John Belushi

John Belushi

Belushi, Belushi, Belushi. The Saturday Night Live actor and star of movies like The Blues Brothers and Animal House was a charismatic comic genius, but also a substance-obsessed wild man who was just as crazy as characters like his iconic frat boy Bluto. He did alcohol, heroin and pills in huge quantities, and sadly it killed him very early in life. His body was found by his personal trainer in his room in West Hollywood after he suffered a speedball overdose on March 5, 1982. Ex-backup singer and groupie Cathy Smith later admitted to administering the dose and was subsequently charged with manslaughter, serving 15 months in jail. Belushi died at the age of only 33, and it’s terrible to imagine how many years of brilliant comedy were lost through that drug overdose. It’s even worse to think that’s probably how Bluto would have ended up if he were a real person. Damn, not even a “Toga! Toga! Toga!” can make that picture less depressing now…