James Belushi
Encyclopedia
James Adam "Jim" Belushi (born June 15, 1954) is an American
actor, comedian, and musician. He is the younger brother of comic actor John Belushi
.
, and Adam Belushi (1918–1996), an Albania
n immigrant and restaurant operator who left his native village, Qytezë, in 1934 at the age of sixteen. Jim was raised in a Chicago suburb, along with his three siblings: older brother John
, his sister, Marian, and a younger brother, Billy. After graduating from Wheaton Central High School
, Jim Belushi attended the College of DuPage
and graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
with a degree in Speech and Theater Arts.
. During this period, Belushi made his television debut in 1978
's Who's Watching the Kids
and also had a small part in Brian De Palma
's The Fury. His first significant role was in Michael Mann
's Thief
(1981). After his elder brother John's death, from 1983 to 1985
he appeared on Saturday Night Live
; he portrayed characters such as Hank Rippy from "Hello, Trudy!", and "That White Guy". Belushi also appeared in the film Trading Places
as a drunk man in a gorilla suit during a New Year's Eve party. He made a guest appearance in Faerie Tale Theatre
's third season episode Pinocchio, starring Paul Reubens
as the titular puppet.
Belushi rose to greater prominence with his supporting roles in About Last Night..., Salvador
and Little Shop of Horrors (as Patrick Martin) (all 1986), which opened up opportunities for lead roles. He has starred in films including Real Men
, The Principal
, Red Heat
, Homer and Eddie
, K-9
, Dimenticare Palermo
, Taking Care of Business, Mr. Destiny
, Only the Lonely
, Curly Sue
, Once Upon A Crime
, Wild Palms
, Royce
, Race the Sun
, Separate Lives
, Retroactive, Gang Related, Angel's Dance
and Joe Somebody
(2001). K-9 produced two sequels that were released straight to video, K-911
, featuring Mac, Sonto & Reno as "Jerry Lee", K-9: P.I.
, featuring King as "Jerry Lee", and The George Lopez Show as the building inspector in "George's Extreme Makeover: Holmes Edition".
His voice work includes The Mighty Ducks, Babes in Toyland
, Gargoyles and Hey Arnold!
, and the more recent Hoodwinked
and The Wild
. He also lent his vocal talents for 9: The Last Resort
(a PC
game released in 1995), in which he portrayed "Salty", a coarse yet helpful character. On January 4, 2001, Belushi appeared on the ER
episode "Piece of Mind". The episode focused on both Dr. Mark Greene's life-or-death brain surgery in New York and Belushi's character, who had been in a car accident with his son in Chicago
. Belushi's performance contributed to his re-emergence in the public eye, and the following year he was cast as the title role in ABC's According to Jim
. His first animation voice-over was as a pimple on Krum's head in Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
on Nickelodeon
. That performance led him to be cast in the continuing role as Simon the Monster Hunter in that series, where he ad-libbed much of his own dialogue.
In 2003, Belushi and Dan Aykroyd
released the album Have Love, Will Travel, and participated in an accompanying tour. He also performs at various venues nationwide as Zee Blues in an updated version of The Blues Brothers
. He released his first book, Real Men Don't Apologize, in May 2006.
Recently, Belushi was a narrator of an NFL offensive linemen commercial
. Belushi also introduced the starting lineups for the University of Illinois football team
during ABC
's telecast of the 2008 Rose Bowl.
Belushi started to take interest in his Albania
n ancestry. During his visit to Tirana
on November 11, 2008, he received the order Honor of the Nation from the President of Albania, H.E. Bamir Topi
. On October 10, 2009, he received Albanian citizenship.
Belushi appeared in MC Hammer
's video "Too Legit to Quit
" in 1991 (in the extended full-length version). He also hosted a celebration rally for the Chicago Cubs
playoff series in Chicago prior to the 2008 World Series
.
Steve Dahl has dubbed him "The Funniest Living Belushi."
In 2010, Belushi was cast in a pilot for CBS
called The Defenders
a series about defense lawyers. The one-hour series premiered on September 22, 2010. In two episodes in 2011, Belushi was paired with Blues Brothers partner Dan Aykroyd
. On May 15, 2011, The Defenders was canceled by CBS.
In 2011 Belushi was cast as corrupt businessman Harry Brock in Born Yesterday, which opened on Broadway in late April.
Belushi is closely linked to his Albanian heritage and recently received honorary Albanian citizenship from the President of Albania, Bamir Topi
. Belushi is an avid fan of the Chicago Blackhawks
, Chicago Bears
and the Chicago Fire Soccer Club.
In 2011, Belushi announced that he suffered from gout
, and became a spokesman for Savient Pharmaceuticals' educational campaign "Check Out Your Gout."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, comedian, and musician. He is the younger brother of comic actor John Belushi
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
.
Early life
Belushi was born in Chicago. He is the son of Agnes (née Samaras) born in Akron, OhioAkron, Ohio
Akron , is the fifth largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Summit County. It is located in the Great Lakes region approximately south of Lake Erie along the Little Cuyahoga River. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 199,110. The Akron Metropolitan...
, and Adam Belushi (1918–1996), an Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n immigrant and restaurant operator who left his native village, Qytezë, in 1934 at the age of sixteen. Jim was raised in a Chicago suburb, along with his three siblings: older brother John
John Belushi
John Adam Belushi was an American comedian, actor, and musician, best known as one of the original cast members of the NBC sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, The Star of the Films National Lampoon's Animal House and the The Blues Brothers and for fronting the American blues and soul...
, his sister, Marian, and a younger brother, Billy. After graduating from Wheaton Central High School
Wheaton Warrenville South High School
Wheaton Warrenville South High School, or WWSHS, is a public four-year high school located at the corner of Butterfield Road and Wiesbrook Road in the southwest corner of the Wheaton, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States...
, Jim Belushi attended the College of DuPage
College of DuPage
College of DuPage, or COD, is a two-year community college in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. The college also owns and operates facilities in the Illinois communities of Addison, Bloomingdale, Carol Stream, Naperville, West Chicago, and Westmont...
and graduated from Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Southern Illinois University Carbondale is a public research university located in Carbondale, Illinois, United States. Founded in 1869, SIUC is the flagship campus of the Southern Illinois University system...
with a degree in Speech and Theater Arts.
Career
From 1977 to 1980, Belushi, like his older brother John , worked with the Chicago theater group The Second CityThe Second City
The Second City is a improvisational comedy enterprise which originated in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood.The Second City Theatre opened on December 16, 1959 and has since expanded its presence to several other cities, including Toronto and Los Angeles...
. During this period, Belushi made his television debut in 1978
1978-79 United States network television schedule
This was the television schedule on all three commercial television networks in the United States for the fall season beginning in September 1978. All times are Eastern and Pacific....
's Who's Watching the Kids
Who's Watching the Kids
Who's Watching the Kids is a 1978 sitcom on NBC starring Caren Kaye, Lynda Goodfriend, Scott Baio and Tammy Lauren. It was produced by Garry Marshall, who was partly responsible for ratings domination over at rival ABC at the time with his string of hits...
and also had a small part in Brian De Palma
Brian De Palma
Brian Russell De Palma is an American film director and writer. In a career spanning over 40 years, he is probably best known for his suspense and crime thriller films, including such box office successes as the horror film Carrie, Dressed to Kill, Scarface, The Untouchables, and Mission:...
's The Fury. His first significant role was in Michael Mann
Michael Mann (film director)
Michael Kenneth Mann is an American film director, screenwriter, and producer. For his work, he has received nominations from international organizations and juries, including those at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts, Cannes and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences...
's Thief
Thief (film)
Thief is a 1981 neo-noir film written and directed by Michael Mann and based on the novel The Home Invaders by "Frank Hohimer"...
(1981). After his elder brother John's death, from 1983 to 1985
History of Saturday Night Live (1980-1985)
-Doumanian's season:For much of the 1980-1981 television year, SNL was in turmoil and many critics wrote the show off as a pale imitation of its former glory...
he appeared on Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live
Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture...
; he portrayed characters such as Hank Rippy from "Hello, Trudy!", and "That White Guy". Belushi also appeared in the film Trading Places
Trading Places
Trading Places is a 1983 American comedy film, of the satire genre, directed by John Landis, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. It tells the story of an upper class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler whose lives cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet...
as a drunk man in a gorilla suit during a New Year's Eve party. He made a guest appearance in Faerie Tale Theatre
Faerie Tale Theatre
Faerie Tale Theatre is a live-action children's television anthology series retelling popular fairy tales. Shelley Duvall serves as narrator, host and executive producer of the program, and occasionally stars in episodes...
's third season episode Pinocchio, starring Paul Reubens
Paul Reubens
Paul Reubens is an American actor, writer, film producer, and comedian, best known for his character Pee-wee Herman. Reubens joined the Los Angeles troupe The Groundlings in the 1970s and started his career as an improvisational comedian and stage actor...
as the titular puppet.
Belushi rose to greater prominence with his supporting roles in About Last Night..., Salvador
Salvador (film)
Salvador is a 1986 war drama film which tells the story of an American journalist in El Salvador covering the Salvadoran civil war. While trying to get footage, he becomes entangled with both leftist guerrillas and the right wing military...
and Little Shop of Horrors (as Patrick Martin) (all 1986), which opened up opportunities for lead roles. He has starred in films including Real Men
Real Men
Real Men is a 1987 comedy/sci-fi film starring James Belushi and John Ritter as the heroes: suave, womanizing CIA agent Nick Pirandello and weak and ineffectual insurance agent Bob Wilson .-Plot:...
, The Principal
The Principal
The Principal is a 1987 action film, starring James Belushi and Louis Gossett, Jr. It was written by Frank Deese and directed by Christopher Cain, and filmed in Oakland, California.-Plot:...
, Red Heat
Red Heat
Red Heat is a 1988 buddy cop film directed by Walter Hill. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Moscow narc Ivan Danko, and James Belushi, as Chicago detective Art Ridžić...
, Homer and Eddie
Homer and Eddie
Homer and Eddie is a 1989 American film starring Whoopi Goldberg and Jim Belushi and directed by Andrei Konchalovsky.-Plot:A homicidal escaped mental patient with a brain tumor and only a month to live meets a childlike mentally challenged traveling companion for a cross-country car trip that...
, K-9
K-9 (film)
K-9 is a 1989 American action comedy film starring James Belushi and Mel Harris. Directed by Rod Daniel and written by Steven Siegel and Scott Myers, it was produced by Lawrence Gordon and Charles Gordon, and released by Universal City Studios...
, Dimenticare Palermo
Dimenticare Palermo
Dimenticare Palermo is a 1989 Italian political thriller starring James Belushi, Mimi Rogers and Joss Ackland and directed by Francesco Rosi and co-written by Gore Vidal. The film was released under the title The Palermo Connection in North America...
, Taking Care of Business, Mr. Destiny
Mr. Destiny
Mr. Destiny is a 1990 comedy film starring James Belushi. Other actors in this film included Linda Hamilton, Jon Lovitz, Michael Caine, Courteney Cox, and Rene Russo.-Plot:...
, Only the Lonely
Only the Lonely (film)
Only the Lonely is a 1991 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Chris Columbus. It starred John Candy, Ally Sheedy, Maureen O’Hara and Anthony Quinn. The plot is similar to the earlier award-winning film Marty.-Plot:...
, Curly Sue
Curly Sue
Curly Sue is a 1991 comedy film starring James Belushi, Alisan Porter and Kelly Lynch. The film was written and directed by John Hughes. Music for the movie was provided by Georges Delerue, with the end title song "You Never Know" performed by Ringo Starr....
, Once Upon A Crime
Once Upon A Crime
Once Upon a Crime is a 1992 ensemble comedy film starring, among others; Richard Lewis, John Candy, James Belushi, Cybill Shepherd, Sean Young and Ornella Muti. The film was directed by Eugene Levy.- Plot :...
, Wild Palms
Wild Palms
Wild Palms is a six-hour mini-series, which first aired in May 1993 on the ABC network in the United States. Written by Bruce Wagner, who was also the executive producer, Wild Palms was a sci-fi drama about the dangers of brainwashing through technology and drugs...
, Royce
Royce
Royce is a surname, and may refer to:* Ed Royce , Republican Member of Congress from California* Henry Royce , cofounder with Charles Stewart Rolls of the Rolls-Royce automobile company...
, Race the Sun
Race the Sun
Race the Sun is a 1996 comedy-drama movie starring Halle Berry and James Belushi. The plot is loosely based on the true story of the Konawaena High School Solar Car Team, which finished 18th in the 1990 World Solar Challenge and first place among high school entries.-Plot:A new science teacher at...
, Separate Lives
Separate Lives
"Separate Lives" is a 1985 song recorded by Phil Collins and Marilyn Martin and featured on the soundtrack to the motion picture White Nights. It reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts as well as in Canada. It reached No. 4 on the UK Singles Chart.Songwriter Stephen...
, Retroactive, Gang Related, Angel's Dance
Angel's Dance
Angel's Dance is a 1999 film written and directed by David L. Corley and produced by David Bixler. The film stars James Belushi, Sheryl Lee and Kyle Chandler.-Plot:...
and Joe Somebody
Joe Somebody
Joe Somebody is a 2001 American comedy-drama film written by John Scott Shepherd and directed by John Pasquin. The film stars Tim Allen as a man stirred into action by a workplace bully...
(2001). K-9 produced two sequels that were released straight to video, K-911
K-911
K-911 is a motion picture comedy which was released direct-to-video in 1999. It was directed by Charles T. Kanganis and stars James Belushi as Detective Michael Dooley. The film serves as the sequel to the 1989 film K-9.-Synopsis:...
, featuring Mac, Sonto & Reno as "Jerry Lee", K-9: P.I.
K-9: P.I.
K-9: P.I. is a motion picture comedy which was released direct-to-video in 2002. It was directed by Richard J. Lewis and stars James Belushi as Detective Michael Dooley...
, featuring King as "Jerry Lee", and The George Lopez Show as the building inspector in "George's Extreme Makeover: Holmes Edition".
His voice work includes The Mighty Ducks, Babes in Toyland
Babes in Toyland (1997 film)
Babes in Toyland is a 1997 American animated musical film based on the original story. The animated feature stars Joseph Ashton, Lacey Chabert, Raphael Sbarge, Cathy Cavadini, Christopher Plummer, and Charles Nelson Reilly.-Plot:...
, Gargoyles and Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold!
Hey Arnold! is an American animated television series created by Craig Bartlett for Nickelodeon. The show's premise focuses on a fourth grader named Arnold who lives with his grandparents. Episodes center on his experiences navigating big city life while dealing with the problems he and his friends...
, and the more recent Hoodwinked
Hoodwinked
Hoodwinked!, also titled Hoodwinked on its theatrical poster and in other sources, is a 2005 American computer-animated family action comedy film, produced by Blue Yonder Films with Kanbar Entertainment, directed by Cory Edwards, Todd Edwards, Tony Leech, and produced by Maurice Kanbar, David K....
and The Wild
The Wild
The Wild is a 2006 computer-animated film directed by Steve "Spaz" Williams, produced by Clint Goldman, assistant produced by Jim Burton and C.O.R.E...
. He also lent his vocal talents for 9: The Last Resort
9: The Last Resort
9: The Last Resort is a 1996 adventure computer game developed by Tribeca Interactive. The game was produced by Robert De Niro and Jane Rosenthal, and sported an all-star cast of voice-artists including Cher, James Belushi, Christopher Reeve, Tress MacNeille, Ellen Degeneres and two members of...
(a PC
Personal computer
A personal computer is any general-purpose computer whose size, capabilities, and original sales price make it useful for individuals, and which is intended to be operated directly by an end-user with no intervening computer operator...
game released in 1995), in which he portrayed "Salty", a coarse yet helpful character. On January 4, 2001, Belushi appeared on the ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
episode "Piece of Mind". The episode focused on both Dr. Mark Greene's life-or-death brain surgery in New York and Belushi's character, who had been in a car accident with his son in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. Belushi's performance contributed to his re-emergence in the public eye, and the following year he was cast as the title role in ABC's According to Jim
According to Jim
According to Jim is an American sitcom television series starring Jim Belushi in the title role as a suburban father of three children. It originally ran on ABC from October 3, 2001 to June 2, 2009.-Synopsis:Jim is an abrasive but lovable suburban father...
. His first animation voice-over was as a pimple on Krum's head in Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
AAAHH!!! Real Monsters
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters is an American animated television series about adolescent monsters in training, developed by Klasky Csupo for Nickelodeon...
on Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
. That performance led him to be cast in the continuing role as Simon the Monster Hunter in that series, where he ad-libbed much of his own dialogue.
In 2003, Belushi and Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
released the album Have Love, Will Travel, and participated in an accompanying tour. He also performs at various venues nationwide as Zee Blues in an updated version of The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers
The Blues Brothers are an American blues and soul revivalist band founded in 1978 by comedy actors Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi as part of a musical sketch on Saturday Night Live...
. He released his first book, Real Men Don't Apologize, in May 2006.
Recently, Belushi was a narrator of an NFL offensive linemen commercial
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
. Belushi also introduced the starting lineups for the University of Illinois football team
Football team
A football team is the collective name given to a group of players selected together in the various team sports known as football.Such teams could be selected to play in an against an opposing team, to represent a football club, group, state or nation, an All-star team or even selected as a...
during ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's telecast of the 2008 Rose Bowl.
Belushi started to take interest in his Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
n ancestry. During his visit to Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
on November 11, 2008, he received the order Honor of the Nation from the President of Albania, H.E. Bamir Topi
Bamir Topi
Bamir Myrteza Topi is the fifth and current President of Albania since 24 July 2007. He was also Honorary President of Albanian football club KF Tirana from 2005 to 2007.-Early life and public activities:...
. On October 10, 2009, he received Albanian citizenship.
Belushi appeared in MC Hammer
MC Hammer
Stanley Kirk Burrell , better known by his stage name MC Hammer , is an American rapper, entertainer, business entrepreneur, dancer and actor. He had his greatest commercial success and popularity from the late 1980s until the mid-1990s...
's video "Too Legit to Quit
Too Legit to Quit (song)
"Too Legit to Quit" is a song by rap artist MC Hammer released in 1991 as the title track and first single of his third album of the same name. It proved to be successful in the U.S., peaking at the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100, at #5. The single also peaked at #60 on the UK Singles Chart...
" in 1991 (in the extended full-length version). He also hosted a celebration rally for the Chicago Cubs
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
playoff series in Chicago prior to the 2008 World Series
2008 World Series
The 2008 World Series was the 104th World Series between the American and National Leagues for the championship of Major League Baseball. The Philadelphia Phillies as champions of the National League and the Tampa Bay Rays, as American League champions, competed to win four games out of a possible...
.
Steve Dahl has dubbed him "The Funniest Living Belushi."
In 2010, Belushi was cast in a pilot for CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
called The Defenders
The Defenders (2010 TV series)
The Defenders is a 2010 American legal comedy-drama that was ordered to series by CBS for the 2010–11 television season. The series originally ran from September 22, 2010 to March 11, 2011....
a series about defense lawyers. The one-hour series premiered on September 22, 2010. In two episodes in 2011, Belushi was paired with Blues Brothers partner Dan Aykroyd
Dan Aykroyd
Daniel Edward "Dan" Aykroyd, CM is a Canadian comedian, actor, screenwriter, musician, winemaker and ufologist. He was an original cast member of Saturday Night Live, an originator of The Blues Brothers and Ghostbusters and has had a long career as a film actor and screenwriter.-Early...
. On May 15, 2011, The Defenders was canceled by CBS.
In 2011 Belushi was cast as corrupt businessman Harry Brock in Born Yesterday, which opened on Broadway in late April.
Personal life
Belushi has been married three times and has three children. He married Sandra Davenport on May 17, 1980 and had a son, Robert James (born October 23, 1981), with her before they divorced. He was married to Marjorie Bransfield from 1990 to 1992. He has been married to Jennifer Sloan since May 2, 1998, with whom he has a daughter, Jamison Bess (born July 28, 1999), and a son, Jared James (born February 8, 2002). They live in Brentwood, Los Angeles.Belushi is closely linked to his Albanian heritage and recently received honorary Albanian citizenship from the President of Albania, Bamir Topi
Bamir Topi
Bamir Myrteza Topi is the fifth and current President of Albania since 24 July 2007. He was also Honorary President of Albanian football club KF Tirana from 2005 to 2007.-Early life and public activities:...
. Belushi is an avid fan of the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
, Chicago Bears
Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
and the Chicago Fire Soccer Club.
In 2011, Belushi announced that he suffered from gout
Gout
Gout is a medical condition usually characterized by recurrent attacks of acute inflammatory arthritis—a red, tender, hot, swollen joint. The metatarsal-phalangeal joint at the base of the big toe is the most commonly affected . However, it may also present as tophi, kidney stones, or urate...
, and became a spokesman for Savient Pharmaceuticals' educational campaign "Check Out Your Gout."
Filmography
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | Working Stiffs Working Stiffs (TV series) Working Stiffs is a short-lived 1979 television series which starred James Belushi and Michael Keaton as brothers Ernie and Mike O'Rourke. The pair were janitors who aspired to work their way up in the field of business. The brothers worked in an office building owned by their Uncle Harry... |
Ernie O'Rourke | 9 episodes |
| 1981 | Thief Thief (film) Thief is a 1981 neo-noir film written and directed by Michael Mann and based on the novel The Home Invaders by "Frank Hohimer"... |
Barry | |
| 1983 | Trading Places Trading Places Trading Places is a 1983 American comedy film, of the satire genre, directed by John Landis, starring Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy. It tells the story of an upper class commodities broker and a homeless street hustler whose lives cross paths when they are unknowingly made part of an elaborate bet... |
Harvey | |
| 1983–1985 | Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live Saturday Night Live is a live American late-night television sketch comedy and variety show developed by Lorne Michaels and Dick Ebersol. The show premiered on NBC on October 11, 1975, under the original title of NBC's Saturday Night.The show's sketches often parody contemporary American culture... |
Various | 33 episodes |
| 1985 | The Man with One Red Shoe The Man with One Red Shoe The Man With One Red Shoe is a 1985 comedy film directed by Stan Dragoti. It is a remake of a 1972 French film Le Grand Blond avec une chaussure noire starring Pierre Richard and Mireille Darc... |
Morris | |
| 1986 | Little Shop of Horrors Little Shop of Horrors (1986 film) Little Shop of Horrors is a 1986 American comedy musical film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical comedy of the same name by composer Alan Menken and writer Howard Ashman, about a nerdy florist shop worker who raises a vicious plant that feeds on human blood... |
Patrick | Cameo Appearance |
| Salvador Salvador (film) Salvador is a 1986 war drama film which tells the story of an American journalist in El Salvador covering the Salvadoran civil war. While trying to get footage, he becomes entangled with both leftist guerrillas and the right wing military... |
Doctor Rock | ||
| Jumpin' Jack Flash Jumpin' Jack Flash (film) Jumpin' Jack Flash is a 1986 spy comedy film starring Whoopi Goldberg, Stephen Collins, Carol Kane, John Wood, Annie Potts, and Jonathan Pryce... |
Cab driver, police officer, Sperry repair man | ||
| About Last Night... | Bernie Litgo | ||
| 1987 | The Principal The Principal The Principal is a 1987 action film, starring James Belushi and Louis Gossett, Jr. It was written by Frank Deese and directed by Christopher Cain, and filmed in Oakland, California.-Plot:... |
Rick Latimer | |
| Real Men Real Men Real Men is a 1987 comedy/sci-fi film starring James Belushi and John Ritter as the heroes: suave, womanizing CIA agent Nick Pirandello and weak and ineffectual insurance agent Bob Wilson .-Plot:... |
Nick Pirandello | ||
| 1988 | Red Heat Red Heat Red Heat is a 1988 buddy cop film directed by Walter Hill. The film stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Moscow narc Ivan Danko, and James Belushi, as Chicago detective Art Ridžić... |
Det. Sgt. Art Ridzic (Ridžić) | |
| 1989 | K-9 K-9 (film) K-9 is a 1989 American action comedy film starring James Belushi and Mel Harris. Directed by Rod Daniel and written by Steven Siegel and Scott Myers, it was produced by Lawrence Gordon and Charles Gordon, and released by Universal City Studios... |
Detective Michael Dooley | |
| Homer and Eddie | Homer Lanza | ||
| Who's Harry Crumb? Who's Harry Crumb? Who's Harry Crumb? is a comedy-mystery film featuring John Candy as the title character.Paul Flaherty directed the film, which co-stars Annie Potts, Jeffrey Jones and Shawnee Smith... |
Man on Bus | uncredited | |
| 1990 | Taking Care of Business | Jimmy Dworski | |
| Mr. Destiny Mr. Destiny Mr. Destiny is a 1990 comedy film starring James Belushi. Other actors in this film included Linda Hamilton, Jon Lovitz, Michael Caine, Courteney Cox, and Rene Russo.-Plot:... |
Larry Joseph Burrows | ||
| Masters of Menace Masters of Menace -Plot:The Masters of Menace are a motorcycle club. When one of their own dies while testing his top fuel Harley, they decide to cross the country to go bury him... |
Gypsy | ||
| Dimenticare Palermo Dimenticare Palermo Dimenticare Palermo is a 1989 Italian political thriller starring James Belushi, Mimi Rogers and Joss Ackland and directed by Francesco Rosi and co-written by Gore Vidal. The film was released under the title The Palermo Connection in North America... |
Carmine Bonavia | ||
| Wedding Band | Reverend | ||
| 1991 | Curly Sue Curly Sue Curly Sue is a 1991 comedy film starring James Belushi, Alisan Porter and Kelly Lynch. The film was written and directed by John Hughes. Music for the movie was provided by Georges Delerue, with the end title song "You Never Know" performed by Ringo Starr.... |
Bill Dancer | |
| Diary of a Hitman Diary of a Hitman Diary of a Hitman is a 1991 drama/thriller directed by Roy London and written by Kenneth Pressman, based on his play Insider's Price. The film stars Forest Whitaker, Sherilyn Fenn, James Belushi, Sharon Stone and Lois Chiles.... |
Shandy | ||
| Only the Lonely Only the Lonely (film) Only the Lonely is a 1991 romantic comedy-drama film written and directed by Chris Columbus. It starred John Candy, Ally Sheedy, Maureen O’Hara and Anthony Quinn. The plot is similar to the earlier award-winning film Marty.-Plot:... |
Salvatore Buonarte | ||
| Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe Abraxas, Guardian of the Universe is a 1990 science-fiction/action film written and directed by Damian Lee and starring Jesse "The Body" Ventura and Sven-Ole Thorsen, with a cameo by James Belushi... |
Principal Latimer | ||
| 1992 | Traces of Red | Jack Dobson | |
| Once Upon a Crime Once Upon A Crime Once Upon a Crime is a 1992 ensemble comedy film starring, among others; Richard Lewis, John Candy, James Belushi, Cybill Shepherd, Sean Young and Ornella Muti. The film was directed by Eugene Levy.- Plot :... |
Neil | ||
| 1993 | Wild Palms Wild Palms Wild Palms is a six-hour mini-series, which first aired in May 1993 on the ABC network in the United States. Written by Bruce Wagner, who was also the executive producer, Wild Palms was a sci-fi drama about the dangers of brainwashing through technology and drugs... |
Harry Wyckoff | (mini-series) |
| Last Action Hero Last Action Hero Last Action Hero is a 1993 American action-comedy-fantasy film directed and produced by John McTiernan. It is a satire of the action genre and its clichés, containing several parodies of action films in the form of films within the film.... |
Himself | ||
| 1994 | Royce | Shane Royce | Television |
| Parallel Lives Parallel Lives (film) Parallel Lives is a 1994 TV movie, directed by Linda Yellen. The movie resumes some actors and similar patterns of the previous Yellen's work, Chantilly Lace... |
Television | ||
| 1995 | Sahara Sahara (1995 film) Sahara is a 1995 American war film directed by Brian Trenchard-Smith. The film stars James Belushi, Alan David Lee and Simon Westaway. This film is a remake of the 1943 film Sahara and was film on location in Australia.... |
Sergeant Joe Gunn | Television |
| Canadian Bacon Canadian Bacon (film) Canadian Bacon is a 1995 comedy film which satirizes Canada – United States relations along the Canada – United States border written, directed and produced by Michael Moore, his only non-documentary feature... |
Charles Jackal | ||
| Separate Lives | Tom Beckwith | ||
| Gargoyles Gargoyles (TV series) Gargoyles is an American animated series created by Greg Weisman. It was produced by Greg Weisman and Frank Paur and aired from October 24, 1994 to February 15, 1997. Gargoyles is known for its dark tone, complex story arcs and melodrama... |
Fang | 3 episodes, 1995–1996 | |
| The Pebble and the Penguin The Pebble and the Penguin The Pebble and the Penguin is a 1995 animated musical film, based on the true life mating rituals of the Adelie Penguins in Antarctica, produced and directed by Don Bluth and Gary Goldman. The film was released to theatres on April 11, 1995 by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the United States and... |
Rocko | Voice | |
| Destiny Turns on the Radio Destiny Turns on the Radio Destiny Turns on the Radio is an American action-comedy film, directed by Jack Baran. Its visual style and mix of humorous and violent elements are reminiscent of Pulp Fiction, whose director, Quentin Tarantino, costars.-Plot:... |
Tuerto | ||
| Irving | Gay Vampire #2 | ||
| 1996 | Jingle All the Way Jingle All the Way Jingle All the Way is a 1996 American family comedy film directed by Brian Levant and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sinbad, Phil Hartman, Rita Wilson, Jake Lloyd, James Belushi and Robert Conrad... |
Mall Santa | |
| Race the Sun Race the Sun Race the Sun is a 1996 comedy-drama movie starring Halle Berry and James Belushi. The plot is loosely based on the true story of the Konawaena High School Solar Car Team, which finished 18th in the 1990 World Solar Challenge and first place among high school entries.-Plot:A new science teacher at... |
Frank Machi | ||
| Gold in the Streets | Mario | ||
| Pinky and the Brain Pinky and the Brain Pinky and the Brain is an American animated television series.The characters Pinky and the Brain first appeared in 1993 as a recurring segment on the show Animaniacs... |
Additional voices | 3 episodes | |
| Mighty Ducks | Phil Palmfeather | 3 episodes | |
| Hey Arnold! Hey Arnold! Hey Arnold! is an American animated television series created by Craig Bartlett for Nickelodeon. The show's premise focuses on a fourth grader named Arnold who lives with his grandparents. Episodes center on his experiences navigating big city life while dealing with the problems he and his friends... |
Coach Wittenberg | 4 episodes, 1996–1999 | |
| 1997 | Gang Related | Frank Divinci | Alongside Tupac Shakur Tupac Shakur Tupac Amaru Shakur , known by his stage names 2Pac and Makaveli, was an American rapper and actor. Shakur has sold over 75 million albums worldwide as of 2007, making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world... |
| Retroactive | Frank Lloyd | Time travel | |
| Living in Peril | Harrison/Oliver | ||
| Disney's Bad Baby | Dad | Voice | |
| Wag the Dog Wag the Dog Wag the Dog is a 1997 black comedy film starring Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro, co-starring Anne Heche, Denis Leary and William H. Macy about a Washington spin doctor who, merely days before a presidential election, distracts the electorate from a sex scandal by hiring a Hollywood film producer... |
Himself (as Jim Belushi) | ||
| Total Security | Steve Wegman | 13 episodes | |
| 1998 | Overnight Delivery Overnight Delivery Overnight Delivery is a 1998 romantic comedy film directed by Jason Bloom and was rated PG-13 by the MPAA and released direct-to-video. It featured Reese Witherspoon and Paul Rudd, prior to both becoming considerably bigger film stars.-Plot:... |
Overnight Delivery Boss | scenes deleted |
| 1999 | Angel's Dance Angel's Dance Angel's Dance is a 1999 film written and directed by David L. Corley and produced by David Bixler. The film stars James Belushi, Sheryl Lee and Kyle Chandler.-Plot:... |
Stevie 'The Rose' Rosellini | |
| Made Men | Bill "The Mouth" Manucci | ||
| K-911 K-911 K-911 is a motion picture comedy which was released direct-to-video in 1999. It was directed by Charles T. Kanganis and stars James Belushi as Detective Michael Dooley. The film serves as the sequel to the 1989 film K-9.-Synopsis:... |
Detective Michael Dooley | Video | |
| My Neighbors the Yamadas My Neighbors the Yamadas is an anime film directed by Isao Takahata and released by Studio Ghibli on July 17, 1999. The movie is a family comedy that is presented in a comic strip style which is unusual since all the other Studio Ghibli movies are presented in the traditional anime style of Studio Ghibli... |
Takashi | voice: English version | |
| The Florentine The Florentine The Florentine is a 1999 film directed Nick Stagliano and produced by Francis Ford Coppola's American Zoetrope. It stars Jeremy Davies, Virginia Madsen, Luke Perry, Mary Stuart Masterson, Michael Madsen, Chris Penn, Hal Holbrook, Tom Sizemore, Maeve Quinlan, James Belushi, and Burt Young... |
Billy Belasco | ||
| 2000 | Return to Me Return to Me Return to Me is a romantic movie rated PG. Return to Me was directed by Bonnie Hunt and starred David Duchovny as Bob and Minnie Driver as Grace... |
Joe Dayton | |
| 2001 | Joe Somebody Joe Somebody Joe Somebody is a 2001 American comedy-drama film written by John Scott Shepherd and directed by John Pasquin. The film stars Tim Allen as a man stirred into action by a workplace bully... |
Chuck Scarett | |
| According to Jim According to Jim According to Jim is an American sitcom television series starring Jim Belushi in the title role as a suburban father of three children. It originally ran on ABC from October 3, 2001 to June 2, 2009.-Synopsis:Jim is an abrasive but lovable suburban father... |
James "Jim" Orenthal James "Jim" Orenthal James "Jim" Orenthal no known last name, is a fictional character from the American sitcom, According to Jim. He is portrayed by James Belushi. He is the title character of the series. His character is considered a macho "everyman" who adores his children.... |
182 episodes, 2001–2009 | |
| 2002 | Snow Dogs Snow Dogs Snow Dogs is a 2002 American live-action comedy film that was released in the United States on January 18, 2002 by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Brian Levant, and stars Cuba Gooding, Jr. and James Coburn... |
Demon | Voice (small role) |
| Pinocchio Pinocchio (2002 film) Pinocchio is a 2002 Italian live-action family film directed by and starring Roberto Benigni. The film is based on The Adventures of Pinocchio by Carlo Collodi with Benigni portraying Pinocchio. It was shot in Italy and Kalkara, Malta... |
The Farmer | (English voice) | |
| K-9: P.I. K-9: P.I. K-9: P.I. is a motion picture comedy which was released direct-to-video in 2002. It was directed by Richard J. Lewis and stars James Belushi as Detective Michael Dooley... |
Detective Michael Dooley | ||
| 2003 | Easy Six | Elvis | |
| 2004 | DysEnchanted DysEnchanted DysEnchanted is a short subject about seven storybook characters: Cinderella, Snow White, Goldilocks, Sleeping Beauty, Alice In Wonderland, Dorothy and Little Red Riding Hood. They are in group therapy dishing and dealing with what comes after "happily ever after"... |
Doctor (The Shrink) | |
| Less Than Perfect Less Than Perfect Less Than Perfect is an American sitcom that aired on ABC from October 1, 2002, to June 6, 2006. The show was about a young female office employee and her co-workers... |
Eddie Smirkoff | ||
| 2005 | Hoodwinked! | Woodsman | Voice |
| 2006 | Casper's Scare School Casper's Scare School Casper's Scare School is a computer animated TV film starring Casper the Friendly Ghost. It was produced by The Harvey Entertainment Company and released by Classic Media and premiered on October 20, 2006. It has a TV series of the same name in 2009... |
Alder | Voice |
| The Wild The Wild The Wild is a 2006 computer-animated film directed by Steve "Spaz" Williams, produced by Clint Goldman, assistant produced by Jim Burton and C.O.R.E... |
Benny | Voice | |
| Tugger The 4x4 Jeep That Wanted to Fly | Tugger | Voice | |
| 2007 | Underdog Underdog (film) Underdog is a 2007 American live-action comedy film based on the cartoon series of the same name. The film was directed by Frederik Du Chau and stars Peter Dinklage as Dr. Simon Bar Sinister, Patrick Warburton as Cad Lackley, and Jason Lee as the voice of Underdog. The film also stars Jim Belushi,... |
Dan Unger (Father) | |
| Once Upon a Christmas Village | Santa Claus | Voice | |
| 2008 | Scooby-Doo and the Goblin King Scooby-Doo and the Goblin King Scooby-Doo! and the Goblin King is the twelfth in the series of Scooby-Doo direct-to-video films produced by Warner Bros. Animation . This movie, along with the next film Samurai Sword were both produced and completed in 2008, but Goblin King was released first in time for the Halloween season... |
Goblin | Voice |
| Snow Buddies Snow Buddies Snow Buddies is a 2008 direct to video in the Air Bud series. It was released on DVD on February 5, 2008. The movie was shot on location in Canada at Mount Seymore and the town of Ladner, British Columbia.-Plot:... |
rescue dog | Voice | |
| 2010 | The Ghost Writer | John Maddox | |
| 2010 | The Defenders The Defenders (2010 TV series) The Defenders is a 2010 American legal comedy-drama that was ordered to series by CBS for the 2010–11 television season. The series originally ran from September 22, 2010 to March 11, 2011.... |
Nick Morelli | Television |
| 2011 | Cougars, Inc. | Dan Fox | |
| 2012 | Dorothy of Oz Dorothy of Oz (film) Dorothy of Oz is an upcoming computer-animated film based on the book by Roger Stanton Baum by the same name. It is being produced by Summertime Entertainment, the family entertainment division of Alpine Pictures. The film is scheduled for a 3D U.S. theatrical release on August 3, 2012.... |
The Cowardly Lion | Voice (Pre-production) |
| Bronko |
Characters on Saturday Night Live
- Hank Rippy (Hello, Trudy!)
- Man on the Street Jesse Donnelly
- That White Guy, a stereotypical Caucasian man who can rap
Celebrity impersonations
- Arnold SchwarzeneggerArnold SchwarzeneggerArnold Alois Schwarzenegger is an Austrian-American former professional bodybuilder, actor, businessman, investor, and politician. Schwarzenegger served as the 38th Governor of California from 2003 until 2011....
- Babe RuthBabe RuthGeorge Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
- Bob GuccioneBob GuccioneBob Guccione was the founder and publisher of the adult magazine Penthouse. He resigned from his publisher position in November 2003.-Early life:...
- Josef MengeleJosef MengeleJosef Rudolf Mengele , also known as the Angel of Death was a German SS officer and a physician in the Nazi concentration camp Auschwitz-Birkenau. He earned doctorates in anthropology from Munich University and in medicine from Frankfurt University...
- Captain KangarooCaptain KangarooCaptain Kangaroo is a children's television series which aired weekday mornings on the American television network CBS for nearly 30 years, from October 3, 1955 until December 8, 1984, making it the longest-running children's television program of its day...
- Hulk HoganHulk HoganTerrance Gene "Terry" Bollea , better known by his ring name Hulk Hogan, is an American Semi-retired professional wrestler, actor, television personality, and musician currently signed to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling ....
- Joan CollinsJoan CollinsJoan Henrietta Collins, OBE , is an English actress, author, and columnist. Born in Paddington and raised in Maida Vale, Collins grew up during the Second World War. At the age of nine, she made her stage debut in A Doll's House and after attending school, she was classically trained as an actress...
- Michael ReaganMichael ReaganMichael Edward Reagan is a former American radio host and Republican strategist. His nationally syndicated radio show, The Michael Reagan Talk Show, aired on stations throughout the United States on the Premiere Radio Networks before being dropped, after which it moved to Radio America...
- Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul IIBlessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
- Rosemary ClooneyRosemary ClooneyRosemary Clooney was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the novelty hit "Come On-a My House" written by William Saroyan and his cousin Ross Bagdasarian , which was followed by other pop numbers such as "Botch-a-Me" Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 –...
- Thomas NoguchiThomas Noguchiis a former Chief Medical Examiner-Coroner for the County of Los Angeles, who served in that position from 1967 to 1982. Known as the "coroner to the stars", he determined the cause of death in many high profile cases. He is most famous for performing autopsies on Marilyn Monroe, Robert F...
- Willie NelsonWillie NelsonWillie Hugh Nelson is an American country music singer-songwriter, as well as an author, poet, actor, and activist. The critical success of the album Shotgun Willie , combined with the critical and commercial success of Red Headed Stranger and Stardust , made Nelson one of the most recognized...
- Joe CockerJoe CockerJohn Robert "Joe" Cocker, OBE is an English rock and blues musician, composer and actor, who came to popularity in the 1960s, and is most known for his gritty voice, his idiosyncratic arm movements while performing, and his cover versions of popular songs, particularly those of The Beatles...