25 Years After John Belushi's Death, His Cult Lives On
Published March 22, 2007
Although Robert DeNiro reportedly never had a drug problem, he has known many people who did and has since become famous for his interventions, one of which, in 1998, may have saved the life of actor Tom Sizemore. (In 2001, DeNiro's ex-wife, Grace Hightower, claimed he had a drug problem, but that was in the context of a custody battle. Given that high-priced divorce lawyers representing women routinely coach their clients to charge their exes with outrageous crimes, including having sexually molested their children, such charges have about as much prima facie credibility as a Maureen Dowd column in the New York Times.)
Sizemore had given a legendary performance as Sgt. Mike Horvath in Saving Private Ryan (1998) before the intervention, and later did equally brilliant work as the star of TV's L.A. Robbery Homicide Division (2002), but a new arrest for domestic violence would cause the show to be cancelled and was merely the beginning of yet another descent into hell for its star. Sizemore is an actor of a visceral power, at times comparable to a young Brando or DeNiro, but as a drug-fueled psychopath, he may just outdo John Belushi.
In 1982, Penthouse reporter Allan Sonnenschein interviewed Belushi's longtime Saturday Night Live colleague, "Blues Brother," and close friend, Dan Aykroyd. Aykroyd expressed both his love for his late friend and some observations unclouded by sentimentality.
PH: "Do you think John was hanging around with the wrong people at the end?"
Aykroyd: "The people he really liked were worthwhile people... at the pinnacle of this industry--the best in music, rock-n-roll, films, and television. These were John's real friends, the people who were most worthwhile to him. And he would never have gotten into his drugged-out condition with them. Some of these vermin he was hanging around with at the end were talentless, worthless individuals with no specific skills or contributions to make to this world. And John could really be a monster, an out-of-control monster with them. He had to be straight with the people he held in esteem. He was respectful and more lucid in conversation and much more together when he was around people he respected. The reason he was with these other people is because they allowed any behavior."
Treating the famous and powerful with respect is not grounds for praise. If you treat people you deal with like dirt, people who have done nothing to you, that makes you dirt, not them. While Belushi by all accounts had a good side, he was human, all-too-human. I'd love to see an account of him treating mere civilians with respect.
- 25 Years After John Belushi's Death, His Cult Lives On
- Published: March 22, 2007
- Type: Opinion
- Section: Culture
- Filed Under: Video: Television, Video: Documentary, Video: Comedy, Culture: Society, Culture: Media, Culture: Celebrity, Books: Nonfiction, Books: Entertainment, Books: Crime
- Writer: Nicholas Stix
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Comments
John Belushi was a comedic genius, and that's that. It's really sad that people like you spend their lives criticizing others with talent in order to somehow justify your own lack of any creativity or aptitude. If you had any real talent you'd stop wasting your time blogging on ridiculous sites and bitching about beloved celebrities. But, wait... you don't have any talent! Years from now, people will still remember John Belushi (and Dyke van Dyke and Andy Griffith), but I can bet no one will remember or care to remember you, Nicholas Stix. In the immortal words of John Belushi, "Go eat a bowl of fuck."
"Nicholas, this article pissed me off, made me think, pissed me off again, made me think again, and finally got me to grudgingly agree with--not all, but most of it. Exactly what a good article should do. Nice work."
Thank you, Michael.
#2 -- March 24, 2007 @ 21:09PM -- Erika
"Blah, blah, blah."
Is that the best you can do?
Do you own a t-shirt that says, "My parents spent a fortune sending me to college, and all I got was this lousy t-shirt"? If not, you ought to.
Fuck you very much for your, ahem, commentary.
#2 -- March 24, 2007 @ 21:09PM -- Erika
P.S. Is that your real name? You wouldn't happen to be my ex, would you? If so, send my regards to your folks.
"'[He] brought renewed attention to Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin and other R&B giants." That suggests, ridiculously, that Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin had somehow faded into obscurity until Belushi rescued them. The writer succeeds in one swell foop at racially patronizing both Belushi and two of the greatest singers of the recorded sound era.'"
It was not Belushi, but The Blues Brothers movie that brought attention back to those artists. Their stars did not shine as bright in 1980/81 as they had decades past. On the DVD, Landis talks about it. The truth is not racially patronizing.
You are right about him not being Billy Crystal. Belushi was way funnier.
well aren't you a steaming clump of toxic waste.
like Erika said - you lack all of the creativity and aptitude in the world and then some. John Belushi will always live in the hearts of those who knew what a truly beautiful soul he had, and just what an amazing person/comedian he was. A piece of him still lives with each and every one of us, and if you weren't so wrapped up in your own lies about the cause of his death then maybe you'd realize that. This article really ticked me off, but then I realized, just who the hell are you to make me feel this way? I have an argument for every single word of this article, except for a select few:
"John Belushi was a talented guy, but Chaplin he wasn't."
Right. Chaplin he wasn't. A womanizing and abusive asshole he wasn't. You really need to sort out your priorities, Nicholas Stix. Want to be jealous of amazing men? How about you face them instead of taking it out on the keyboard where they can't spit on you or dump food on your head.
:)
Carla: "well aren't you a steaming clump of toxic waste."
"like Erika said - you lack all of the creativity and aptitude in the world and then some."
So, you have to echo another pathetic soul's talentless put-down. Is that the best you can do?
"John Belushi will always live in the hearts of those who knew what a truly beautiful soul he had, and just what an amazing person/comedian he was. A piece of him still lives with each and every one of us, and if you weren't so wrapped up in your own lies about the cause of his death then maybe you'd realize that."
You didn't cite one lie, because you can't. You are the liar here.
"Beautiful soul"?
Are you on drugs?
"Want to be jealous of amazing men?"
Why would I be jealous of John Belushi? He was not a great or amazing man. The question is, why would someone idolize a mediocrity? Why don't you at least idolize someone who was great, Carla? It's bad enough mindlessly goosestepping your way through life, but at least do your goosestepping behind someone serious! But you wouldn't know an amazing man if he stepped on your toes.
"How about you face them instead of taking it out on the keyboard where they can't spit on you or dump food on your head."
I'm a writer. The keyboard is my tool. What's your excuse?
I've been spat on, and I always responded by spitting back on my tormentor, and in one case, punching him out, as well. I've never had anyone dump a plate of food on me, but I'm sure I'd respond the same way.
I'm much better at what I do, than John Belushi ever was at what he did.
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Nicholas, this article pissed me off, made me think, pissed me off again, made me think again, and finally got me to grudgingly agree with--not all, but most of it. Exactly what a good article should do. Nice work.