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.
The news of Pisano’s death was News channel MV Times reported this on Saturday about 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 in high school in Wheaton, Illinois. Pisano was there for his meteoric rise, and she endured Belushi’s worst struggles with infidelity and addiction, yet she dedicated much of her life to honoring his memory. She has served as producer on numerous contemporary “Blues Brothers”-related projects and was involved in the 2020 Showtime documentary “John Belushi.”
John Belushi is buried on Martha’s Vineyard. According to MV Times, Pisano first came to the island off Massachusetts in 1974 on the advice of a friend.
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“Today our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye to our dear Judy. Her unwavering dedication and creative genius alongside Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi have produced The Blues Brothers, a timeless testament to the power of music and laughter,” the Belushi Instagram post read. “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 the Blues Brothers will never fade. There was no one like her. Judy made everyone feel loved. She was non-judgmental, light, funny and pure. With her you could really be yourself, 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 through his work with the comedy troupe Second City and when he was part of the first cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1975. She had uncredited roles in Belushi’s two blockbuster film 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.
RJ Cutler, writer-director and executive producer of the documentary “Belushi,” called Pisano a “fearless” and down-to-earth individual.
“I couldn’t have enjoyed working with Judy more when we made ‘Belushi’. She was smart, funny, wise, honest and a blast to spend time with,” Cutler shared Variety. “And speaking of fearless. Working with Judy was one of the great experiences of my career because 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 organized 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.