Born on January 24, 1949, in Chicago, Illinois, actor and singer John Belushi gained fame as one of the sketch comedy artists on Saturday Night Live (1975–79). He is best remembered for his iconic role as John (“Bluto”) Blutarsky in National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) and as Jake Blues in the musical comedy The Blues Brothers (1980).

John Belushi, the eldest son of Albanian-American parents Adam Anastas Belushi and Agnes Demetri Belushi, moved to Wheaton, Illinois, a western suburb of Chicago, with his family at the age of six. It was in Wheaton that he attended Wheaton Central High School, where he would later meet his future wife, writer and actress Judy Jacklin. Graduating in 1967, Belushi, encouraged by his drama teacher, decided to embark on a career in acting.

In 1971, John Belushi met actor Dan Aykroyd, and the two forged a lifelong friendship and collaboration.

Tragically, John Belushi passed away from a drug overdose in Los Angeles at the age of 33.

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