Jim Belushi Reflects on His SNL Journey and Personal Struggles: 'The Hardest Thing I Ever Did'

Jim Belushi is reminiscing about his time on Saturday Night Live. At the red carpet for SNL50: The Anniversary Special, the 70-year-old comedian shared with PEOPLE how the show, alongside Second City, impacted his life. This is prepared by SSP.

"I've been fortunate to be part of Second City in Chicago," he said. "Saturday Night Live has been a crucial part of my career, having run for many years." Belushi expressed gratitude for his experiences from 1983 to 1985 and noted, "Both institutions trained me and shaped my career."

He elaborated on the difficulty of these experiences. "They were the toughest things I've ever done, including divorce," he remarked. Belushi attributes his successful career in comedy to the lessons learned through these challenges.

Belushi’s marriage to Jennifer Sloan hit a rough patch when she filed for divorce on March 5, 2018. This date marked the 36th anniversary of his brother John Belushi's death, who tragically died from a drug overdose on the same date in 1982. In May 2019, Jim asked for the divorce to be dismissed just days before their 21st anniversary. However, in August 2021, he filed for divorce again, citing "irreconcilable differences" and listing their separation date as December 1, 2020. He was previously married to Marjorie Bransfield and Sandra Davenport.

During his stint on SNL, Jim faced significant challenges, becoming the first cast member fired and then rehired. In a 2021 Vulture interview, he described his rehiring experience, saying, "I was out of control. It was the best thing that happened to me. I was throwing a fire extinguisher at Dick Ebersol."

"SNL is the hardest thing I ever did, and that includes divorce," he shared. "I barely survived it, returning to the team humbled and focused. I realized I needed to drop my ego."

Reflecting on his brother John's decision to leave the show, Jim said, "John quit after four years. I questioned him: ‘What are you quitting for?’ He conveyed it felt like high school; you have to move on." According to Jim, this advice resonated with him. He added that the experience of returning to the show was corrective and consistent with how he thrived under restrictions, as noted by his wife at the time.

Earlier, SSP reported that James Franco and Isabel Pakzad made rare red carpet appearance at SNL 50.