John Belushi's Net Worth
John Belushi, an acclaimed American actor, comedian, writer, and musician, had a net worth of $2 million at the time of his death. Adjusted for inflation, this equates to roughly $5 million today. Belushi was a key figure in the original cast of NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' from 1975 to 1979 and significantly contributed as a writer for the show. He starred in iconic roles like John Blutarsky in 'Animal House' (1978) and Jake Blues in 'The Blues Brothers' (1980). Tragically, John passed away from a drug overdose in March 1982 at the age of 33.
Early Life
Born on January 24, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, John Adam Belushi grew up in an Eastern Orthodox Christian household. His parents were Agnes, a pharmacist born to Albanian immigrants, and Adam, an Albanian immigrant who owned a restaurant. John had three siblings: Jim, Billy, and Marian. Belushi attended Wheaton Central High School and later formed a band called The Ravens. After high school, he went on to attend the College of DuPage and the University of Wisconsin–Whitewater.
Career
John Belushi's comedic journey began with the West Compass Trio, a comedy troupe he formed in Chicago. This led to his involvement with The Second City, where he met notable figures like Harold Ramis and Brian Doyle-Murray. In 1972, he starred in the Off-Broadway parody 'National Lampoon Lemmings' and later joined 'The National Lampoon Radio Hour.' His encounter with Dan Aykroyd in 1974 marked the beginning of a collaborative partnership that would include 'The Blues Brothers.'
Belushi became one of the original cast members of 'NBC's Saturday Night,' later renamed 'Saturday Night Live,' in 1975. He was celebrated for characters like the Blues Brothers, Samurai Futaba, and Olympia Café owner Pete Dionisopoulos. John also co-wrote and appeared in various TV specials and films, including 'Animal House,' which earned substantial acclaim and was preserved in the Library of Congress' National Film Registry.
Film and Television Success
Following his tenure on 'SNL,' John transitioned to film, appearing in '1941' (1979), and co-starring with Aykroyd in 'The Blues Brothers' (1980). He featured in other films like 'Continental Divide' (1981) and his final film 'Neighbors' (1981). Unfortunately, plans to star in 'Ghostbusters' were cut short by his untimely death, with the role eventually going to Bill Murray.
Personal Life
John married Judith Jacklin on December 31, 1976. Judith made appearances in his movies 'National Lampoon's Animal House' and 'The Blues Brothers.' Despite his professional success, John's personal life was marred by heavy drug use. In a revealing 2012 'Vanity Fair' interview, Dan Aykroyd discussed Belushi's struggle with addiction, particularly during the filming of 'The Blues Brothers.'
Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Death
On March 5, 1982, John Belushi was found dead at his bungalow in the Chateau Marmont by his trainer Bill Wallace. The cause was acute heroin and cocaine poisoning. Catherine Evelyn Smith, who had provided John with the fatal drugs, was later charged with involuntary manslaughter. John's funeral was held following Orthodox Christian traditions, and he was initially buried at Abel's Hill Cemetery on Martha's Vineyard. Due to fan interference, he was later reburied in an unmarked grave nearby.
Awards and Nominations
John Belushi was honored with four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his work on 'Saturday Night Live,' winning Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series in 1977. In 2004, he was posthumously awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and was further recognized with a TV Land Award nomination in 2007 for his portrayal of Elvis.
