As the children of respected actor and filmmaker Dick Cusack, it seemed fitting that the Cusack siblings would pursue careers in the industry.
Yet while Ann, Joan, Bill, John and Susie all landed roles in the 1980s and 1990s, in recent years their levels of success have varied.
This month saw Joan return to the limelight to promote her new film Toy Story 5 – with the actress making her first red carpet appearances for over a decade.
The two-time Oscar nominee reprises her voice role as cowgirl Jessie in the movie, marking a rare return to Hollywood after ditching the glitz and glamour of Los Angeles to live life as a ‘normal person’ in Chicago.
Yet while Joan has been dipping her toe back into showbusiness, her siblings have not followed her path, despite all starting out together.
The quintet first developed their love of performing through starring in theatre productions in their hometown of Chicago, before going on to work together on numerous projects.
Meet the Cusacks: The Daily Mail reveals what became of the family acting dynasty as Joan makes her Hollywood return (L-R Dick, Susie, Joan, Bill, Anne, Nancy and John in 1999)
This month saw Joan return to the limelight to promote her new film Toy Story 5 – with the actress making her first red carpet appearances for over a decade (pictured June 9)
Joan previously told The Guardian: ‘I was very shy but my sister Ann was involved in the theatre and I tagged along – that’s how I got interested in drama.’
It also proved to be the springboard of her career as it helped her and John be in ‘the right place at the right time’ to meet director John Hughes, who made movies like Sixteen Candles, in which they both had roles.
The family ended up starring together in a number of films, with Joan’s debut role in 1980’s My Bodyguard seeing her work along her dad. Three years later John made his debut in Class, which Joan also starred in.
Anne’s break came in 1992 when she starred in A League of Their Own, while that same year Susie also made her debut, starring in Hero with her sister Joan.
Bill’s debut came in 1997, when he joined John, Joan and Ann in Grosse Pointe Blank. That same year he also appeared in Con Air with John.
John previously spoke about his many collaborations with his family, saying: ‘I can’t believe they still let us to do it.’
On Joan, with whom he’s starred in 10 movies, he added: ‘I always love working with her!’
Such was the family’s work together that in 2000 the Cusack clan were all honoured with the Chicago Film Critics Association Commitment to Chicago Award for their contribution to the Chicago film and theater community.
John is pictured with Lisa and Dustin Hoffman and sister Susie at the Hero premiere in 1992
Joan and John went on to star in 10 movies together – Class, Sixteen Candles, Grandview, U.S.A., Broadcast News, Grosse Pointe Blank, Cradle Will Rock, High Fidelity, Martian Child and War, Inc. (pictured in 1992)
Ann continues to act, recently landing parts in Better Call Saul and The Boys, but spends most of her time singing with Ann Cusack & the Generation Jones Band
Yet while all the siblings had landed Hollywood films, it was John and Joan who went on to become household names.
Susie withdrew entirely from the public eye, while Bill also stopped performing to write promotions for a cable network.
Ann continues to act, recently landing parts in Better Call Saul and The Boys, but spends most of her time singing with Ann Cusack & the Generation Jones Band.
Joan went on to achieve two Oscar nominations, for 1989’s Working Girl and 1998’s In & Out.
She also appeared in the likes of Addams Family Values and School of Rock as well as the TV comedy Shameless, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award.
Yet in the 2010s, Joan began to retreat from the public eye, relocating to Chicago with her husband Richard Burke, who she married in 1996, and their sons Dylan John, 28, and Miles, 25.
While she didn’t give up acting completely, she became far more selective with her roles and opened a gift shop Judy Maxwell Home, named after Barbra Streisand’s character in What’s Up Doc?, her favorite movie.
This month, she returned to the red carpet for the first time in over a decade for Toy Story 5, and speaking at the premiere, she explained: ‘I feel so honored to have worked in this industry for a long time.
‘But it’s also great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person. It’s kind of priceless, so there’s that.’
In the 2010s, Joan began to retreat from the public eye, relocating to Chicago with her husband Richard Burke and their sons Dylan John, 28, and Miles, 25 (pictured in 2013)
While Joan made an active decision to step back from the industry, her younger brother John also faded from the spotlight despite previously being one of the most in-demand men in Hollywood.
Known for his work on several coming-of-age dramas in the 80s such as Sixteen Candles and Stand by Me, he failed to replicate his success later in life.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2020, he explained that it wasn’t a case of not wanting to make movies, but more that Hollywood was giving him the cold shoulder.
He mused: ‘In the last few years, I haven’t been able to get projects financed. That could be a function of getting older. Or it could be a function of being cold….
‘I haven’t really been hot for a long time.’
These days, John is known more for his outspoken political views, notably rallying against President Trump and defending Palestine.
His last American film role came in 2022 with the action movie, Pursuit, and he has since starred in two Chinese films.
John is also on Cameo, selling personalised video messages to fans for $150.
