Jim Belushi Reveals Late Brother John Still Visits Him In Dreams
Riding a career comeback, Jim Belushi reveals he still reunites with his late brother John in vivid dreams, revisiting memories that keep their bond—and his spirits—alive.
Jim Belushi is in a reflective, surprisingly vulnerable phase right now. The 'According to Jim' mainstay and 'K-9' guy is talking about his late brother John, the new projects that have him stretching in unexpected ways, and why strangers keep asking him how to survive grief. It is a lot, in the best way.
In a new Variety interview, Belushi says he still dreams about John, who died at 33 and remains one of comedy's untouchables. In the dreams, they end up back at Second City — improv-nerd catnip — running scenes like it is the old days. John is killing, Jim starts laughing, cracks the bit, and accidentally steps on the moment. Then he hears his brother's voice, equal parts teasing and love.
'Ah, come on, kid!'
Belushi calls these dreams 'little visits,' and you can tell they comfort him. He talks about John's humor and presence like they never left the room.
Career-wise, the guy is busy and choosing interesting lanes. He is playing writer Ken Kesey in Kristen Stewart's feature directing debut 'The Chronology of Water' — a role that asked him to dig into grief and fragility he knows firsthand. He is also in Craig Brewer's 'Song Sung Blue' as a warmhearted, small-time manager, which sounds like the kind of character part he can quietly nail.
- 'The Chronology of Water': Belushi plays Ken Kesey in Kristen Stewart's directorial debut, a part that leans into grief and vulnerability.
- 'Song Sung Blue': In Craig Brewer's film, he is a kind, small-time manager.
Belushi says he has always chased 'the magic' on stage and on camera. He pushes back on the idea that Hollywood has him pegged: it is less a box, more that people do not quite know what to do with him because he has hopped across genres for decades. He points to indie work that made folks say, basically, 'Oh my God, I didn't realize you could do that.' Translation: if you only know him as the sitcom dad or the cop with a dog, that is on you, not him.
The most unexpected turn here might be the way fans now come to him for help with grief. Belushi says people reach out after losing someone, looking for practical advice as much as comfort. Hearing their stories, he has started to see a bigger reason behind his own experience.
'They want to know what to do... OK, I see. I see now. Some of my purpose is to help guide others.'
So yes, Jim Belushi is acting his face off in two intriguing films, but the throughline is personal: honoring John, chasing the work that scares him a little, and being there for people who only know that hurt is real and immediate. It is a thoughtful late-career pivot, and honestly, a welcome one.