Joan Cusack

Actress Joan Cusack was born in New York City, New York, and is the daughter of Nancy (née Carolan) and Dick Cusack. Her father was an advertising executive, writer and actor, and her mother was a math teacher. Her siblings - Susie Cusack, John Cusack, Ann Cusack and Bill Cusack also act. Her family is of Irish descent. Raised in Evanston, Illinois, Cusack was actively encouraged to explore her creativity by her parents, and as a child she joined the Piven Theater Workshop. She went on to learn and perform improvisation at the Story Theater and The Ark. Later she attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, graduating with a bachelor's degree in English. Whilst at university, Cusack took some small film roles, but her big break came after graduation, when she joined the cast of the legendary "Saturday Night Live." However, she only stayed for a season before moving on to explore other projects. In 1987, she produced a memorable turn in the acclaimed Broadcast News (1987), and she was Oscar nominated for her performance in Working Girl (1988). Other notable films include Addams Family Values (1993), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) and In & Out (1997), which earned her a second Oscar nomination. She also provided, superbly, the voice of Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl in Toy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story 3 (2010). On television she scored a role on "Shameless," with her work garnering her an Emmy nomination. Joan Cusack is married to an attorney, Dick Burke. They have two sons - ...

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The Pixar Story (2007)

Adventurous

A look at the first years of Pixar Animation Studios - from the success of "Toy Story" and Pixar's promotion of talented people, to the building of its East Bay campus, the company's relationship with Disney, and its remarkable initial string of eight hits. The ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leslie Iwerks
CAST:  Stacy Keach  •  John Lasseter  •  Brad Bird  •  John Musker

A look at the first years of Pixar Animation Studios - from the success of "Toy Story" and Pixar's promotion of talented people, to the building of its East Bay campus, the company's relationship with Disney, and its remarkable initial string of eight hits. The ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Leslie Iwerks
CAST:  Stacy Keach  •  John Lasseter  •  Brad Bird  •  John Musker

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

UpliftingDepressingHeartbreakingEmotional

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Chbosky
CAST:  Logan Lerman  •  Emma Watson  •  Ezra Miller  •  Paul Rudd

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1991. High school freshman Charlie is a wallflower, always watching life from the sidelines, until two senior students, Sam and her stepbrother Patrick, become his mentors, helping him discover the joys of friendship, music and love.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Chbosky
CAST:  Logan Lerman  •  Emma Watson  •  Ezra Miller  •  Paul Rudd

High Fidelity (2000)

CleverEnjoyableSmartFunny

When record store owner and compulsive list-compiler Rob Gordon gets dumped by his long-time girlfriend, Laura, because he hasn't changed since they met, he revisits his top five breakups of all time in order to figure out what went wrong. As he examines his failed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Frears
CAST:  John Cusack  •  Iben Hjejle  •  Todd Louiso  •  Jack Black

When record store owner and compulsive list-compiler Rob Gordon gets dumped by his long-time girlfriend, Laura, because he hasn't changed since they met, he revisits his top five breakups of all time in order to figure out what went wrong. As he examines his failed ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Stephen Frears
CAST:  John Cusack  •  Iben Hjejle  •  Todd Louiso  •  Jack Black

Addams Family Values (1993)

FunnyDarkWeirdLighthearted

Siblings Wednesday and Pugsley Addams will stop at nothing to get rid of Pubert, the new baby boy adored by parents Gomez and Morticia. Things go from bad to worse when the new "black widow" nanny, Debbie Jellinsky, launches her plan to add Fester to her collection ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Sonnenfeld
CAST:  Joan Cusack  •  Anjelica Huston  •  Raúl Juliá  •  Christopher Lloyd

Siblings Wednesday and Pugsley Addams will stop at nothing to get rid of Pubert, the new baby boy adored by parents Gomez and Morticia. Things go from bad to worse when the new "black widow" nanny, Debbie Jellinsky, launches her plan to add Fester to her collection ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Barry Sonnenfeld
CAST:  Joan Cusack  •  Anjelica Huston  •  Raúl Juliá  •  Christopher Lloyd

Arlington Road (1999)

BrainyAction-packedBrilliantMysterious

Threats from sinister foreign nationals aren't the only thing to fear. Bedraggled college professor Michael Faraday has been vexed (and increasingly paranoid) since his wife's accidental death in a botched FBI operation. But all that takes a backseat when a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Pellington
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Tim Robbins  •  Joan Cusack  •  Hope Davis

Threats from sinister foreign nationals aren't the only thing to fear. Bedraggled college professor Michael Faraday has been vexed (and increasingly paranoid) since his wife's accidental death in a botched FBI operation. But all that takes a backseat when a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Pellington
CAST:  Jeff Bridges  •  Tim Robbins  •  Joan Cusack  •  Hope Davis

Broadcast News (1987)

Basket-case network news producer Jane Craig falls for new reporter Tom Grunnick, a pretty boy who represents the trend towards entertainment news she despises. Aaron Altman, a talented but plain correspondent, carries an unrequited torch for Jane. Sparks fly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James L. Brooks
CAST:  William Hurt  •  Albert Brooks  •  Holly Hunter  •  Robert Prosky

Basket-case network news producer Jane Craig falls for new reporter Tom Grunnick, a pretty boy who represents the trend towards entertainment news she despises. Aaron Altman, a talented but plain correspondent, carries an unrequited torch for Jane. Sparks fly ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  James L. Brooks
CAST:  William Hurt  •  Albert Brooks  •  Holly Hunter  •  Robert Prosky

Chicken Little (2005)

When the sky really is falling and sanity has flown the coop, who will rise to save the day? Together with his hysterical band of misfit friends, Chicken Little must hatch a plan to save the planet from alien invasion and prove that the world's biggest hero is a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Dindal
CAST:  Zach Braff  •  Garry Marshall  •  Don Knotts  •  Patrick Stewart

When the sky really is falling and sanity has flown the coop, who will rise to save the day? Together with his hysterical band of misfit friends, Chicken Little must hatch a plan to save the planet from alien invasion and prove that the world's biggest hero is a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Mark Dindal
CAST:  Zach Braff  •  Garry Marshall  •  Don Knotts  •  Patrick Stewart

Cradle Will Rock (1999)

A true story of politics and art in the 1930s USA, centered around a leftist musical drama and attempts to stop its production.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Robbins
CAST:  Hank Azaria  •  Rubén Blades  •  Joan Cusack  •  John Cusack

A true story of politics and art in the 1930s USA, centered around a leftist musical drama and attempts to stop its production.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Robbins
CAST:  Hank Azaria  •  Rubén Blades  •  Joan Cusack  •  John Cusack

Friends with Money (2006)

After she quits her lucrative job, Olivia finds herself unsure about her future and her relationships with her successful and wealthy friends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nicole Holofcener
CAST:  Catherine Keener  •  Jason Isaacs  •  Timm Sharp  •  Joan Cusack

After she quits her lucrative job, Olivia finds herself unsure about her future and her relationships with her successful and wealthy friends.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Nicole Holofcener
CAST:  Catherine Keener  •  Jason Isaacs  •  Timm Sharp  •  Joan Cusack

Grandview, U.S.A. (1984)

Life in the small town of Grandview, Illinois is one that is just like any other city or town. Tim Pearson, soon to be graduating high school wants to go to Florida to study oceanography. He meets Michelle "Mike" Cody and is attracted to her. She runs the local ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Randal Kleiser
CAST:  Jamie Lee Curtis  •  C. Thomas Howell  •  Patrick Swayze  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh

Life in the small town of Grandview, Illinois is one that is just like any other city or town. Tim Pearson, soon to be graduating high school wants to go to Florida to study oceanography. He meets Michelle "Mike" Cody and is attracted to her. She runs the local ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Randal Kleiser
CAST:  Jamie Lee Curtis  •  C. Thomas Howell  •  Patrick Swayze  •  Jennifer Jason Leigh

Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

FunnyRomanticSimple

Martin Blank is a hitman for hire. When he starts to develop a conscience, he botches a couple of routine jobs. On the advice of his secretary and his psychiatrist, he decides to attend his ten-year high school reunion in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Armitage
CAST:  John Cusack  •  Minnie Driver  •  Dan Aykroyd  •  Joan Cusack

Martin Blank is a hitman for hire. When he starts to develop a conscience, he botches a couple of routine jobs. On the advice of his secretary and his psychiatrist, he decides to attend his ten-year high school reunion in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.  (more)

DIRECTION:  George Armitage
CAST:  John Cusack  •  Minnie Driver  •  Dan Aykroyd  •  Joan Cusack

Ice Princess (2005)

With the help of her coach, her mom, and the boy who drives the Zamboni machine, nothing can stop Casey from realizing her dream to be a champion figure skater.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Fywell
CAST:  Michelle Trachtenberg  •  Joan Cusack  •  Amy Stewart  •  Hayden Panettiere

With the help of her coach, her mom, and the boy who drives the Zamboni machine, nothing can stop Casey from realizing her dream to be a champion figure skater.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tim Fywell
CAST:  Michelle Trachtenberg  •  Joan Cusack  •  Amy Stewart  •  Hayden Panettiere

Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003)

Fed up with all the attention going to Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck quits Hollywood, teams up with recently-fired stuntman Damien Drake Jr. and embarks on a round-the-world adventure, along with Bugs and The VP of Warner Bros. Their mission? Find Damien's father, and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Dante
CAST:  Brendan Fraser  •  Jenna Elfman  •  Steve Martin  •  Timothy Dalton

Fed up with all the attention going to Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck quits Hollywood, teams up with recently-fired stuntman Damien Drake Jr. and embarks on a round-the-world adventure, along with Bugs and The VP of Warner Bros. Their mission? Find Damien's father, and the ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Joe Dante
CAST:  Brendan Fraser  •  Jenna Elfman  •  Steve Martin  •  Timothy Dalton

Married to the Mob (1988)

Angela de Marco is fed up with her gangster husband's line of work and wants no part of the crime world. When her husband is killed for having an affair with the mistress of mob boss Tony "The Tiger" Russo, Angela and her son depart for New York City to make a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Demme
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Matthew Modine  •  Oliver Platt  •  Alec Baldwin

Angela de Marco is fed up with her gangster husband's line of work and wants no part of the crime world. When her husband is killed for having an affair with the mistress of mob boss Tony "The Tiger" Russo, Angela and her son depart for New York City to make a ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Jonathan Demme
CAST:  Michelle Pfeiffer  •  Matthew Modine  •  Oliver Platt  •  Alec Baldwin

My Blue Heaven (1990)

Funny

FBI agent Barney Coopersmith is assigned to protect former Mafia figure turned informant Vincent Antonelli. In the witness protection program one is supposed to keep a low profile, but that is something that Antonelli has trouble doing. Coopersmith certainly has ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Herbert Ross
CAST:  Steve Martin  •  Rick Moranis  •  Joan Cusack  •  Melanie Mayron

FBI agent Barney Coopersmith is assigned to protect former Mafia figure turned informant Vincent Antonelli. In the witness protection program one is supposed to keep a low profile, but that is something that Antonelli has trouble doing. Coopersmith certainly has ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Herbert Ross
CAST:  Steve Martin  •  Rick Moranis  •  Joan Cusack  •  Melanie Mayron

My Bodyguard (1980)

InspiringClassicDramaticThought provoking

Clifford Peach, an easygoing teenager, is finding less than easy to fit in at his new high school, where a tough-talking bully terrorizes his classmates and extorts their lunch money. Refusing to pay up, Clifford enlist the aid of an overgrown misfit whose mere ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Bill
CAST:  Chris Makepeace  •  Adam Baldwin  •  Matt Dillon  •  Martin Mull

Clifford Peach, an easygoing teenager, is finding less than easy to fit in at his new high school, where a tough-talking bully terrorizes his classmates and extorts their lunch money. Refusing to pay up, Clifford enlist the aid of an overgrown misfit whose mere ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Tony Bill
CAST:  Chris Makepeace  •  Adam Baldwin  •  Matt Dillon  •  Martin Mull

Nine Months (1995)

When he finds out his longtime girlfriend is pregnant, a commitment-phobe realizes he might have to change his lifestyle for better or much, much worse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Columbus
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Julianne Moore  •  Tom Arnold  •  Joan Cusack

When he finds out his longtime girlfriend is pregnant, a commitment-phobe realizes he might have to change his lifestyle for better or much, much worse.  (more)

DIRECTION:  Chris Columbus
CAST:  Hugh Grant  •  Julianne Moore  •  Tom Arnold  •  Joan Cusack

Raising Helen (2004)

Helen Harris has a glamorous, big-city life working for one of New York's hottest modeling agencies. But suddenly her free-spirited life gets turned upside down when she must chose between the life she's always loved, and the new loves of her life!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Garry Marshall
CAST:  Kate Hudson  •  Joan Cusack  •  Hayden Panettiere  •  Spencer Breslin

Helen Harris has a glamorous, big-city life working for one of New York's hottest modeling agencies. But suddenly her free-spirited life gets turned upside down when she must chose between the life she's always loved, and the new loves of her life!  (more)

DIRECTION:  Garry Marshall
CAST:  Kate Hudson  •  Joan Cusack  •  Hayden Panettiere  •  Spencer Breslin

Runaway Bride (1999)

Ike Graham, New York columnist, writes his text always at the last minute. This time, a drunken man in his favourite bar tells Ike about Maggie Carpenter, a woman who always flees from her grooms in the last possible moment. Ike, who does not have the best opinion ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Garry Marshall
CAST:  Julia Roberts  •  Richard Gere  •  Joan Cusack  •  Rita Wilson

Ike Graham, New York columnist, writes his text always at the last minute. This time, a drunken man in his favourite bar tells Ike about Maggie Carpenter, a woman who always flees from her grooms in the last possible moment. Ike, who does not have the best opinion ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Garry Marshall
CAST:  Julia Roberts  •  Richard Gere  •  Joan Cusack  •  Rita Wilson

Say Anything... (1989)

RomanticBeautifulClassicThought provoking

Lloyd, an eternal optimist, seeks to capture the heart of Diane, an unattainable high school beauty and straight-A student. He surprises just about everyone-including himself-when she returns the sentiment. But Diane's over-possessive, divorced Dad disapproves and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cameron Crowe
CAST:  John Cusack  •  Ione Skye  •  John Mahoney  •  Lili Taylor

Lloyd, an eternal optimist, seeks to capture the heart of Diane, an unattainable high school beauty and straight-A student. He surprises just about everyone-including himself-when she returns the sentiment. But Diane's over-possessive, divorced Dad disapproves and ...  (more)

DIRECTION:  Cameron Crowe
CAST:  John Cusack  •  Ione Skye  •  John Mahoney  •  Lili Taylor
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