Known for her distinct voice and scene-stealing performances,Joan Cusack’s best movies and TV shows showcase the incredible career she has had over the years. Cusack started acting professionally on-screen in the early 1980s where she scored smaller roles in teen movies likeSixteen CandlesandMy Bodyguardbefore briefly joining the cast ofSaturday Night Live. While she didn’t become one of the breakout stars of the sketch comedy show, she soon booked more impressive movie roles, earning an Oscar nomination only two years after herSNLdeparture.
Since the 1980s, Cusack has continued working steadily as a popular and renowned character actor. She has showcased her versatile and hilarious comedic skills in a variety of movies, ranging from grounded and smart to broad and wild. However, Cusack has also taken the opportunity to show other sides of her talents and has proven herself an even more gifted actor with dramatic and unsettling roles. Still working on notable projects decades later, Joan Cusack’s best movies and TV shows are a testament to her outstanding work.
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Cast
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping is a 2016 comedy starring The Lonely Island members Andy Samberg, Jorma Taccone, and Akiva Schaffer. The film centers on Samberg’s character, Conner, a former boy band member who slowly sees his celebrity status drop. However, he’ll do anything to reach stardom again.
Joan Cusack joined a hilarious cast of funny people in one of the most underrated comedies of the last decade.Popstar: Never Stop Never Stoppingis a clever mockumentary coming from the minds of the Lonely Island boys. Andy Samberg leads the movie as Conner4Real, a former boy band member who has broken out on his own as a solo pop star. The movie follows him around as he drops his latest critically reviled album and deals with his changing career.
Popstaris filled with great cameosfrom the likes of Justin Timberlake, Bill Hader, and many more.Cusack has a small but funny role as Tilly, Conner’s mom. While she is proud and supportive of her son, Tilly also indulges in the party lifestyle of the music world even more than he does. The movie is a hilarious skewering of certain pop musicians, delivering big laughs as an absurd comedy.
Grosse Pointe Blank
Grosse Pointe Blank is a dark comedy film directed by George Armitage, featuring John Cusack as Martin Blank, a professional hitman who returns to his hometown for a high school reunion and to complete a job. The film explores themes of redemption and identity as Blank confronts his past and reconsiders his future while navigating his dangerous career. Minnie Driver and Dan Aykroyd co-star in this critically acclaimed movie.
Joan Cusack has made a number of appearances alongside her real-life brother. John Cusack, withGrosse Pointe Blankbeing the best movie the siblings made together. John stars inGrosse Pointe Blankas Martin Q. Blank, a professional assassin who is effective at his job but lost in his personal life. While dealing with a rival hitman (Dan Aykroyd), Martin decides to return to his hometown and attend his high school reunion while reconnecting with his old flame, Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver).
Joan has a small but memorable role as Marcella, Martin’s loyal assistant who is the one to convince him to attend the reunion. Cusack’s performance highlights the mundane approach to the world of professional killing, which gives the comedy its dark humor. It is a hugely entertaining and clever blending of genres with some big laughs as well as some surprisingly solid action moments. It has become a cult favorite thanks to its unique tone and ’90s soundtrack.
As Blair Litton
Joan Cusack’s talents allowed her to work alongside some big-name talents early in her career, such as inBroadcast News. The comedy takes a look behind the scenes of a news organization with a love triangle developing between a dedicated producer (Holly Hunter) and the two opposing journalists (Albert Brooks and William Hurt) who are vying for the position of anchor. In choosing between the two men, Hunter’s Jane Craig ponders if she is choosing between two methods of journalism.
Cusack has a standout supporting role as Blair Litton, one of the workers at the news network who gets to shine in one of the movie’s best momentsas she has to rush a tape through the building in time for air. It is a smart and entertaining look at the news world as well as a fresh rom-com story. The movie is not looking to make characters villains or deliver a predictable ending to fans, but rather tell a fun story with layered characters.
Arlington Road
Arlington Road is a thriller released in 1999, featuring Jeff Bridges as Michael Faraday, a college professor haunted by his wife’s death. His suspicions intensify when he becomes suspicious of his new neighbors, leading to a tense exploration of trust and deception in suburban America.
It is likely that most audiences know Joan Cusack best for her comedic roles, which makes it all the more impressive that she pulled off such an effective villainous role inArlington Road. Jeff Bridges stars in the thriller as a professor who begins to become suspicious of his new neighbors, played by Tim Robbins and Joan Cusack. Becoming convinced they are domestic terrorists but not having enough evidence to back up these claims, he becomes obsessed with foiling whatever attack they have planned.
Among the cast of talented actors,Cusack gives the most memorable performance as Cheryl Lang, the mother and wife who may also be a nefarious villain. Cusack avoids making Cheryl a clichéd menacing character, instead putting on a friendly domestic persona that is all the more chilling as the truth is gradually revealed.Arlington Road’s twist ending is more famousthan the movie itself but helps it stand out in the genre.
Addams Family Values
Addams Family Values is a 1993 comedy film directed by Barry Sonnenfeld, following the eccentric Addams family as they welcome a new baby and face the threat of their conniving new nanny, Debbie Jellinsky.
The firstAddams Familymoviebrought the creepy and kooky family onto the big screen in a memorable way. However, it was the sequel that really capitalized on these characters and the fun of the franchise.Addams Family Valuescenters on the clan dealing with a new member of the family. However, the real trouble starts when Uncle Fester (Christopher Lloyd) finds his first girlfriend, Debbie Jellinsky (Joan Cusack), who is actually a murderess looking to take the family fortune.
Cusack was nominated for several comedy awards for her hilarious villainous performance, having a lot of fun with the merciless and sinister character.Addams Family Valuesis much funnier than the first movie because it is more willing to lean into the dark humor of these characters. It is perhaps best remembered for the wonderful subplot with Wednesday Addams (Christina Ricci) attending a preppy summer camp.
Shameless
Shameless is a Black Comedy, Family Drama created by Paul Abbott and starring William H. Macy, Emmy Rossum, and Justin Chatwin. The premise follows the Gallagher family and their closest friends as they deal with a not-so-helpful father, Frank Gallagher. His children each find their own path, growing into their own flawed people without much guidance or help from the family patriarch.
While Joan Cusack has not had as many television roles as she’s had in movies,Shamelessgave her one of her best-known characters as well as one of her most acclaimed performances.Based on the British series of the same name,Shamelesstakes a look at a large, dysfunctional, and destructive lower-class Chicago family, the Gallaghers. Led by their amoral and unfit patriarch, Frank (William H. Macy), the Gallaghers have to overcome their many respective flaws to come together as a functioning family.
Cusack earned an Emmy for her recurring role in the series as Sheila Jackson, an agoraphobic woman who forms an on-again, off-again romance with Frank. The veteran actress brings humor and depth to the role, giving this supporting character one of the best arcs in the series.Shamelesswas a fan-favorite series from beginning to end thanks largely to its willingness to never pull punches with these troubled yet fascinating characters.
In & Out
In & Out follows a midwestern teacher whose life is turned upside down when a former student publicly comments on his sexuality during the Academy Awards. Released in 1997, the film explores the ensuing personal and professional upheaval in the teacher’s life as he navigates this unexpected revelation.
While aspects ofIn & Outare certainly outdated, Joan Cusack’s hilarious performance is timeless. The clever satire stars Kevin Kline as Howard Brackett, a high school teacher engaged to Emily Montgomery (Cusack). However, when a former student (Matt Dillon) becomes a movie star and wins an Oscar for his performance as a gay character, he thanks Howard in his acceptance speech and refers to him as a gay man. In the aftermath, Howard and his community begin to question his sexuality.
In & Outleans into gay stereotypes, but never in a mean-spirited way. In fact, it was one of the first mainstream comedies to feature gay characters in the lead roles and is a celebration of open-mindedness. It is also hilarious, withCusack’s Oscar-nominated performance stealing the show as a woman whose life is thrown into chaoswith the idea that her fiancé might be gay.
School of Rock
Directed by Richard Linklater, School of Rock stars Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a struggling musician who poses as a substitute teacher in order to get a job at a local prep school. With no teaching experience. Dewey subsequently begins to organize his students into a rock band in order to enter a music competition. Besides Black, Joan Cusack, Sarah Silverman, and Miranda Cosgrove also star.
Joan Cusack is known for playing the wilder and more eccentric characters in projects, but she proved she can be just as funny playing a more uptight character inSchool of Rock.Directed by Richard Linklater,School of Rockis a hilarious comedystarring Jack Black as Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who lies his way into a substitute teaching job at a private school. Upon discovering the classical music talents of his students, he decides to use them to form a band.
While Black dominates the movie with his comedic tour-de-force performance,Cusack has a standout role as Rosalie Mullins, the principal of the stuffy and strict school. She and Black share wonderful chemistry as these two very different people. It is especially fun seeing Mullins' own wild side hinted at, which she tries to keep hidden.School of Rockis a charming and funny ride as well as a very rewatchable comedy.
Toy Story 2
Toy Story 2, released in 1999, is the sequel to the beloved original, where Woody is kidnapped by toy collector Al McWhiggen, prompting a rescue mission by Andy’s toys. As the toys embark on this adventure, Buzz Lightyear encounters a formidable counterpart, and Woody faces decisions about his true place in the world.
As much as animated movies can be met with a lot of acclaim, their voice performances are still not given the recognition they deserve as true acting accomplishments. However,Joan Cusack’s performances as Jessie intheToy Storymoviesshow just how well-rounded this kind of acting can be. Cusack joined the franchise inToy Story 2, which finds Woody being taken by a scheming toy collector while Buzz and the others seek to rescue him. However, Woody discovers that he is an icon and part of the belovedWoody’s RoundupTV show.
Jessie is a cowgirl who is part ofWoody’s Roundupwith a wild energy and bold attitude. Cusack is hilarious in the role, but she also gets some of the most heartbreaking moments in the movie, including her backstory of being forgotten by her former kid. The sequel is a funny, thrilling, and emotional ride, and helped make Jessie a key member of the cast moving forward.
Working Girl
An ambitious secretary seizes an opportunity to advance her career when her boss goes on vacation. Using her boss’s identity, she navigates the corporate world, only to face complications when she begins a romance with a client and must contend with a scheming colleague.
Joan Cusack earned her first Oscar nomination and secured her breakout role for her hilarious turn inWorking Girl. Melanie Griffith leads the Mike Nichols comedy as Tess McGill, a secretary working for Katharine Parker (Sigourney Weaver) a powerful and ambitious professional woman in New York City. However, when her boss uses Tess' own ideas without giving her credit, the secretary gets even by posing in her boss' position when she is out of town. Tess not only has the opportunity to show herself as a professional but also forms a connection with hotshot businessman Jack Trainer (Harrison Ford).
Though Cusack has played the best friend role many times in her career, it has never been better than her performance as Cynthia, the supportive and hilarious friend who helps Tess on her mission. The fact that Cusack is able to stand out in such a star-studded cast, which also includes Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey, is truly impressive.
