Of course, all of our children are bound to belong to some category or other — quiet or loud; emotional or stoic; wanderer or stay-at-home; academic or athletic. As they grow, they will expand into even more categories: married or single; white-collar or blue-collar; traveler or stay-at-home, and so on.
All else aside, an obese adult is surely one category that no one wants their child to grow into. This is why we work so hard to help our kids, and everybody’s kids, if we can, to avoid being overweight. Most people in that group seem to get kind of stuck in that role. It is a tough category to grow out of.
What parent wants to see their child insulted by some nobody who says, “You’re so fat, what are you gonna be when you grow up? A stand-up comedian?” That cruel person has a point, however rude and hurtful it may be. Statistically, among the professional funnyperson demographic, extremely hefty people have been over-represented.
Obese actor John Belushi
John Belushi used heavy drugs, heavily, which no doubt contributed more than anything else to the physically ramshackle condition he was in when he died at age 33. And there seems to be little doubt that an overdose killed him. But he was also extremely and unapologetically overweight.
For OKMagazine.com, an uncredited author wrote that throughout life, Belushi had been chronically stressed, and that had contributed to his drug addiction and also led to an eating disorder. His appetite was a topic of discussion in his circle, and one biographer said,
John had a huge appetite. The way he physically ate food was larger than life. He would stuff himself. He could not eat enough food.
All this earned Belushi a 24-page autopsy report after his death at “only 222 pounds.” Later, forensic pathologist Dr. Michael Hunter reported that obesity had done massive damage by stressing the star’s heart, causing hypertension and a mortal risk. Psychologist Dr. Linda Papadopolous informed the public that an emotionally disturbed person will binge-eat as a coping mechanism, adding, “And this certainly would have applied to John.”
As if drug addiction, massive overweight, early death, and wasting a prodigious talent were not enough already enough of a legacy, Belushi unintentionally left behind a loose end. Years later, a significant problem landed on people who had only wanted to honor him. These were creative artists who intended to commemorate his life and work in a documentary film.
More than 15 years ago, actor Emile Hirsch intended to play the lead in a Belushi biopic. The funding to start work had not materialized, and no contract had been signed. Yet the director told Hirsch to start putting on the necessary weight, then production would commence.
Hirsch later told journalist Samantha Bergeson,
There’s all kinds of tricks and transformations. Ultimately you have to get the spirit of him first, the most important thing. It’s kind of annoying though because people are automatically so obsessed with the weight. I’d be the biggest sucker in the known universe to go and, like, gain 100 pounds.
Whatever artistic and commercial advantages he might gain from making the film, the idea of wrecking his body for such an uncertain outcome was untenable. The actor went on to relate how he had confided to people that, instead, the whole project had been reconceptualized. The movie would feature a thin Belushi, so actually he intended to not gain, but to lose weight in preparation for the role. In other words, at least he got some fun out of messing with people’s heads.
Your responses and feedback are welcome!
Source: “Overweight & Out Of Control! What Caused John Belushi’s Shocking Death?,” undated
Source: “Emile Hirsch Says John Belushi Biopic Director Was ‘Stupid’ for Asking Him to ‘Gain 100 Pounds’ Before the Film Was Greenlit,” IMDb.com, 09/20/24
Image by OK Magazine
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