John Belushi
Second City performer who brought Harold Ramis to The National Lampoon Radio Hour.
John Adam Belushi was an American actor, comedian, and musician born on January 24, 1949, in Chicago to Albanian-American parents. He was raised in Wheaton, Illinois, and attended Wheaton Central High School, where he met his future wife, Judith Jacklin. After high school, he formed a band called the Ravens with four classmates, recording a single that failed to gain traction. He later studied at the College of DuPage, the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater, and the University of Illinois Chicago Circle before joining the cast of *Saturday Night Live*. Belushi began his comedy career in Chicago by founding his own troupe, the West Compass Trio, with Tino Insana and Steve Beshekas. His work caught the attention of Bernard Sahlins, who recruited him for The Second City comedy club. There, Belushi met and collaborated with Dan Aykroyd, Brian Doyle-Murray, and Harold Ramis. In 1972, he moved to New York City to perform in the off-Broadway parody *National Lampoon Lemmings* alongside Chevy Chase and Christopher Guest. He then worked as a writer, director, and actor for *The National Lampoon Radio Hour*, bringing in Ramis, Joe Flaherty, Guest, Brian Doyle-Murray, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and Richard Belzer. The *National Lampoon Show* toured in 1974, produced by Ivan Reitman. In 1975, Chase and Michael O'Donoghue recommended Belushi to Lorne Michaels for a new NBC show, *Saturday Night Live*. Despite initial reluctance, Michaels hired Belushi after an audition. Belushi became one of the seven original cast members, developing iconic characters such as the Samurai, Henry Kissinger, Ludwig van Beethoven, and a Greek café owner. He also appeared in films including *National Lampoon's Animal House*, *1941*, *The Blues Brothers*, and *Neighbors*. With Aykroyd and several musicians, he founded The Blues Brothers band, which led to the film of the same name. Belushi was dismissed from *SNL* multiple times and rehired. He died on March 5, 1982, at age 33, after Cathy Smith confessed to injecting him with a lethal heroin and cocaine mixture at the Chateau Marmont. Smith was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 15 months in prison. Belushi received a posthumous star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004. He was the older brother of actor Jim Belushi.
- field
- Actor, comedian
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Belushi was part of the Second City comedy troupe in Chicago. After leaving Second City for a time and returning in 1972, Ramis worked his way back as Belushi's deadpan foil. In 1974, Belushi brought Ramis and other Second City performers, including Bill Murray, to New York City to work on The National Lampoon Radio Hour. Belushi, Ramis, Murray, Joe Flaherty, Christopher Guest, and Gilda Radner also starred in the revue The National Lampoon Show, the successor to National Lampoon's Lemmings. In 1982, Ramis was attached to direct a film adaptation of A Confederacy of Dunces that was to star John Belushi and Richard Pryor, but the project was abandoned.
Reader's Guide
John Belushi’s career began in Chicago, where he formed the West Compass Trio with Tino Insana and Steve Beshekas. This led to his recruitment by Bernard Sahlins for The Second City, where he met Dan Aykroyd, Brian Doyle-Murray, and Harold Ramis. In 1972, Belushi performed off-Broadway in *National Lampoon Lemmings* alongside Chevy Chase and Christopher Guest. He then worked as a writer, director, and actor for *The National Lampoon Radio Hour*, assembling a cast that included Ramis, Joe Flaherty, Guest, Brian Doyle-Murray, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, and Richard Belzer. In 1974, Belushi met Aykroyd in Toronto, and the *National Lampoon Show* toured the country, produced by Ivan Reitman. Belushi’s physical humor initially made Lorne Michaels hesitant, but after an audition, he joined the first season of *Saturday Night Live* in 1975, appearing in its first sketch. On SNL, he created iconic characters such as the Samurai, Henry Kissinger, Ludwig van Beethoven, and a Greek café owner. He also pursued music, co-founding The Blues Brothers with Aykroyd and others, leading to the film of the same name. Belushi was dismissed and rehired from SNL multiple times. His death in 1982 from a heroin and cocaine mixture administered by Cathy Smith resulted in her conviction for involuntary manslaughter. He was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2004.
Did You Know?
- In 1974, Belushi brought Harold Ramis and other Second City performers to New York City to work on The National Lampoon Radio Hour.
- Belushi, Ramis, Bill Murray, Joe Flaherty, Christopher Guest, and Gilda Radner starred in the revue The National Lampoon Show.
- In 1982, Ramis was attached to direct a film adaptation of A Confederacy of Dunces that was to star John Belushi and Richard Pryor, but the project was abandoned.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is John Belushi?
John Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician born in Chicago in 1949. He is best remembered as one of the original seven cast members of Saturday Night Live and for his high-energy, physically chaotic comedy style.
What was John Belushi's role on Saturday Night Live?
Belushi joined the original 1975 SNL cast and became the show's loudest, most physically exaggerated performer. His rapid-fire impressions and over-the-top characters helped set the tone for the show's early seasons alongside his close creative partner Dan Aykroyd.
How did the Blues Brothers come about?
Belushi and Dan Aykroyd developed the Blues Brothers as a recurring SNL sketch in which two soul-music-loving brothers go on a mission from God. The bit proved so popular that it was expanded into the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, which became a major box-office hit.
How did John Belushi's life end?
Belushi died in Los Angeles on March 5, 1982, at the age of 33. His death was attributed to a combination of cocaine and quaaludes, cutting short a career that had already made him a defining voice of 1970s comedy.
Why is John Belushi considered important to comedy history?
Belushi helped define the physical, rule-breaking style of 1970s American comedy through SNL, Animal House, and The Blues Brothers. His partnership with Aykroyd and his willingness to be absurdly loud and chaotic influenced generations of comedians who followed.
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