Jim Belushi

Jim Belushi (b. May 15th, 1954)
a.k.a. James Belushi

Talks About Running with Jerry Lee Again in K-9: P.I.
Legendary comedian W. C. Fields famously advised that actors should avoid working with dogs and children -- advice that actor James Belushi has assiduously avoided in his long career. In fact, he's quick to point out to a group of reporters during a July 2002 teleconference that he's done very well working with children (from the theatrical hit Curly Sue to his current ABC sitcom, According to Jim) and dogs -- most famously a German shepherd named "Jerry Lee" in the K-9 movies. The third in this series, K-9: P.I., recently premiered on DVD and picks up with now-ex-cop Thomas Dooley and his trusty K-9-unit companion Jerry Lee going into private (investigation) practice. Despite direct-to-video budget limitations, this new adventure is a delightful family romp that's sure to score with dog lovers of all breeds.

Question: I guess W. C. Fields is wrong about acting with animals and children?

James Belushi: James Belushi: Absolutely. He didn't like anybody, let alone children and dogs. I love children, I love dogs, and they suit me very well. According to Jim has three kids in it.

Q: Has Jerry Lee been portrayed by the same dog each time?

JB: Different dog each time. This one was King, who is really a stud. This guy could paint your house for you, with the right hot-dog treat. When K-9 was a hit, especially in Germany, they started a show there inspired by the movie and [K-9 animal trainer and handler] Karl Miller and his daughter Teresa were put in charge of the animals. Teresa has been over there for eight years working German shepherds for this series. And King is an East German dog that she's been bringing along slowly into the series for three years. He became the show's No. 1 dog this past year. Then she brought King over to shoot the movie. This dog can dance on barrels. The photo we did for the cover of the original K-9 -- the one where the dog has his paw on my shoulder -- took two hours to get in the photo shoot. With King, it was three minutes.

Q: On the DVD commentary track for K-9: P.I., you talk about how each dog is an individual. How would you contrast the first Jerry Lee with King?

JB: Rondo, who was the first Jerry Lee, was a prima donna: He was a good-looking dog with a close-up that the camera just loved, and he knew it. He was more moody, snotty even. King is a workingman's dog. He's there for ya, happy to be there, just loves the gig. He's more like me. Just kind of a workingman's dog and a working dog's man.

Q: Do you have shepherds yourself?

JB: I have two shepherds.

Q: Did you have them before you started doing these movies?

JB: I had a golden retriever for years. The only bad thing about a dog is that you're making an agreement to have your heart broken, because you always live longer. And my golden just broke my heart. When I was in Ireland doing some publicity, we visited these people who have an estate and we stayed overnight in their coach house. They had these beautiful shepherds. They were protection dogs. And I said, "Oh I always wanted a shepherd," and they said, "Too bad, we just gave the last puppy away." And I said, "Oh no -- I didn't mean give me a dog." Well, nine months later they called and said, "Would you still like a dog?" They shipped me a brother and sister from this wonderful litter, and the sister -- her name is Truly Scrumptious, Choo-Choo Train is the male -- makes her screen debut in K-9: P.I.

Q: Is she a body double or something?

JB: No! I got into a big fight with the producers. They thought I was having an ego trip. I said I want a special credit for Truly, "Introducing Truly Belushi as Jackie." There's a scene where we go to meet the German couple and I'm trying to get Jerry Lee mated. That little dog that the Germans are holding is Truly.

Q: Any jealousy in the house between Truly and Choo-Choo now that sis is a star?

JB: You're making a joke here, but the day we shot that scene, I had to have my stand-in take Chooch for a long walk, because he's the alpha dog. He knows every move she makes. And he does get jealous and he would weasel his head in. Even more then that, though, he'd punish her. So we did have to kind of sneak around. Mind you, we needed a female dog, so Chooch couldn't do it.

Q: What brought you back to doing K-9: P.I.?

JB: In the K-9 series and in the According to Jim series, I'm finding that each time there's a lot more room in the character and the relationships to grow, and I enjoy the challenge. Also, I love making a family film. I have kids now, and I can't show them Salvador yet, and I say "son of a bitch" too many times in The Principal, so basically all they can see is Curly Sue, and I want them to know I have a bigger career than that.

Q: What lessons from the first two K-9's did you bring to this production?

JB: The only vantage point that I really hold on tightly in the process is that it's very important to maintain the relationship with the dog. My question to the writer, director, and producer in every scene is, "Where's the dog?" I would harp on them: "What's the dog doing in this scene? Where is he?" I always felt that that was the most important element in the movies: the personification of a dog. And trying not to make it a Disney dog. Make it a real dog. By "Disney dog," I mean a dog that can walk, talk, and think.

Q: Like Snow Dogs.

JB: Yes. Which my voice appears in.

Q: Demon!

JB: Yes.

Q: On the K-9: P.I. commentary track, director Richard J. Lewis says he has to keep reminding you that "It's about the dog, Jim." How does that make you feel?

JB: I know my place. I know what's important here. It's really tough to be a good second banana. And I work my ass off to make that dog look good. The only difference between us is that I make just a little bit more money than him.

Q: Going back to your work as Demon in Snow Dogs, did being inside the mind of a dog in any way inform your performance opposite a dog in this movie?

JB: No, not at all. I did it in five minutes. Walked into the studio, said four lines, and left. [Snow Dogs director] Brian Levant asked me, "Hey, you wanna come in and be a dog?" I said, "Yeah, I'll be a dog. What do you want me to do?" But now they're doing another one and Demon's role has been expanded. So I'll have to do some character work, because that's a different kind of dog.

Q: Any plans for a K-9 IV?

JB: We're talking about it. I want to do K-9&Secret Agent. [laughs] But we'll see.

-- July 30, 2002