In 1973, she and John moved to New York City to work for National Lampoon, where she started out as an art assistant. She later became an associate producer for The National Lampoon Radio Hour. Judith and John were married on December 31, 1976 in Aspen, Colorado, U.S.. They remained married until John's death on March 5, 1982. She began using the Belushi name only after John's death and kept it after remarrying eight years later. Judith is the author of the memoir Samurai Widow and the co-author of Titters and Belushi: A Biography, among other titles.