Judy Belushi-Pisano, John Belushi’s spouse, died. She was a producer and actress renowned for her work on National Lampoon’s Animal House and The Blues Brothers. She was 73.

John Belushi’s official Instagram and Facebook sites broke the news on Saturday, July 6, praising Judy for her artistic achievements throughout the years with her late spouse. The announcement did not specify the reason for her death. The Martha’s Vineyard Times stated that she died after a “long battle” with cancer.

“Today, our hearts are heavy as we say goodbye to our sweet Judy,” the message said. “Her unwavering dedication and creative genius, alongside Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, gave birth to The Blues Brothers, a timeless testament to the power of music and laughter.”

“In the years following John’s passing in 1982, Judy honored his life and championed his legacy and the Blues Brothers brand,” according to the statement. “As we bid farewell, we pledge to continue her work, ensuring that John’s legacy and the Blues Brothers will never fade.”

The statement went on to say, “There was no one like [Judy].”

“Judy made everybody feel cherished. She was nonjudgmental, lighthearted, witty, and innocent. Around her, you could be genuinely yourself, which was a gift in and of itself. “The Belushi and Pisano families will keep your love in their hearts forever,” the message said.

Along with the memorial, John’s Facebook page included a few photos of Judy and John over the years, as well as a subsequent one of her standing with a guitar wrapped around her neck.

Stephen Bishop, a friend and musician who participated in The Blues Brothers and provided music to Animal House, paid homage to the late couple on Instagram, sharing a photo of himself with them.

“I have wonderful recollections of working and socializing with Judy and John. She was always polite to me, and we kept in touch throughout the years.” I really enjoyed seeing her at Animal House reunions,” he added. “My recollections of her are warm and kind. I’ll always treasure them.

Judy and John met in high school in Wheaton, Illinois, and later married in 1976. She talked with people in 2020 about her late husband before Showtime’s Belushi documentary, revealing that he warned her she “should probably break up with me because I want to be an actor and I’ll probably never make any money.”

“But I always thought he’d do well,” she explained at the time.

Before John died of a heroin overdose in 1982 at the age of 33, the two collaborated, with her appearing in tiny roles in Animal House and The Blues Brothers. When John was a cast member of Saturday Night Live from 1975 to 1979, the couple hosted afterparties at their house.

“John wasn’t perfect,” Judy told people of her spouse in a 2020 interview. “But he was a whole human being: compassionate, adventurous, and kind. He not only made people laugh, but also evoked deep emotions in them.

Judy later married producer Victor Pisano in 1990, and she filed for divorce in 2010.

According to the publication, Judy worked as a radio producer while her husband achieved popularity in comedy. She was also involved with the arts throughout her life, holding local screenings and performing alongside Dan Aykroyd. Her children and grandchildren survive her.