John Belushi
The Chicago born Belushi was staying at the world famous Chateau Marmont hotel, on the Sunset Strip, in Los Angeles. Partying was this guy's way of life. On the last night of it, March 4, 1982, he was drinking (and the rest) up a storm at the Roxy, on the strip. Actually, he was in the club above the Roxy, called "On The Rox." It caters to celebs. After many a cocktail there, he decided to head back to the bungalow he was renting at the Marmont. He could have entered one of two ways. From the street behind the hotel, Marmont Lane, he would enter the back gate (this is what it looked like then, and now), to the front door of Bungalow 3. Either that or he came through the hotel itself, passing this sign, and going up the stairs by the pool. They've renovated the area surrounding the bungalow now, and it's difficult to see the main part of it, but here's a peek through the shrubs.
Robin Williams and Robert DeNiro joined him in his room, along with fame hag Cathy Evelyn Smith. After the party disbanded, he still wanted some action, so he had Ms. Smith shoot him up with a speedball, a combination of Cocaine and Heroin. Nice. She thought John had passed out, so she left for awhile, only to return to find the pandemonium after William Wallace, John's physical therapist (?!), discovered the body. The 33-year-old Belushi was lying naked on white sheets, curled up on his right side, in the bedroom of the bungalow. I am ashamed to say that the only shot I have of the deathbed, is one with me laying on it. It's a bad picture, and I look like a big ol' whatever, but here it is.
It was the morning of March 5th. They tried to resuscitate him, to no avail. My hero, Dr. Thomas Noguchi, arrived on the scene, and revealed the cause of death. Accidental overdose.
Smith was released after questioning, but then stupidly gave an interview to the National Enquirer, admitting that she shot Belushi up. She was re-arrested, and had to serve time in prison for this little escapade. Idiot.
On the 10th of March, John was buried in Abel's Hill Cemetery, on Martha's Vineyard. I've heard that John and his wife had property there. Dan Aykroyd led the procession on his motorcycle. On the 11th, there was a memorial service held at the Cathedral of St. John Divine, in New York. Aykroyd played a tape of the "2000 pound bee," per a promise he made to Belushi earlier in the year. People were of course shocked at this sudden influx of noisy guitars, but eventually realized whom they were there to celebrate anyway, and remembered that offensiveness came natural to Belushi.
Here comes the interesting bit. In May of 1983, Belushi's widow, Judy, had John moved in the cemetery, because fans were desecrating his grave. She had him dug up, and moved to an unmarked location, 11 feet to the north of his tombstone. During the operation, John's wooden casket collapsed and a copper one had to be used instead. To make things even more difficult for fans to locate him, the tombstone was moved to the cemetery gate.
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| See the grave and cenotaph | |
| MARTHA'S VINEYARD | CHICAGO |
July 2001 - Findadeath.com friend Karl Jackson
sends us this: I had read somewhere about the graffiti on John's headstone. My
favorite one (and I cannot back this up with a photo or even a source) was:
"You could have stuck around a bit longer. You could have given us a lot more laughs. But, Nooooooooo.... "
Great info, Karl. Thanks.
Trivia: A couple of weeks before his death, John stopped at Gil Turner's Liquor Store, also on Sunset. Don't know why he went in, but he went behind the counter, acting like a jerk. The owner, Mr. Turner, escorted John out, and locked the doors. Belushi claimed he lost his car keys in the store, and he remained outside for quite some time, pounding on the glass. Belushi eventually gave up and hoofed it back to the Marmont. Charming.
I wonder if Gilda Radner attended the funeral. I loved Gilda.
More Trivia - remember the famous Cheeseburger! Cheeseburger! Skit? That was actually based on a real restaurant in Chicago, called the Billy Goat, on Lower Wacker Drive. Look closely at the sign - you can see how they love the notoriety - and it is true. They are just like that. Or were, anyway.
Read more about John HERE. Thanks to Findadeath friend Jerri for the link.
Feb 29, 2000 - just got this email
today. Interesting! "A real mystery to pursue: The TRUE wherabouts of John Belushi's body. It has been moved no less than three times. Is it in an unmarked grave on Martha's Vineyard? Or did Jim Belushi make a deal with Judy Jacklin (his widow) when she remarried? Did Jim have John quietly moved to the
cemetery in Chicago where his parents are buried? There is a Cenotaph there. But is John there as well? An elderly Palestinian lady who was visiting the grave of her husband swears up and down that she was present when the cemetery workers smuggled John into a freshly dug grave. I don't know. This woman would have no reason to lie. She didn't even know who the
hell Belushi was. One of the grave-diggers pointed to the coffin and said: "That's John Belushi in there."
Yes or no? Couldn't tell you for certain. But it's one worth looking into. We do know for a fact he was moved three years after his death because Jimmy was afraid of drunk college kids digging him up. Rumor has it that ground water had gotten into the casket and the bottom fell out, dropping Johnny back into the ground...and his head cracked off! They supposedly stuffed him in a new coffin and into the unmarked grave, where he stayed for several years until Jimmy decided to bring him home to Ma and Pa.
Don't know for sure. This one has Scott written all over it.
Yer Pal,
Stepin Fetchit "
December 16, 2001: Regarding John Belushi, I understand that his old house in Martha's Vineyard sold by his wife was later bought by his brother Jim. Prior to John owning the house, it was owned by Robert
McNamara of the Johnson and Kennedy Administration. In fact I think John might have bought the house from McNamara. IF THOSE WALLS COULD TALK!!!
Glad you are back,
Ken from Brooklyn
October 2002, from Findadeath.com friend Kevin Hassell:
Belushi was also supposedly going to be a part of the Ghostbusters movie, in the part played by Ernie Hudson.
The Belushi mystery has been solved! March 2003, from Findadeath friend Bob in Chicago:
Just discovered
Find A. Death. Com, interesting fun site. In response to an E-mail
you received on Feb. 29.2000, my Dad and many family members are buried in
Elmwood Cemetery in River Grove, IL. close to the Belushi family plot. I have
a friend
who is in management with the cemetery. He has told me that under no
circumstance is John buried with his parents and relative Peter Belushi, or
anywhere
else in Elmwood Cemetery. If John were, my friend would have told me in
private. He
said John is buried in Martha's Vineyard. This was told to me twice, the last
time
in late August 2002. There were no fresh graves in the plot in July of 2000.
The last
fresh grave was for Agnes. While visiting my Dad, I have seen Jim visiting his
parents
a few times, I never thought it was proper to approach him, but Jim has
returned my
nod politely.
Your New Friend
Bob from Chicago
The mystery has been solved! Thanks so much, Bob!
