Jim Belushi
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Early Life and Family Background
James Adam Belushi, commonly known as Jim Belushi, was born on June 15, 1954, in Chicago, Illinois, to Agnes Demetri Samaras Belushi and Adam Anastos Belushi. His father was of Albanian descent. Raised in Wheaton, a suburb of Chicago, Jim grew up in a middle-class family alongside three siblings: his older brother John, his sister Marian, and his younger brother Billy. He is also known by the nicknames James Belushi, Zee Blues, and “The Belush.”
Quick Facts
- Birth Date
- 15 Jun, 1954
- Age
- 65 yrs
- Citizenship
- United States of America
Show all facts
- Birth Place
- Chicago
- residence
- Brentwood
- Education
- Southern Illinois University Carbondale
College of DuPage - Gender
- Male
- Description
- American actor, comedian, singer, and musician
- Spouse
- Marjorie Bransfield[1990-1992]
- Net Worth 2021
- 50 million
People Mentioned in This Biography
Education and Early Career
Jim graduated from Wheaton Central High School before earning a degree in Speech and Theatre Arts from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Following in the footsteps of his brother John, he joined the Chicago-based improvisational comedy group The Second City. During this formative period, he secured his first film roles, appearing in Who's Watching the Kids and a small part in Brian De Palma’s The Fury. His first significant role came in Michael Mann’s 1981 film Thief.
After the tragic death of his brother John Belushi in 1982, Jim joined the cast of Saturday Night Live during the 1983–1985 seasons. There, he portrayed characters like Hank Rippy from “That White Guy” and appeared in sketches such as “Hello Trudy.” He also had a minor role in the 1983 comedy film Trading Places as a drunken man in a gorilla suit.
Film Success and Notable Roles
Beginning in the mid-1980s, Jim Belushi built a substantial filmography with prominent roles in various genres. In 1985, he starred in The Man with One Red Shoe, followed by well-received performances in Salvador, About Last Night, and Little Shop of Horrors in 1986. These roles helped establish him as a leading man in Hollywood.
Throughout the late 1980s and 1990s, he appeared in a variety of films including The Principal, Red Heat, K-9, Homer and Eddie, Taking Care of Business, Only the Lonely, Mr. Destiny, Curly Sue, Race the Sun, Once Upon a Crime, Separate Lives, Jingle All the Way, Joe Somebody, and Angel's Dance. He also appeared in television productions such as Wild Palms and Royce. One of his lesser-known international projects includes Dimenticare Palermo (released as The Palermo Connection).
