Biography
Early in his career, Jim Belushi channeled his gifts for performing into drama. With his start on the Second City stages, the Chicago-based actor sustained a lengthy career with a burly charm that translated across comedy and drama and a voice that boomed unmistakably over animation. His considerable skills were measured against the talents of his iconic big brother, John, but following years of frustration, it was as the titular dad of …
James Belushi SlideShow
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Career Milestones
2011 | Made Broadway debut in a revival of Garson Kanin's classic comedy "Born Yesterday" |
2010 | Cast as Las Vegas defense attorney Nick Morelli on the CBS drama "The Defenders" |
2010 | Co-starred with Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan in Roman Polanski's "The Ghost Writer" |
2007 | Cast in the live-action version of the classic cartoon, "Underdog" |
2006 | Penned first book, Real Men Don't Apologize, Real Women Don't Sass Back |
2005 | Lent his voice to the animated feature, "Hoodwinked!" |
2003 | With Dan Aykroyd released the album, Have Love, Will Travel, and participated in an accompanying tour |
2001 | Played the lead role in the ABC sitcom, "According to Jim" |
2001 | Played a martial arts instructor in the comedy, "Joe Somebody" |
2000 | Co-starred with Gregory Hines in the Showtime original movie, "Who Killed Atlanta's Children?" |
1997 | Starred in the ABC series, "Total Security" |
1996 | Had a small role as a mall santa in the holiday comedy, "Jingle All the Way," starring Arnold Schwarzenegger |
1993 | Played the role of Harry Wyckoff in the ABC miniseries, "Wild Palms" |
1993 | Replaced Judd Hirsch in the popular Broadway drama, "Conversations with My Father" |
1992 | Co-starred in the ensemble comedy, "Once Upon A Crime" |
1991 | Played a con-man who teams with a child in the John Hughes-directed, "Curly Sue" |
1990 | Played the lead role in the comedy, "Mr. Destiny" |
1989 | Co-starred with Arnold Schwarzenegger in the comedy, "Red Heat" |
1987 | First leading role in a feature film, "The Principal" |
1986 | Co-screenwriting debut, "Number One With a Bullet" |
1986 | Recreated his role in "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" for the feature film adaptation, "About Last Night" |
1986 | Co-wrote and starred in his first cable TV comedy special, "Jim Belushi - Birthday Boy" (Cinemax) |
1984 | Appeared in the Sam Shepard's Off-Broadway play, "True West" |
1983 | Had a small role in "Trading Places," as a drunk man in a gorilla suit during a New Year's Eve party |
1983 | Was a regular cast member on the NBC's sketch comedy, "Saturday Night Live"; joined the show after his brother John's death |
1981 | First significant role, Michael Mann's "Thief" |
1981 | Made Broadway debut as the Pirate King in "The Pirates of Penzance" |
1979 | Co-starred as Ernie O'Rourke on the short-lived CBS sitcom, "Working Stiffs" |
1979 | Performed in David Mamet's "Sexual Perversity in Chicago" at Chicago's Apollo Theater Center |
1978 | Made TV series debut as Burt Gunkel on the short-lived NBC sitcom, "Who's Watching the Kids?" |
1977 | Resident member of Chicago's "Second City" theatre troupe |
Awards
1984 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing In a Variety or Music Program in Saturday Night Live |