Wissenswertes

Belushi died in bungalow #3 of the Chateau Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles. The last two stars to see him alive were Robert De Niro and Robin Williams, both of whom had visited Belushi, on separate occasions, shortly before his death.

Was good friends with fellow Saturday Night Live (1975) player Dan Aykroyd. Belushi personally met with Aykroyd at a speakeasy that Aykroyd frequented to discuss the possibility of Aykroyd joining Saturday Night Live (1975), which is where they hit it off. While they were talking, Aykroyd put on a blues record, which stirred a fascination in Belushi, who was primarily a fan of heavy metal. SNL music director Howard Shore later heard about Aykroyd re-familiarizing Belushi with blues music and suggested that they do a musical sketch, which eventually led to the birth of their popular "Blues Brothers" act.

Used to borrow a $20 bill from new acquaintances, judging them from their reactions at his request.

The role of Dr. Peter Venkman in die Geisterjaeger (1984) was originally written for Belushi. After his death, the role went to fellow SNL player Bill Murray.

Belushi's nickname "America's Guest" stemmed from his habit of wandering to a random house of a complete stranger, knocking on the door, going in, helping himself to something in the refrigerator and then sleeping on the stranger's couch. Most strangers, recognizing who he was, did not seem to mind Belushi's "visit".

Had starred alone in a black and white Saturday Night Live (1975) sketch titled "Don't Look Back in Anger", in which he played himself as an old man visiting the graves of the other original SNL cast members, himself being the last survivor. In an odd twist of fate, Belushi was the first of the cast to die.

He was a huge fan of Raumschiff Enterprise (1966) and got to play Captain Kirk in the famous Saturday Night Live (1975) sketch "The Last Voyage of the Starship Enterprise". He even went so far as to trim his sideburns so that they'd match Kirk's. William Shatner even confessed that he liked Belushi's performance better than his own.

Was scheduled to present the first annual Best Visual Effects Oscar at the 1982 Academy Awards with Dan Aykroyd, but died weeks before the ceremony. Aykroyd presented the award alone, and stated from the podium: "My partner would have loved to have been here tonight to present this award, since he was a bit of a Visual Effect himself.".

Was very generous, financially, to family and friends, often loaning them money when they asked. Toward the end of his life, Belushi's business manager asked him to contact several family and friends and generate money by demanding they make good on their loans. Belushi refused.

Chris Farley was an admirer of Belushi and, sadly, Farley too died at the age of 33, just when his career appeared to be taking off.

Attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. He bought his famous "College" shirt seen in Ich glaub', mich tritt ein Pferd (1978) at a small shirt shop on "The Strip" (Illinois Street or US Route 51) in Carbondale, which still exists.

He was a huge fan of Marvel Comics, to the point where he was supposedly able to give quick summaries of stories just by looking at the covers when he visited Marvel's offices.

While co-hosting an episode of Siskel & Ebert & the Movies (1986) with Richard Roeper, longtime friend and collaborator Harold Ramis revealed that it was Belushi's longtime ambition to play Ludwig van Beethoven in a feature film.

He got clean and sober for Zwei wie Katz und Maus (1981), but severely relapsed during the filming of Die verrückten Nachbarn (1981).

The epitaph on Belushi's tombstone (on Martha's Vineyard, off the coast of Massachusetts) read, "He made us laugh, and now he can make us think." John's grave drew so many curious viewers that his casket had to be moved and reburied in an unmarked corner of the cemetery... after which Belushi's fans posted a new epitaph for him which has since become famous: "He could have given us a lot more laughs, but NOOOOOOO!" (This was taken from one of his more-famous catchphrases on Saturday Night Live (1975)).

His favorite comedienne was Lucille Ball, he knew every detail of her life and career.

Made a "Guest Star Appearance" on an episode of the television series Die nackte Pistole (1982) which showed him underwater wearing cement shoes. He died shortly before the episode aired, so the scene was cut and replaced by a segment with William Conrad. After the success of the Naked Gun movies in the early 1990s, ABC-TV re-aired episodes of "Police Squad!" and hoped to re-edit the Belushi scene back into the episode. However, the footage could not be found and is now presumed lost or destroyed.

Since Albania was under communism during his youth, Belushi often told people he was of Greek and Italian descent.

Had signed to play a supporting role in Es war einmal in Amerika (1984), but died before the film went into production. He was replaced by James Woods.

His good friend Dan Aykroyd used to refer to the green ghost Slimer from die Geisterjaeger (1984) as "the ghost of John Belushi", based on the similar party animal personality.

Had appeared with Michael O'Donoghue in "Wolverines", the very first sketch on the first SNL show in 1975.

He was going to star opposite Dan Aykroyd and Steve Martin in Drei Amigos! (1986). Martin mentioned it in a Playboy interview published in January 1980, referring to the movie as "The Three Caballeros".

On April 1, 2004 he posthumously received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6355 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. The ceremony was attended by his brother Jim Belushi and friend and partner Dan Aykroyd. Also in attendance were John's widow Judith Belushi-Pisano and fellow SNL cast member Chevy Chase.

A scene was deleted from 1941 - Wo bitte geht's nach Hollywood (1979) in which his character met Dan Aykroyd's character right before he boarded the Japanese submarine. They looked at each other as if recognizing each other, a nod to their real life friendship. This was the only scene in the film where they interacted.

Was billed as "Kevin Scott" on an episode of Saturday Night Live (1975), as a spoof on suggestions that his name Belushi be softened or changed, for the television audience (John's Albanian family had kept the name when they came to America, so he wanted to also.).

At the time of his untimely death, Belushi was rewriting a script entitled "Noble Rot".

He was captain of his high school football team.

He was voted homecoming king in high school.

A petition drive was started to have a commemorative stamp printed by the U.S. Postal Service for the actor.

He was supposed to appear in Alles ist vergänglich (1984), but died before filming began. His role went to Dan Aykroyd.

He was going to star opposite Dan Aykroyd in a film adaptation of "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" until his death put an end to that.

He discovered the band Fear and brought them to Cherokee Studios to record songs for the soundtrack of a major motion picture, he and Dan Aykroyd were starring in, called Die verrückten Nachbarn (1981).

John was a die-hard Chicago Cubs fan. Famously, in the classic film, The Blues Brothers (1980), Jake and Elwood say that their address is 1060 West Addison Street, which is Wrigley Field.

Came first in Rolling Stone's ranking of every Saturday Night Live (1975) castmember.

He has appeared in two films that have been selected for the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically or aesthetically" significant: Ich glaub', mich tritt ein Pferd (1978) and Blues Brothers (1980).

He turned down the role of Bill in Nightshift - Das Leichenhaus flippt völlig aus (1982). He later died during the making of the film.

He was going to reunite with Dan Aykroyd in Nochmal so wie letzte Nacht (1986), where John's role went to his brother Jim Belushi, who starred in the original play.

He was going to star in a film adaptation of "A Confederacy of Dunces" directed by Harold Ramis until his death put an end to the project.

His performance as John "Bluto" Blutarsky in Ich glaub', mich tritt ein Pferd (1978) is ranked #48 on Premiere magazine's 100 Greatest Movie Characters of All Time.

There is a John Belushi Memorial Scholarship for Performing Arts at his alma mater, College of DuPage (Glen Ellyn, Illinois).

Credited his Albanian grandmother with inspiring him to take up show business. Since she could neither speak nor understand English, young John had to act things out for her...which often made the woman laugh.

John Belushi required an income of between $500,000 and $1,000,000 per year to maintain his entourage as well as his own lifestyle.

Belushi was first discovered dead from a cocaine and heroin overdose in his bungalow at the Château Marmont Hotel in Los Angeles by close friend and martial arts champion Bill Wallace.

Interred at Abel's Hill Cemetery in Chilmark (on Martha's Vineyard), Massachusetts. His grave is unmarked.

Was good friends with Wrestling Legend Dusty Rhodes.

Enjoyed listening to heavy metal music, particularly when played loud.

Universal wanted him to co-star with Dan Aykroyd in American Werewolf (1981). They were both busy with Die verrückten Nachbarn (1981) and John Landis wanted fresh faces.

He was considered to star as Hunter S. Thompson in Blast - Wo die Büffel röhren (1980).

He auditioned for the male lead in Die blaue Lagune (1980), but was deemed too funny for the part.

The thrash metal group Anthrax penned a song about Belushi on their 1987 album Among the Living, titled "Efilnikufesin (N.F.L.).".