Jim Belushi has it all. Decades of career success, lots of friends in high places and low places, and a sweat lodge on a ranch in Oregon.
The host of the A&E series “K9 PD with Jim Belushi” exclusively told Fox News Digital that his “sanctuary” up north is not only an idyllic retreat for him, but also serves as an incredibly “spiritual” haven.
“I love Oregon. It’s a beautiful place,” Belushi said of his ranch, which is also featured in a reality series about his cannabis farm. “I have a sweat lodge. I built a sweat lodge there. They do all kinds of little Native American ceremonies.”
Belushi, 71, put down roots in the southern part of the state about 20 years ago.
“Right now, I have 50 cows on my property and they just gave birth to 50 calves. It’s the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. These little calves running around chasing each other,” Belushi said. “Actually, I took a video of it last night.
“They broke down the fence and came to my house, saying, ‘Where’s Jim?'” So there were 60, 70 cows in my front yard. They massaged them and returned them to the fenced area. ”
“It’s very beautiful. There are very nice people. It’s a very beautiful place,” he added.
Belushi faces unique challenges on the farm, but working with animals isn’t scary for him. The comedy giant starred as Michael Dooley, a detective partnered with police dog Jerry Lee, in the 1989 classic K-9.
Two years later, he played a homeless con man who teams up with a wealthy lawyer, thanks in part to the antics of an orphaned girl, in John Hughes’ classic Curly Sue.
“There’s an old saying: ‘No to dogs, no to children,'” Belushi laughed. “Then I made ‘K9’ and ‘Curly Sue.’ What’s different about working with dogs is what other actors are required to do: the ability to master their presence.”
He added: “When you’re so focused, you create spontaneity, and that’s when you get the magic.”
“There was a moment in ‘K9’ where I was sitting on the couch and I was bending down to have my first kiss with a girl and the dog was there and he took his paw and pushed my head down. It wasn’t planned, he wasn’t trained to do that.
“The cameras were rolling and all I could think as I was hanging my head was, ‘I wish there was no hair on the film, I wish someone wasn’t blown away by this take,’ because it was such a magical moment.”
Belushi noted that children have a similar presence while working in front of the camera.
“They don’t know the difference between rolling and cutting and action,” he said. “I guess so. I’m trained as an improvisational actor, so that helps. You just have to be in the moment with the dog and react authentically in the moment.”
He added, “By the way, that’s why I don’t want you to work with children or dogs. Because the most present moment is the most vulnerable moment, and vulnerability wins on the scene.”
Belushi’s latest effort, K9 PD with Jim Belushi, which tracks police officers and K-9 responders in the field using body camera, dashboard and drone footage, further amplifies his love for animals and the unsung heroes of law enforcement.
“When we made the ‘K-9’ movie, we did a lot of ride-alongs in Los Angeles and San Diego,” Belushi said. “I went to the academy and worked with the handlers and dogs, watched training and participated in training.
“What excited me the most about working on this film was the relationship that this man or woman had with that animal. It was so much more than just having a tiny little dog and being super cute and laying on my lap. They were protective of each other, and they felt that and knew that.”
“It’s hard to put into words that bond, but it’s really deep. And they take them home, and that dog becomes part of their family, and that dog protects that family, and that dog protects that officer. Not on the street, but they protect everyone, including the bad guys. What was most interesting to me was the relationship between the handler and their animal. It’s really deep.”
As an avid fan of action and adventure, Belushi was excited to host the A&E reality series.
“It’s visceral. There’s drama, there’s a little bit of humor, but there’s a real warmth between the handlers,” Belushi said. “They’re always in the moment of life and death. And the way they care for and protect each other is beautiful to watch.”
He added, “It’s about the relationship between this dog and the dog police officer. So that’s what drew me to it…and the action. I’m an action guy. I love action.”
