5 Things You Didn’t Know About John Belushi

Groundbreaking funnyman John Belushi was born on Jan. 24, 1949, and in just 33 short years of life, permanently changed American comedy. From his work on Saturday Night Live as one of the original cast members, to his mega-hit films like 1978’s National Lampoon’s Animal House and 1980’s The Blues Brothers, Belushi created new comedic archetypes and influenced generations of comedians, including fellow SNL star Chris Farley.

Belushi, who had struggled with a drug addiction for a decade, died from an overdose on March 5, 1982. Here’s a few things you probably didn’t know about his short, trailblazing life.