According to a co-star, John Belushi had no chance of survival as he was unable to overcome his drug addiction.

Upon John Belushi's arrival on the set of "National Lampoon’s Animal House," Tim Matheson anticipated a "massive high-strung egomaniac."

According to Matheson, many people believed that he would emulate his character from "Saturday Night Live," known for being large, audacious, and provocative.

"Despite being the biggest star on 'Saturday Night Live,' he and his wife Judy were known for their graciousness and humility."

"The actor remembered that he wasn't trying to be funny or upstage anyone during the shoot. He genuinely listened and was respectful of everyone. He became very supportive of the actor throughout the entire shoot."

The actor who played Eric "Otter" Stratton in the 1978 comedy has written a new memoir, "Damn Glad to Meet You: My Seven Decades in the Hollywood Trenches," where he recounts his friendship with Belushi, who tragically passed away at the age of 33 from a drug overdose.

"Matheson shared that "Animal House" was his first comedy, and he was horrified. Despite being scared to death, the actor was very gracious and never looked down on anyone. He embraced his team and was always kind and supportive of Matheson. The actor appreciated how the director let him know if he was doing something well."

While filming, Belushi was not using drugs, according to Matheson's book.

"Belushi was clean on set during "Animal House," and if he did anything, it was away from the rest of us, with no signs of being up to anything."

Belushi was advised by Director John Landis to behave and ensure a drug-free environment on set, as stated by Matheson.

Belushi was always on the edge when cameras were not rolling, according to Matheson's statement to Planet Chronicle Digital.

"Matheson stated that 'Animal House' was a massive success. He had to travel to Chicago for a weekend to promote the movie. John took me to Chicago, a city I had never seen before. He was highly regarded as Chicago's favorite son and the biggest star from the city at the time."

John didn't answer the door the next morning after our first Friday night there. When they called for him to come down to the car, they had to pry the door open and take it off its hinges. John was passed out in his bed just from partying until 4:30 in the morning.

"When I visited him in New York, there was a big party following 'Saturday Night Live.' It was a fusion of television and rock 'n' roll. As TV actors, we didn't have much involvement with drugs because it hindered our work, and we worked harder."

On SNL, the drug use wasn't as strict," he said. "I believe they often flirted with drugs to enhance the show's high and keep the party going afterward. That's what I observed.

"In America, John held the record for the biggest-selling album, starred in the top-grossing film, and hosted the most-watched television show. Despite his reputation for being a party animal, people wanted to party with him. However, John couldn't avoid the constant invitations to party."

In his book, Matheson stated that Belushi was "without hope" and had "two massive bodyguards whose main duty was to prevent anyone from giving him drugs."

Matheson recalls the last time he saw his friend.

"He stated that the time frame was between 1980-1981. He recalled seeing him and Dan Aykroyd having fun, which was a more somber moment, both in terms of mood and sobriety. At that point, John was excited about directing his career and exploring different characters and roles to play, rather than sticking to the same old routine."

"Everybody thought John partied all the time. So, everybody wanted to party with John. He couldn’t escape it." — Tim Matheson

On March 5, 1982, Belushi injected a "speedball," a combination of cocaine and heroin. His body was discovered at the Château Marmont in Los Angeles. Matheson stated that he was "filled with sadness but not surprised."

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Matheson revealed to Planet Chronicle Digital that he knew many people whose lives were destroyed by drugs, including some actors who failed to achieve the success they had hoped for, and drugs provided them with a way to cope with their disappointment.

"When 'Animal House' was released, we believed that cocaine had no negative impact on the heart. However, we were wrong, and it taught us a valuable lesson about our mortality."

"Suddenly, he realized that his friends were passing by, and he thought, "Wow, they're so young! 33 is still quite young.""

In 1996, Matheson experienced déjà vu while filming "Black Sheep" with Chris Farley, who looked up to Belushi. He wrote that it was like watching his friend all over again.

Matheson stated that he was fortunate during the filming of "Black Sheep" because Chris was sober.

He was very compulsive, consuming 30 iced coffees daily and smoking cigarette after cigarette.

"He consistently engaged in activities to keep himself entertained. I recognized the source of his addictions and thought, "It's not healthy if you're experimenting with drugs and alcohol.""

At the premiere of "Beverly Hills Ninja," Matheson observed that Farley's comic had deteriorated somewhat a year later.

"Matheson said, 'I hugged him and told him I loved him. I just wanted him to stay healthy and be with us. It was a shame.'"

In 1997, at the age of 33, Farley passed away, just like his idol, from a drug overdose.

Hollywood and its temptations were a challenge for Matheson, but he is grateful to have made it through. Unlike many of his friends, he managed to survive.

"Matheson was fortunate to start acting at a young age, which allowed him to work with individuals who are not recognized by today's generation. He learned about their training and the challenges they faced in their performances. This experience stayed with him."