• Hollywood has a soft spot for the Belushi brothers, with John being the first to grace our screens and Jim being a household name after films in the 80s
• Robert Belushi (Rob) is the latest Belushi to grace our screens, and the son of Jim Belushi and the nephew of John Belushi
• Rob developed his passion for acting while in college and worked at Starbucks to get by
• He has received many awards and nominations for his work and is estimated at having a net worth of $1 million
• Rob is married to his long-time girlfriend Chelsea Wernsman and they are expecting their first child in 2020
Hollywood can’t seem to get enough of the Belushi’s and it’s not hard to see why. From their good looks, outstanding talent, and their unique approach to comedy, you can’t help but love them.
Well, you can’t mention the Belushi name without paying tribute to the Belushi forerunners in the industry.
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A Moment of Silence For the Belushi Trailblazer
John Belushi was the first Belushi to grace our screens. After a turbulent freshman year and a couple of years at College of DuPage, John found his way to the comedy scene through an improv comedy group known as West Compass Players. He eventually joined Second City where he performed several nights a week. It was during this time that he was discovered and cast in National Lampoon’s “Lemmings”, a hit Broadway show that sold out for 10 months straight, surpassing the six-week tour projection.
He continued working as a writer for National Lampoon until he joined NBC’s ground-breaking show “Saturday Night Live” in 1975, as a member of the original cast. John shone so much on “SNL”, taking comedy to the next level with his well-thought-out and seamlessly created characters. In 1978, Belushi was cast in National Lampoon’s “Animal House”, a box office smash that stirred his interest in acting. His performance in the movie was quite exceptional, so that he caught John Landis’ eye. A year later John and Dan Aykroyd quit “SNL” to pursue more projects within the movie industry. Sure enough, later that year he appeared in “Financially Unsuccessful”, and then “The Blues Brothers” in 1980.
Banking their incredible success, John and Dan released the album “Briefcase Full Of Blues” and you have to admit their love for the genre shone through.
In 1981 John appeared in “Continental Divide” and later in “Neighbors” with his friend Dan. In 1982, John began working on a screenplay named “Noble Rot” however the masterpiece didn’t get to see the light of day following an unforeseen demise later that year. John died of combined drug intoxication on 5th, March 1982, robing the world far too soon of a great comedian.
Guess the Belushis Brothers had More In Common Than Just a Set of Good Genes
Following in the footsteps of his famous brother, Jim Belushi joined Chicago’s The Second City and performed there impressively for three years. It was during that period that he was discovered by Gary Marshall and cast in 1978s “Who’s Watching the Kids”. After his television debut, he appeared in “Thief (1981)”, then after his brother’s death, Jim joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live”. Jim was equally as talented as his brother and continued to create extraordinary characters in his comedy.
He continued to pursue movie projects while working with “SNL”, and landed a role in “Trading Places”. Jim Belushi became a household name after films “The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)” and “About Last Night(1986)”. Jim went on to play “Jim” in the TV sitcom “According to Jim”, that aired between 2001 and 2009. He has since appeared in “The Ghost Writer (2010)” and “Katie Says Goodbye (2016)”. In 2020, Jim launched his project “Growing Belushi”, in which he shares a lot about being a cannabis farmer.
So Who is the Latest Belushi to Grace Our Screens?
Robert James Belushi is an American actor, comedian, game show host, and producer. I guess it’s safe to say the guy has Hollywood figured out. Commonly known as Rob Belushi, he’s best known for his roles in “Sorority Row”, “Valentine’s Day”, “One Small Hitch”, CBS’ “How I Met Your Mother”, and quite recently as the game show host for “Get a Clue.”
Early Life
Rob Belushi was born on 23 October 1980, in Chicago, Illinois USA. He’s the son of American actor Jim Belushi and his first wife of eight years Sandra Davenport. Well, if having Jim Belushi as a father isn’t cool enough,h Rob is also the late John Belushi’s nephew. His father later married fellow actress Jennifer Sloan on 2 May 1998, making her Rob’s stepmother. Rob’s half-siblings are Jared and Jamison Belushi.
Education
Rob spent the earlier part of his childhood in Old Town, Lincoln Town, and Bucktown. It wasn’t until high school that he moved to California to attend Santa Monica High School. Despite having a rich father, Belushi didn’t quite fit in with the rich kids. Instead of throwing cash and fancy vehicles at him, his father instilled a work ethic in him, and he even got a job at a sandwich shop to earn a few coins for himself.
After high school, Rob attended Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and graduated with honors with a Bachelor’s Degree in Film. Can you believe that? The guy actually wanted to work behind the scenes! Rob later joined The Second City, Chicago like his father and uncle before him. According to him, he wanted to learn and be good at improv so he wouldn’t be pegged as just a guy following a legacy. After his time at The Second City, Rob joined The School of Steppenwolf, a nationally recognized education program for young artists. There’s no saying this guy didn’t break a sweat to earn his place in Hollywood.
Career
For a moment it looked like Rob Belushi was making his debut as a child actor, when he appeared as Bobby Jr. in “The Birthday Boy” (1986).
However, Rob had something else up his sleeve; his interest was in working behind the scenes. It wasn’t until he was in college that he found his passion for acting. A friend suggested that he take up a small role in a play, and oddly enough Rob had loved it, and decided to pursue acting further. Can we all remember to toast to the said friend the next time we’re out, because we all know he did the world a favor.
Despite having connections in the industry, Rob came up like every struggling actor, and even worked at Starbucks to get by. Rob got his big break when he appeared in his father’s TV sitcom “According to Jim” that aired between 2002and 2009. While this role was a great jump into mainstream acting, it wasn’t until 2009 that his career took an upward turn. He appeared in “RiffRaff”, “Legally Blonde”, and “Sorority Row” which did well that year.
The Potter Fans have 60 seconds to guess 8 words. If they succeed, they'll win $10,000! 🧙♂️#GetAClue with @robbelushi, All New Weekdays 9:30a pic.twitter.com/5g6sVN4vVx
— Game Show Network (@GameShowNetwork) April 6, 2021
His work on “RiffRaff” was so well executed in his role as “Otis Jay”. that it landed him the Best Actor in a Supporting Role trophy from the 2007 Tenerife International Film Festival. In 2010, he appeared in “Valentine’s Day”, sealing his place in the industry, and went on to appear in “The Defenders (2011)”, “How I Met Your Mother” (2013-2014), One Small Hitch (2013)”, “Devil’s Due (2014)”, “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D” (2014), “The Mentalist (2015)”, “Dylan(2018)”, “Witness Infection(2021)”.
In 2020, the actor surprised his fans by appearing as the host of the game show “Get a Clue” on The Game Show Network.
If you’re wondering whether this was just another paycheck or a hobby, Belushi admitted in an interview with Fox News that he has always loved game shows. Well, that wouldn’t be surprising since he grew up in the game show era.
Having a whole legacy of outstanding performers before him, Rob Belushi often faces comparison within the industry, and to that he says “Is there somebody out there saying, ‘He’s not as funny as his uncle’? Probably. And they’re probably right. I’m not my uncle. His stuff was beautiful and specific to him,”
Awards and Nominations
With over 50 acting credits to his name, the actor has received many awards and nominations to honor his achievements within the industry. In 2013 he received a Festival Award together with his castmates on “One Small Hitch” for Best Ensemble Cast at The Chicago Film festival.
In 2018, Rob also won a Festival Award for Best Short Film (“Dylan”) at the Illinois International Film Festival. Later that year, he won a Jury Award for Best Leading Actor (“Dylan”) at the Malibu Film Festival. He was also nominated for a Grand Jury Award for Best Actor and the Jury Award (“Dylan”) at the Idyllwild International Festival of Cinema and the Tampa Bay Comic Con respectively.
Single Or Taken?
Rob Belushi married his long-time girlfriend Chelsea Wernsman on 29, June 2014, and the two have been together since. Chelsea works as a hairdresser in Los Angeles, and is her husband’s greatest cheerleader. Do you think that has something to do with why his hair is always so perfect? Guess we’ll never know.
Rob and Chelsea have been dog parents for the longest time to their dog Brenda. The two often share cute little moments of their dog with their followers on Instagram. Rob and Chelsea were expecting their firstborn in September 2020, and we can only wish them the best as they take their parenting skills to the next level.
Net worth
Despite being a household name, Rob has managed to keep most of his affairs off the prying eyes of the public. His net worth is estimated at close to $1 million, as of early 2021.
Physical characteristics
Rob Belushi stands at 5ft 6ins (1.66m) tall, and weighs around 165lbs (75kgs). He has a set of grey eyes, brown hair, and judging by his frame, he might be a frequent visitor at the gym.
