John Belushi’s widow Judy Belushi-Pisano dead at 73
John Belushi’s widow has died at the age of 73.
The death of actress and producer Judy Belushi-Pisano was announced on Facebook on Saturday.
The report does not mention a specific cause of death for the former SNL writer, nor does it provide any further details.
Belushi-Pisano was married to the legendary Blues Brothers actor for six years, until his death in 1982.
“Today, it is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our dear Judy,” read a message on her ex-husband’s fan page.
Judy Belushi-Pisano, widow of John Belushi, has died at age 73
‘Her tireless dedication and creative genius, along with Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, led to The Blues Brothers, a timeless testament to the power of music and laughter.
‘In the years following John’s death in 1982, Judy honored his life and championed his legacy and the Blues Brothers brand.
“As we say goodbye, we pledge to continue her work and ensure that John’s legacy and that of the Blues Brothers will never fade.
“There was no one else like her. Judy made everyone feel loved. She was non-judgmental, light, funny and pure. You could truly be yourself around her, that alone was a gift.
“The Belushi and Pisano families will carry your love in their hearts forever.”
Belushi-Pisano was a producer best known for her work on The Blues Brothers and National Lampoon’s Animal House.
Belushi-Pisano was married to the legendary Blues Brother actor for six years, until his death in 1982
The couple attended the same high school together in Wheaton, Illinois
: Actress Carrie Fisher (left), Penny Marshall (right) and Judy Belushi attend a screening of ‘The Second City’ to raise money for the John Belushi Scholarship Fund, April 18, 1983
She was born in Wheaton, Illinois, the youngest of four children of Robert Leslie Jacklin and Jean Buchanan.
She met her husband when they were both attending the local high school.
The couple married in 1976 and worked together briefly when Belushi was a regular on SNL after his wife was hired as a writer in 1981.
They remained together until Belushi died at age 33 from a fatal overdose of cocaine and heroin.
In 1990, Belushi-Pisano remarried to producer Victor Pisano and the couple had children and eventually grandchildren.
Her last project was as executive producer on the Blues Brothers remake currently in production.
The original starred Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, who met when they were original cast members of SNL.
Belushi-Pisano, along with Aykroyd and Pisano, was responsible for overseeing The Official Blues Brothers Revival.
She and her husband also own the Belushi Pisano Gallery on Martha’s Vineyard.