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From Lawsuits to Laugh Tracks: The Bizarre Feud and Unlikely Friendship of Jim Belushi and Catwoman Julie Newmar

TIL actor Jim Belushi and original Catwoman Julie Newmar were neighbors who engaged in a multi-million dollar legal battle over property disputes. The bizarre feud ended amicably when Belushi invited Newmar to satirize their conflict on his sitcom, "According to Jim."

In the quiet, star-studded hills of Brentwood, Los Angeles, a feud of truly Hollywood proportions was brewing. The combatants? Comedic actor Jim Belushi and the iconic Julie Newmar, forever known as the original Catwoman. What started as a simple neighborly dispute over a fence and a second home soon escalated into a public spectacle involving lawsuits, accusations, and millions of dollars.

A Not-So-Neighborly Dispute

The conflict began in 2004. Jim Belushi was renovating his home, a project that included building a second house on his property. His next-door neighbor, Julie Newmar, was not pleased. She alleged that Belushi's construction encroached on her property, destroyed her prized garden, and that he was engaging in what she called “neighborly nastiness.” Newmar claimed Belushi was trying to strong-arm her into selling him a portion of her property to accommodate his new fence. The dispute quickly moved from backyard arguments to the courtroom, with Newmar filing a lawsuit seeking $1 million in damages.

Belushi didn't take the accusations lying down. He responded with a countersuit, demanding $4 million from Newmar for what he claimed was defamation and a relentless “campaign of harassment.” He argued that Newmar’s public statements and actions were designed to halt his legal construction and damage his reputation. The press lapped up the story, framing it as a bizarre clash between two Hollywood personalities—the Blues Brother versus Catwoman. For a time, it seemed their relationship was damaged beyond repair, destined to be another bitter celebrity cautionary tale.

An Unconventional Peace Treaty

After two years of legal wrangling and public acrimony, an exhausted Belushi decided on an unconventional path to peace. Instead of letting the lawyers continue to battle it out, he extended an olive branch in the most Hollywood way possible: he invited Julie Newmar to guest star on his hit sitcom, According to Jim. The idea was to create an episode that directly satirized their real-life feud.

Newmar accepted. In the 2006 episode titled “The Grumpy Guy,” she played a new, difficult neighbor who clashes with Belushi’s character over—what else—a fence. The art-imitating-life scenario provided a cathartic and comedic release for both of them. On set, the ice melted, and the animosity gave way to mutual respect and laughter. Of the resolution, Belushi famously said:

“We've had a lot of laughs... It's the best ending to a lawsuit in history.”

Newmar shared the sentiment, calling the experience a gift and a chance to poke fun at their own absurdity. Following the episode's production, both parties dropped their lawsuits, settled out of court, and, against all odds, became good friends. Their story serves as a peculiar but ultimately heartwarming reminder that sometimes, the best way to resolve a conflict is to find a way to laugh about it together.

Sources