Judy Belushi Pisano, a former actress, producer and widow of John Belushi, has died at the age of 73.
She died after a long battle with cancer.
The news was announced by the late comedian’s official social media pages.
“Today, our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye to our sweet Judy,” a post on Instagram on Saturday read. “Her unwavering dedication and creative genius alongside Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi gave birth to The Blue Brothers, a timeless testament to the power of music and laughter.”
The news was also published in the MV Times, a news outlet that covers Martha’s Vineyard, where Pisano spent much of her later years.
Pisano met Belushi in high school in Wheaton, Illinois. They were married from 1973 up until 1982, when he died from a drug overdose. She then remarried in 1990 to Victor Pisano before filing for divorce in 2010.
“In the years following John’s passing in 1982, Judy honored his life and championed his legacy and Blues Brothers brand,” the post continued. “As we bid farewell, we pledge to continue her work, ensuring that John’s legacy, and the Blues Brothers will never fade. There was no one like her. Judy made everyone feel loved. She was nonjudgmental, light, funny and pure. You could be truly yourself around her, that alone was a gift. The Belushi and Pisano families will carry your love in their hearts forever.”
After Belushi’s death, she devoted much of her life to honoring his memory, and she was even involved in the 2020 Showtime documentary “John Belushi.”
She worked alongside Belushi as an actress on “The Blues Brothers” and “National Lampoon’s Animal House.” She also had roles in “Nothing Lasts Forever” and “All Downhill From Here,” and served as a producer on “The Best of John Belushi” and “John Belushi: Dancing on the Edge.” She was also working on a “Blues Brothers” television series, according to IMDb.
The MV Times also mentioned that she was active in the arts and held a fundraiser for Martha’s Vineyard Community Services with a screening of “John Belushi: Dancing on the Edge” and another screening for Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse with a Daniel Aykroyd show.
The former actress is survived by her children and grandchildren.