The world will forever remember John Belushi as one of the biggest stars to come out of Saturday Night Live and a hilarious actor from classic ‘80s movies like The Blues Brothers and 1978's Animal House. We were tragically robbed of his comedy in 1982, when Belushi died at age 33. Tim Matheson, who also starred in Animal House, opened up about his old friend and how the comedian’s overdose gave him a wake-up call about his own drug use.
John Belushi is one of many Hollywood actors who never reached 40, after he died of an overdose of heroin and cocaine March 5, 1982, at the Chateau Marmont. Naturally this had an effect on his friends and fellow actors, including Tim Matheson, who had filmed Animal House with Belushi just four years earlier. Matheson spoke to the Still Here with Hollywood podcast, remembering Belushi as “very supportive and generous and gracious.” He said:
He seemed indestructible. He was so strong, and so physically strong and powerful and funny.
Tim Matheson admitted he wasn’t necessarily surprised when he got the call about the Second City alum, but it certainly was a warning to Hollywood in regards to the drug use of the era. The West Wing actor said:
I think we were stupid. Back in the late ’70s and early ’80s, cocaine was everywhere. I remember first trying it, I was like, ‘This isn’t bad for you? Oh my god. This isn’t bad for you? Oh my god. How could this not be bad for you?’ But I think it was the beginning of the end because it was like John’s death was sort of the harbinger of, ‘This is not OK.’
John Belushi’s death at such a young age definitely affected a lot of his friends' behavior, Tim Matheson said, because, “when you see your friends dropping at 33,” it becomes clear pretty quickly that “this is not a good thing.”
Eddie Murphy has recalled John Belushi and Robin Williams offering him cocaine, saying his lack of curiosity was God was looking over him. Belushi’s death didn’t stop everyone from going too far, however. Jim Belushi has said he used his brother’s death to try to convince Chris Farley to stop using drugs, though Farley ultimately followed in his idol’s footsteps, dying of an overdose at age 33.
While John Belushi’s tragic death is part of his story, Tim Matheson couldn’t reminisce about his friend without mentioning his iconic performance as John “Bluto” Blutarsky, saying:
John Landis, the director of Animal House, said he’s the Cookie Monster and Harpo Marx together, and that’s who he is. He had hardly any dialogue in the movie. It was all physical comedy. It was a treasure. It was a treasure and a pleasure to know him and work with him.
Lots of people have shared similar memories of the comedian. Bill Murray remembers John Belushi as “magnetic” and the “best stage actor” he ever saw. Belushi’s fellow Blues Brother Dan Aykroyd also used the word “magnetic” to describe the late comedian, saying he was “a super-mega-wattage personality and very funny and warm and compassionate and kind.”
You can relive John Belushi (and Tim Matheson) in the classic 1978 comedy Animal House, which is available to stream with either a Netflix subscription or Peacock subscription.
