Jim Belushi
- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
James Adam 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 comedianJohn Belushi- he grew up in Wheaton, Illinois. A high school teacher, impressed by his improvisational skills while giving speeches, convinced him 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 Marshallsaw Jim performing for Second City and arranged for him to come to Hollywood and co-star in the TV pilotWho's Watching the Kids? (1978)for Paramount and, then, for a role in the seriesWorking Stiffs (1979)(co-starringMichael Keaton). Later, in 1983, he joined the cast ofSaturday Night Live (1975)for two years. Jim came to national attention inAbout Last Night... (1986),playing the role he originated in the Chicago Apollo Theatre's production ofDavid Mamet's Obie-award winning play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago". He resides in Los Angeles with his wifeJennifer Sloan,their daughter Jamison and a son,Robert Belushi,from his first marriage.
In 1977, he joined Chicago's Second City improv troupe and remained for three years. In 1979,Garry Marshallsaw Jim performing for Second City and arranged for him to come to Hollywood and co-star in the TV pilotWho's Watching the Kids? (1978)for Paramount and, then, for a role in the seriesWorking Stiffs (1979)(co-starringMichael Keaton). Later, in 1983, he joined the cast ofSaturday Night Live (1975)for two years. Jim came to national attention inAbout Last Night... (1986),playing the role he originated in the Chicago Apollo Theatre's production ofDavid Mamet's Obie-award winning play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago". He resides in Los Angeles with his wifeJennifer Sloan,their daughter Jamison and a son,Robert Belushi,from his first marriage.
