
James Belushi was born June 15, 1954, in Chicago, to Agnes Demetri (Samaras) and Adam Anastos Belushi, a restaurant owner. His father was an Albanian immigrant, from Qytezë, and his mother was also of Albanian descent. The third of four children - his brother was John Belushi - he grew up in Wheaton, Illinois. A high school teacher, impressed by his improvisational skills while giving speeches, convinced him to to be in a school play. After that, he joined the school's drama club. Today, if asked why he got involved in acting, he will jokingly say, "Because of girls. In the drama club, there were about 20 girls and six guys. And the same thing with choir - more girls!". He attended the College of DuPage and Southern Illinois University, where he graduated with a degree in Speech and Theater Arts.In 1977, he joined Chicago's Second City improv troupe and remained for three years. In 1979, Garry Marshall saw Jim performing for Second City and arranged for him to come to Hollywood and co-star in the TV pilot Who's Watching the Kids (1978) for Paramount and, then, for a role in the series Working Stiffs (1979) (co-starring Michael Keaton). Later, in 1983, he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (1975) for two years. Jim came to national attention in About Last Night... (1986), playing the role he originated in the Chicago Apollo Theatre's production of David Mamet's Obie-award winning play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago". He resides in Los Angeles with his wife Jennifer Sloan, their daughter Jamison and a son, Robert Belushi, from Belushi's first marriage.
Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win.
The Defenders | Nick Morelli | 2010-09-22 |
George Lopez | Unknown | 2002-03-27 |
The Jamie Kennedy Experiment | Unknown | 2002-01-13 |
What's New, Scooby-Doo? | Unknown | 2002-09-14 |
According to Jim | Jim / ... | 2001-10-03 |
Hercules | Unknown | 1998-08-31 |
The View | Unknown | 1997-08-11 |
The Daily Show | Unknown | 1996-07-22 |
Hey Arnold! | Unknown | 1996-10-07 |
KaBlam! | Unknown | 1996-10-07 |
Timon & Pumbaa | Unknown | 1995-09-08 |
Pinky and the Brain | Unknown | 1995-09-09 |
Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man | Unknown | 1994-01-01 |
ER | Unknown | 1994-09-19 |
The Tick | Unknown | 1994 |
Life with Louie | Unknown | 1994-12-18 |
Gargoyles | Unknown | 1994-10-24 |
Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Unknown | 1994-10-29 |
Wild Palms | Harry Wyckoff | 1993-05-16 |
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Unknown | 1992-05-25 |
The Larry Sanders Show | Unknown | 1992-08-15 |
Rugrats | Unknown | 1991-08-11 |
Faerie Tale Theatre | Unknown | 1982-09-11 |
Laverne & Shirley | Unknown | 1976-01-27 |
Saturday Night Live | Unknown | 1975-10-11 |