Jim Belushi reveals what it was really like to watch his brother John get into ‘Blues Brothers’ role

Jim Belushi Reflects on Watching His Brother John in ‘Blues Brothers’ Role

Jim Belushi recently shared his favorite memory from early in his Hollywood career, focusing on his late brother John Belushi’s rise with The Blues Brothers.

John Belushi emerged as a comedy star as a member of the original “Saturday Night Live” cast in 1975. Alongside co-star Dan Aykroyd, he created The Blues Brothers, a blues and soul music act that quickly gained popularity.

The duo first appeared as musical guests on “SNL” in April 1978. They soon expanded the project into a full band. By September of the same year, they were opening for Steve Martin during his shows at the Universal Amphitheater in Los Angeles.

“I’ll tell you what I loved: I loved going to the Universal Amphitheater when they came to LA and they opened for Steve Martin,” Jim, 71, said during the premiere of his film Song Sung Blue at AFI Fest in Hollywood. “And John was so, so magnificent. I loved that moment, to see my brother just hit the top of his chart.”

Tragically, John Belushi passed away on March 5, 1982, from a suspected drug overdose. Following his death, Jim took on the role of Zee Blues alongside Aykroyd’s Elwood, encouraged by Aykroyd himself.

Summary

Jim Belushi fondly recalls witnessing his brother John's peak as part of The Blues Brothers, a legendary act born from their creative work on “Saturday Night Live.”

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New York Post New York Post — 2025-11-03

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