is an American film, stage and television actress. Throughout her career, Cusack has appeared in many films as well as appearing in stage productions.
and is a three-time winner of the American Comedy Award as "Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture." Cusack was a cast member of the sketch comedy TV show
in 1985–86. She was born the second of five children, and is the sister of fellow actor,
Joan Cusack was born in New York City to an Irish American Catholic family. She was raised in
, Illinois. Her mother, Nancy (née Carolan), is a former
teacher and political activist. Her late father, Richard Cusack, as well as her siblings
. She appeared with her brother
in 2001–02. For many years, Cusack was also the commercial spokeswoman for
.
, from 1985 to 1986. Her recurring characters on
included, "Salena," a socially inept girl who tries to ask out her boyfriend, "Biff" (played by
), who is also socially inept. In addition, she did celebrity impersonations of
She has been nominated four times for the American Comedy Award, in the category of "Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture" and has won three times, for
(1988). She has also won the New York Film Critics Circle Award and the Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for "Best Supporting Actress" for
In 2003, both Joan and her brother John signed the "Not in My Name" resolution (along with people such as
) opposing the invasion of Iraq. She also attended to the voice of Jessie in
. In September 2010, Cusack guest starred on NBC's
She is married to Chicago attorney Dick Burke, the head of Corporate Services for
. They have two sons, Dylan John and Miles. She also owns a home in
| Year |
Title |
Role |
Notes |
| 1980 |
Cutting Loose |
Minor role |
|
| 1980 |
My BodyguardMy Bodyguard is a 1980 comedy-drama film released by 20th Century Fox, directed by Tony Bill , and written by Alan Ormsby...
|
Shelley |
|
| 1983 |
Class Class is a 1983 American movie that was directed by Lewis John Carlino, the writer/director of the 1979 film The Great Santini. It features the film debuts of actors Andrew McCarthy, John Cusack, Virginia Madsen, Lolita Davidovich, and Alan Ruck....
|
Julia |
|
| 1984 |
Sixteen CandlesSixteen Candles is a 1984 American film starring Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling and Anthony Michael Hall. It was written and directed by John Hughes.- Plot :...
|
Geek Girl #1 |
|
| 1984 |
Grandview, U.S.A. Grandview, U.S.A. is a 1984 American comedy-drama film directed by Randal Kleiser. It stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Carole Cook, Ramon Bieri, John Cusack, Joan Cusack, M. Emmet Walsh, Michael Winslow, Troy Donahue, and Steve Dahl. The original music...
|
Mary Maine |
|
| 1987 |
|
Gina |
|
| 1987 |
Broadcast News Broadcast News is a 1987 romantic comedy-drama film written, produced and directed by James L. Brooks. The film concerns a virtuoso television news producer , who has daily emotional breakdowns, a brilliant yet prickly reporter and his charismatic but far less seasoned rival...
|
Blair Litton |
|
| 1988 |
Stars and Bars Stars and Bars is an American comedy film released in 1988, directed by Pat O'Connor and based on a book by William Boyd. The film stars Daniel Day-Lewis as Henderson Dores.-Plot:...
|
Irene Stein |
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress -1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:...
|
| 1988 |
Married to the MobMarried to the Mob is a 1988 American comedy film directed by Jonathan Demme, starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Matthew Modine.Michelle Pfeiffer, in something of a departure from her previous roles, gave an acclaimed lead performance as a gangster's widow from Brooklyn, opposite Matthew Modine as the...
|
Rose |
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress -1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:...
|
| 1988 |
Working Girl Working Girl is a 1988 romantic comedy film written by Kevin Wade and directed by Mike Nichols. It tells the inspiring story of a Staten Island-raised secretary, Tess McGill , working in the mergers and acquisitions department of a Wall Street investment bank...
|
Cyn |
American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films...
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress-1980s:-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:...
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role |
| 1989 |
Say Anything... |
Constance Dobler |
|
| 1990 |
Men Don't Leave Men Don't Leave is a 1990 comedy-drama film that stars Jessica Lange as a housewife who, after the death of her husband, moves with her two sons to Baltimore. Chris O'Donnell, Joan Cusack, and Kathy Bates also co-star in this film....
|
Jody |
|
| 1990 |
My Blue Heaven My Blue Heaven is a 1990 comedy film directed by Herbert Ross, written by Nora Ephron and starring Steve Martin, Rick Moranis, and Joan Cusack.It has been noted for its relationship to the movie Goodfellas, which was released one month after this film...
|
Hannah Stubs |
|
| 1991 |
The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez |
Cathy |
|
| 1992 |
Hero Hero is a comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and starring Dustin Hoffman, Geena Davis, Andy García, Chevy Chase, and Joan Cusack. It was released in the United States on October 20, 1992.-Plot:...
|
Evelyn Laplante |
|
| 1992 |
Toys |
Alzatia Zevo |
|
| 1993 |
Addams Family ValuesAddams Family Values is a 1993 sequel to the 1991 comedy The Addams Family. The film was written by Paul Rudnick and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, and many cast members from the original returned for the sequel, including Raúl Juliá, Anjelica Huston, Christopher Lloyd, and Christina Ricci...
|
Debbie Jellinsky |
Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1994 |
Corrina, CorrinaCorrina, Corrina is a 1994 feature film set in 1959 about a widower who hires a housekeeper/nanny to care for his daughter . It was written and directed by Jessie Nelson...
|
Jonesy |
|
| 1995 |
Nine Months Nine Months is a 1995 romantic comedy film directed by Chris Columbus. It stars Hugh Grant, Julianne Moore, Tom Arnold, Joan Cusack, Jeff Goldblum, and Robin Williams. The movie is a US remake of the French movie Neuf mois and served as Grant's first US starring role. It was filmed on location in...
|
Gail Dwyer |
Nominated — American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films...
|
| 1995 |
Two Much Two Much is a 1995 romantic screwball comedy film based on Donald Westlake's novel of the same name, and is also a remake of the 1984 French comedy film Le Jumeau, which was also based on Westlake's novel. Directed by Fernando Trueba, Two Much stars Antonio Banderas, Melanie Griffith, Daryl Hannah...
|
Gloria |
|
| 1996 |
Mr. Wrong |
Inga Gunther |
|
| 1997 |
Grosse Pointe BlankGrosse Pointe Blank is a 1997 American Black comedy film, directed by George Armitage, and starring John Cusack and Minnie Driver.In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted Grosse Pointe Blank the 21st greatest comedy film of all time. The film's soundtrack features mainly independent music hits...
|
Marcella |
Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress The Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress is an award given by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film to the actress or actresses whose winning performance is voted by participating members...
Also for In & OutIn & Out is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Oz and starring Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Tom Selleck, Debbie Reynolds, Bob Newhart, and Wilford Brimley. The screenplay was written by screenwriter Paul Rudnick...
Nominated — Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting ActressThe Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actress is an annual film award given by the Online Film Critics Society to honor the best supporting actress of the year.-1990s:-2000s:-2010s:...
|
| 1997 |
|
Nancy Tellen |
|
| 1997 |
In & Out In & Out is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank Oz and starring Kevin Kline, Joan Cusack, Matt Dillon, Tom Selleck, Debbie Reynolds, Bob Newhart, and Wilford Brimley. The screenplay was written by screenwriter Paul Rudnick...
|
Emily Montgomery |
American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films...
Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress
Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting ActressThe Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress is an award given by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film to the actress or actresses whose winning performance is voted by participating members...
Also for Grosse Pointe BlankGrosse Pointe Blank is a 1997 American Black comedy film, directed by George Armitage, and starring John Cusack and Minnie Driver.In 2000, readers of Total Film magazine voted Grosse Pointe Blank the 21st greatest comedy film of all time. The film's soundtrack features mainly independent music hits...
New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActressThe New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress is an award given by the New York Film Critics Circle, honoring the finest achievements in filmmaking....
Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture – Comedy or MusicalThe Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture is one of the Satellite Awards presented annually by the International Press Academy.- 1990s :Best Supporting Actress – Drama*1996: Courtney Love - The People vs...
Society of Texas Film Critics Award for Best Supporting ActressThe 4th Society of Texas Film Critics Awards were given by the Society of Texas Film Critics on December 29, 1997. Founded in 1994, the Society of Texas Film Critics members included film critics working for print and broadcast outlets across the state of Texas.-Winners:* Best Film:** The Sweet...
Nominated — Academy Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated — Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Actress – Comedy
Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress - Motion PictureThe Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture was first awarded by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 1944 for a performance in a motion picture released in the previous year....
|
| 1999 |
Arlington RoadArlington Road is a 1999 American drama/mystery film, which tells the story of a widowed George Washington University professor who suspects his new neighbors are involved in terrorism and becomes obsessed with foiling their terrorist plot. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, and...
|
Cheryl Lang |
Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress The Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress is an award given by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film to the actress or actresses whose winning performance is voted by participating members...
Also for Runaway BrideRunaway Bride is a 1999 American romantic comedy film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere and directed by Garry Marshall. The screenplay was written by Josann McGibbon, Audrey Wells and Sara Parriott.-Plot:...
Nominated — Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress |
| 1999 |
Cradle Will Rock Cradle Will Rock is a 1999 drama film which chronicles the process and events that surrounded the production of the original 1937 musical The Cradle Will Rock by Marc Blitzstein...
|
Hazel Huffman |
|
| 1999 |
Runaway BrideRunaway Bride is a 1999 American romantic comedy film starring Julia Roberts and Richard Gere and directed by Garry Marshall. The screenplay was written by Josann McGibbon, Audrey Wells and Sara Parriott.-Plot:...
|
Peggy Flemming |
American Comedy Award for Funniest Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture The American Comedy Awards were a group of awards presented annually in the United States from 1987 to 2001 recognizing performances and performers in the field of comedy, with an emphasis on television comedy and comedy films...
Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actress – Comedy/Romance
Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting ActressThe Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress is an award given by the Chlotrudis Society for Independent Film to the actress or actresses whose winning performance is voted by participating members...
Also for Arlington RoadArlington Road is a 1999 American drama/mystery film, which tells the story of a widowed George Washington University professor who suspects his new neighbors are involved in terrorism and becomes obsessed with foiling their terrorist plot. The film stars Jeff Bridges, Tim Robbins, Joan Cusack, and...
|
| 1999 |
Toy Story 2Toy Story 2 is a 1999 American computer animated film directed by John Lasseter and co-directed by Lee Unkrich and Ash Brannon. It is the sequel to the 1995 film Toy Story, released by Walt Disney Pictures and the third film to be produced by Pixar...
|
Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl is a fictional character who is the main tritagonist of the films Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. At Christmas in 1999, the Wall Street Journal called Jessie toys among the hottest of the season...
(voice) |
Annie Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Female Performer in an Animated Feature Production
Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Film – Choice Hissy FitThe Teen Choice Awards, are an annual awards show that air on the Fox cable channel, that honor the year's biggest biggest achievements in music, movies, sports, television, fashion and more, voted by teen viewers aged 14 through 17. Winners receive an authentic full size surfboard designed with...
|
| 2000 |
High Fidelity High Fidelity is a 2000 American comedy-drama film directed by Stephen Frears and starring John Cusack and the Danish actress Iben Hjejle. The film is based on the 1995 British novel of the same name by Nick Hornby, with the setting moved from London to Chicago and the name of the lead character...
|
Liz |
|
| 2000 |
Where the Heart Is Where the Heart Is is a 2000 drama/romance film directed by Matt Williams and produced by Susan Cartsonis, David McFadzean, Patricia Whitcher and Matt Williams. Filmed in Austin, Texas, and Waco, Texas at Baylor University. The movie stars Natalie Portman and Ashley Judd...
|
Ruth Meyers |
|
| 2003 |
School of Rock School of Rock, also called The School of Rock, is a 2003 American musical comedy film directed by Richard Linklater, written by Mike White, and starring Jack Black...
|
Rosalie Mullins |
|
| 2003 |
Looney Tunes: Back in ActionLooney Tunes: Back in Action is a 2003 American live action/animated adventure comedy film directed by Joe Dante and starring Brendan Fraser, Jenna Elfman, Timothy Dalton, and Steve Martin. The film is essentially a feature-length Looney Tunes cartoon, with all the wackiness and surrealism typical...
|
Scientist |
|
| 2004 |
Raising Helen Raising Helen is a 2004 American comedy-drama film directed by Garry Marshall and written by Jack Amiel and Michael Begler. It stars Kate Hudson, John Corbett, Joan Cusack, Hayden Panettiere, Spencer and his sister Abigail Breslin and Helen Mirren...
|
Jenny Portman |
|
| 2004 |
|
Fanny Nash |
|
| 2004 |
Peep and the Big Wide World Peep and the Big Wide World is an animated cartoon that teaches nature and basic science concepts to preschoolers. The main characters include a baby chicken named Peep and his friends Quack, a blue duck, and Chirp, a red robin with purple eyelids...
|
Narrator (Voice) |
Animated TV Series
Nominated — Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in an Animated Program |
| 2005 |
Ice Princess Ice Princess is a 2005 American figure-skating film directed by Tim Fywell, Starring Michelle Trachtenberg, Joan Cusack, Kim Cattrall, Hayden Panettiere, Trevor Blumas, and Kirsten Olson...
|
Joan Carlyle |
|
| 2005 |
Chicken Little Chicken Little is a 2005 computer-animated science fiction family comedy film loosely based on the fable The Sky Is Falling. It was the 46th animated feature produced by Walt Disney Feature Animation...
|
Abby Mallard (voice) |
|
| 2006 |
Friends with Money Friends with Money is a 2006 film written and directed by Nicole Holofcener. It opened the 2006 Sundance Film Festival on January 19, 2006 and went into limited release in North America on April 7, 2006.-Plot:...
|
Franny |
|
| 2007 |
Martian ChildMartian Child is a 2007 American comedy-drama film about a writer who adopts a strange young boy who believes himself to be from Mars. Martian Child was released on November 2, 2007. The film was directed by Menno Meyjes and produced by New Line Cinema. It stars John Cusack and Bobby Coleman...
|
Liz |
|
| 2008 |
War, Inc.War, Inc. is a 2008 American political satire film starring John Cusack and directed by Joshua Seftel. Cusack also co-wrote and produced the film.- Plot :...
|
Marsha Dillon |
|
| 2008 |
Kit Kittredge: An American GirlKit Kittredge: An American Girl is a 2008 American comedy-drama film directed by Patricia Rozema. The screenplay by Ann Peacock focuses on the American Girl character Kit Kittredge, who lives in Cincinnati, Ohio during the Great Depression...
|
Miss Lucinda Bond |
|
| 2009 |
Confessions of a Shopaholic Confessions of a Shopaholic is a 2009 American romantic comedy film based on the Shopaholic series of novels by Sophie Kinsella. Directed by P. J. Hogan, the film stars Isla Fisher as the shopaholic journalist and Hugh Dancy as her boss.-Plot:...
|
Jane Bloomwood |
|
| 2009 |
My Sister's Keeper My Sister's Keeper is a 2009 American drama film directed by Nick Cassavetes and starring Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin, Sofia Vassilieva, and Alec Baldwin...
|
Judge De Salvo |
|
| 2009 |
Acceptance Acceptance is a 2009 drama telefilm starring Mae Whitman and Joan Cusack. The movie was first aired on August 22, 2009 on Lifetime. This film is based on the critically acclaimed book Acceptance: A Novel by Susan Coll...
|
Nina |
|
| 2010 |
Toy Story 3Toy Story 3 is a 2010 American 3D computer-animated comedy-adventure film, and the third installment in the Toy Story series. It was produced by Pixar and released by Walt Disney Pictures. It was directed by Lee Unkrich. The film was released worldwide from June through October in Disney Digital...
|
Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl is a fictional character who is the main tritagonist of the films Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. At Christmas in 1999, the Wall Street Journal called Jessie toys among the hottest of the season...
(voice) |
|
| 2011 |
Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs. Evil |
Verushka the Witch (voice) |
|
| 2011 |
Mars Needs Moms |
Milo's mom (performance capture) |
|
| 2011 |
Hawaiian Vacation Toy Story Toons: Hawaiian Vacation is a 2011 Pixar animated short directed by Gary Rydstrom. The short features characters from the Toy Story films and takes place after the events of Toy Story 3...
|
Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl is a fictional character who is the main tritagonist of the films Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. At Christmas in 1999, the Wall Street Journal called Jessie toys among the hottest of the season...
(voice) |
|
| 2011 |
Shameless |
Sheila |
Nominated — Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series |
| 2011 |
Small Fry Toy Story Toons: Small Fry, is a 2011 Pixar animated short directed by Angus MacLane. It was first screened in theaters ahead of The Muppets. This was the second time a Pixar short screened with a non-Pixar film, after Tokyo Mater screened with Bolt...
|
Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl Jessie, the Yodeling Cowgirl is a fictional character who is the main tritagonist of the films Toy Story 2 and Toy Story 3. At Christmas in 1999, the Wall Street Journal called Jessie toys among the hottest of the season...
(voice) |
|
| 2011 |
Arthur Christmas Arthur Christmas is a 2011 British/American 3-D computer animated fantasy comedy film produced by Aardman Animations and Sony Pictures Animation, and distributed by Columbia Pictures. It was released on November 11, 2011, in the UK, and on November 23, 2011, in the USA...
|
Mission Control Elf (voice) |
|