One of the original cast members of the widely popular comedy show, ‘SNL Live’, John Belushi was a man with contagious energy level. An actor, comedian and performer, John began his career with his own comedy troupe set in Chicago (‘The West Compass Trio’), which led him to work with ‘The Second City’ – a comedy enterprise.
He was offered his first notable role in ‘National Lampoon Lemmings’—an offshoot of ‘National Lampoon Magazine’ in 1972. He also started to work as a writer, director and an actor at ‘National Lampoon Radio Hour’.
He made his ‘Saturday Night Live’ debut in 1975, and performed a series of successful characters all through the show. His catchphrase ‘But N-O-O-O-O-O-O-O-!’ became quite popular.
He made his film debut in a voice role in ‘Tarzoon: Shame of the Jungle’ in 1975. His other successful movies include ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’ (1978), ‘The Blues Brothers’ (1980), ‘Continental Drive’ (1981), ‘Neighbours’ (1981) — also his last (on-screen) appearance. He died of drug overdose on March 25th, 1982.
The list of his unsuccessful movies include ‘Goin’ South’ (1978), ‘1941’ (1979), ‘Old Boyfriends’ (1979) etc. His top grossing movie till date is ‘National Lampoon’s Animal House’.
The Blues Brothers is a musical-comedy that revoles around two brothers—one of whom is a criminal—who embark on a mission to save their childhood school from shutting down. Brothers, Jake and Elwood Blues, played by John Belushi and John Aykroyd, reunite with their band and meet noted music artists to raise money while evading the police and other enemies.
The sex-comedy revolves around the lives of freshmen Larry Kroger and Kent Dorfman who join the notorious Faber College Delta Tau Chi House, after being rejected by the more prestigious Omega Theta Pi. But they have to survive College Dean Vernon Wormer who is conspiring with the Omegas to have the Deltas removed.
Goin’ South is a western romantic comedy film which takes us to a town in Texas, shortly after the Civil War. Henry Moon is an outlaw who is captured while trying to make his escape to Mexico. Due to lack of men after the war, the town has a special law that if a single woman offers to marry a condemned man, he can walk free. Henry is in luck since a woman named Julia offers to marry him, but it soon turns out that her main purpose is to have someone to search for gold in her property.
Ernie is a tough Chicago reporter, who is assaulted by two cops, after he gets too close to the mob. His editor decides to send him to Colorado on another case, which involves investigating an eagle researcher.
After the Pearl Harbor attack, California, which is feared to be the next target of the Japanese, is gripped in a panic wave. As hysteria spreads after spotting a Japanese sub off the California coast, varied groups of Californians set their own defense actions in motion. Major-General Joseph Stilwell, sent to compose the paranoid public, tries to make sense of the goings-on.
After their birth of their daughter Stella, Mac and his wife Kelly try to adjust to a new life. Their lives take a turn when a fraternity moves in next door, and begins to organize outrageous parties. The couple asks the youths to keep the noise down, and their leader Teddy agrees. However, the problems persist and Mac is forced to go and talk to their college dean.
This French/Belgian adult animated comedy film was also known as Jungle Burger in the United Kingdom. The plot involves the capture of June, the woman of Shame: Ruler of the jungle by the soldiers of Queen Bazonga who wants her hair. To free her, Shame sets off to the dark Bush Country alongside his only loyal friend Flicka
John Belushi Awards
Saturday Night Live | Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series | 1977 |