Judy Belushi Pisano, the widow of legendary comedian John Belushi who spent decades preserving and protecting his legacy, died Friday after a long battle with cancer. She was 73.
News of Pisano’s passing was reported Saturday by the MV Times news outlet covering Martha’s Vineyard, where Pisano spent most of her later years. Her death was also confirmed on the official John Belushi Instagram account.
Pisano was married to Belushi, the larger-than-life star of “Saturday Night Live,” “Animal House” and “The Blues Brothers,” from 1973 until his death from an overdose in 1982. The two met while in high school in Wheaton, Illinois. Pisano was there for his meteoric rise, and she endured the worst of Belushi’s infidelity and addiction struggles, yet she devoted much of her life to honoring his memory. She was a producer on numerous latter-day “Blues Brothers”-related projects and was involved in the 2020 Showtime documentary “John Belushi.”
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John Belushi is buried on Martha’s Vineyard. Pisano first came to the island off Massachusetts in 1974 on the advice of a friend, according to MV Times.
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“Today, our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye to our sweet Judy. Her unwavering dedication and creative genius alongside Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi gave birth to The Blues Brothers, a timeless testament to the power of music and laughter,” the Belushi Instagram post stated. “In the years following John’s passing in 1982, Judy honored his life and championed his legacy and Blues Brothers brand. As we bid farewell, we pledge to continue her work, ensuring that John’s legacy and the Blues Brothers will never fade. There was no one like her. Judy made everyone feel loved. She was nonjudgmental, light, funny, and pure. You could be truly yourself around her, that alone was a gift.”
Pisano worked as a radio producer in New York in the mid-1970s when her husband’s star began to rise with his work with the Second City comedy troupe and when he tapped in 1975 as part of the inaugural cast of “Saturday Night Live.” She had uncredited roles in Belushi’s two blockbuster movie hits, 1978’s “Animal House” and 1980’s “The Blues Brothers.” In 1990, she married Victor Pisano but the union ended in divorce in 2010.
R.J. Cutler, writer-director and executive producer of the “Belushi” documentary, called Pisano a “fearless” and down-to-earth person.
“I couldn’t have loved working with Judy more when we made ‘Belushi.’ She was smart, funny, wise, honest and a blast to spend time with,” Cutler told Variety. “And talk about fearless. Collaborating with Judy was one of the great experiences of my career, as knowing her stimulated your mind, lifted your spirit and filled your heart. May her memory be a great blessing.”
According to MV Times, Pisano was active in the arts on the island and often hosted Blues Brothers-related events. “On the Island, she held a screening of the film ‘John Belushi: Dancing on the Edge’ to benefit Martha’s Vineyard Community Services and a show with Daniel Aykroyd, the other Blues Brother, to benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse,” the MV Times reported.