Jim Belushi Name “SNL” among “toughest things I have ever done” (exclusively)

Jim Belushi Looking back on their time at Saturday Night Live.

On the question of how the NBC Late Show changed its life on the red carpet at SNL50: Anniversary specialThe 70-year-old comedian shared his gratitude for being a role member on the show from 1983 to 1985 and joining the Improvdomedi group, Second City.

“I’ve been lucky enough to be part of the other city in Chicago, which has been 50 years old, and Saturday Night Live, which has been for several years,” he told People. “Both of these institutions have trained me and given me a career.”

“They were both the toughest things I’ve ever done, including divorce,” he continued. “They shaped me into the comic actor and the good career I had today. I’m just grateful. ”

Belushi’s third wife Jennifer Sloan initially left for divorce on March 5, 2018 – 36 anniversary of Belushi’s older brother John Belushideath – according to court documents obtained by The blast. (The SNL Comic died of an overdose of drugs on March 5, 1982.)

But just over a year later in May 2019, Jim requested that the divorce be dismissed. The dismissal came days before the couple celebrated their 21st wedding day. Jim then applied for divorce from Sloan in August 2021 and listed the date of the separation as December 1, 2020 and quoted “incompatible differences” as the cause of the split, according to court documents from People at that time.

He was previously married to Marjorie Bransfield and Sandra Davenport.

Jim has opened the challenges during his time at the Skisskomedi show, which included becoming the first role member to be dismissed and rehearsed.

On the question of being repeated in a 2021 Vulture interviewHe said: “Very simple: I was without control. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was out of my mind. I threw a fire extinguisher on Dick Ebersol, an essential fit. ”

“SNL Is the hardest thing I ever did, and that is to include divorce, ”he added. “I survived it, barely. I went back to him with the tail between my legs. I release the ego, I became humble. I stopped drinking the rest of that season. ”

The actor continued to reflect on his older brother John’s experience on the show and said: “John did four years and he quit. I said: ‘What f —, man? What do you end up for? “He said,” Jim, it’s like high school: senior year, you have to move on. ” And I felt I was in my second year, and the second semester that year I finally got it. ”

“Then I didn’t come back for Lorne (Michaels) Come, he continued. “But it was because Dick put me in my place, rightly and had the courage to do it. I came back; I prayed (him) for forgiveness, and he put me to the test. My wife said at that time: ‘You enjoy testing. You were on a test from beginner to high school in high school. You work better with boundaries. “”

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SNL50: Anniversary special Was broadcast live on Sunday, February 16 at NBC and Peacock.