Why John Belushi Died

Judy Belushi, in describing those episodes, often links them with their “causes.” For example, she differs with Woodward on his interpretation of Belushi’s drug use during the filming of “Goin’ South,” one of his early films, which starred Jack Nicholson. In the Woodward version, Belushi’s drug use created problems with the shooting schedule. In Judy Belushi’s version, John had flown to New York for a heavy “Saturday Night Live” taping schedule, had exhausted himself, was diagnosed as having “walking pneumonia,” should have been hospitalized, was nevertheless advised by his lawyer to fly back to the movie location in Mexico — and only then, after being kept on hold for several days in Mexico, began to use drugs. Well, she seems to be asking, can you blame him?

The disagreement over the facts of this episode is unimportant, now that Belushi is in his grave. Judy’s interpretation is revealing. Her rationale, if I follow it, is that John used drugs in response to an intolerable situation and that drugs were his means of coping with it. He was not just irresponsibly going on a blast.

That is true, but it is half of the truth.