Joan Cusack

Biography

Joan Cusack, born on October 11, 1962, is a renowned American actress known for her versatile performances. She hails from a creative family in Evanston, Illinois, where her father, Dick Cusack, was an advertising executive, writer, and actor, and her mother, Nancy, taught math. Joan shares her passion for acting with her siblings, including fellow actors Susie, John, Ann, and Bill Cusack, all of whom have Irish heritage.

Encouraged by her parents, Joan honed her craft at the Piven Theater Workshop and engaged in improvisation at Story Theater and The Ark. She later earned a bachelor's degree in English from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. After a brief stint in small film roles, she made a significant impact on Saturday Night Live before gaining acclaim for her roles in films like Broadcast News (1987) and Working Girl (1988), the latter earning her an Academy Award nomination. Joan is also celebrated for her voice work as Jessie in the Toy Story franchise and for her Emmy-nominated role in Shameless. She is married to attorney Dick Burke, and together they have two sons, Dylan and Miles.