John Belushi had a short but successful career in Hollywood. At the time of his death, he had an estimated net worth of $2 million. This is the result of having achieved success with The Blue Brothers and as an actor.

His death

The day before he died, John Belushi asked for the money from his manager, Bernie Brillstein, who refused to give him the money, as John had become very addicted to drugs. However, John came back and asked again as Bernie had a visitor, not wanting to embarrass him in front of a guest, his manager reluctantly gave him the money.

On March 5, 1982, John was found dead at the Chateau Marmont Hotel on Sunset Boulevard. He died from the speed shot he fired, a mixture of cocaine and heroin.

A friend of hers, Catherine Evelyn Smith admitted to giving John the speed shot. She was initially charged with first degree murder, but after a plea bargain the charge was reduced to manslaughter. John Belushi rests in Abel’s Hill Cemetery.

Two years later, his life was described in a biography titled Wired: The Short and Fast Life of John Belushi by Bob Woodward. And in 2004 he was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.