Joan Cusack portrays Justice Strauss in the Netflix adaption of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Biography[]
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 - Dylan and Miles.[1]
Filmography[]
Film[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1980 | My Bodyguard | Shelley | |
1980 | Cutting Loose | ||
1983 | Class | Julia | |
1984 | Sixteen Candles | Geek Girl #1 | |
1984 | All Together Now | Linda Parker | |
1984 | Grandview, U.S.A. | Mary Maine | |
1987 | The Allnighter | Gina | |
1987 | Broadcast News | Blair Litton | |
1988 | Stars and Bars | Irene Stein | |
1988 | Married to the Mob | Rose | |
1988 | Working Girl | Cyn | |
1989 | Say Anything... | Constance Dobler | Uncredited |
1989 | Carly Simon: Let the River Run | Joan Cusack | |
1990 | Men Don't Leave | Jody | |
1990 | My Blue Heaven | Hannah Stubbs | |
1990 | Arrive Alive | Joy | |
1991 | The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez | Cathy | |
1992 | Hero | Evelyn | |
1992 | Toys | Alsatia Zevo | |
1993 | Addams Family Values | Debbie Jellinsky | |
1994 | Corrina, Corrina | Jonesy | |
1995 | Nine Months | Gail Dwyer | |
1995 | Two Much | Gloria | |
1996 | Mr. Wrong | Inga Gunther | |
1997 | Grosse Pointe Blank | Marcella | |
1997 | A Smile Like Yours | Nancy Tellen | |
1997 | In & Out | Emily Montgomery | |
1999 | Arlington Road | Cheryl Lang | |
1999 | Cradle Will Rock | Hazel Huffman | |
1999 | Runaway Bride | Peggy Flemming | |
1999 | Toy Story 2 | Jessie the Yodeling Cowgirl | Voice |
2000 | High Fidelity | Liz | |
2000 | Where the Heart Is | Ruth Meyers | |
2002 | It's a Very Muppet Christmas Movie | Rachel Bitterman | |
2003 | School of Rock | Rosalie Mullins | |
2003 | Looney Tunes: Back in Action | Mother | |
2004 | Raising Helen | Jenny Portman | |
2004 | The Last Shot | Fanny Nash | Uncredited |
2005 | Ice Princess | Joan Carlyle | |
2005 | Chicken Little | Abby Mallard | Voice |
2006 | Friends with Money | Franny | |
2007 | Marian Child | Liz | |
2008 | War, Inc. | Marsha Dillon | |
2008 | Kit Kittredge: An American Girl | Miss Bond | |
2009 | Confessions of a Shopaholic | Jane Bloomwood | |
2009 | Toys in the Attic | Madam Curie | English Version, Voice |
2009 | My Sister's Keeper | Judge De Salvo | |
2009 | Acceptance | Nina | |
2010 | Toy Story 3 | Jessie | Voice |
2011 | Mars Needs Moms | Mom | |
2011 | Hoodwinked Too! Hood vs Evil | Verushka the Witch | Voice |
2011 | Arthur Christmas | Lead Elf | |
2012 | The Perks of Being a Wallflower | Dr. Burton | |
2014 | Welcome to Me | Dawn Hurley | |
2015 | The End of the Tour | Patty | |
2015 | Freaks of Nature | Peg Parker | |
2016 | Popstar: Never Stop Stopping | Tilly | |
2017 | Snatched | Barb | |
2017 | Unicorn Store | Gladys | |
2017 | The Christmas Train | Agnes | |
2018 | Instant Family | Mrs. Howard | |
2019 | Toy Story 4 | Jessie | Voice |
2019 | Let It Snow | Tin Foil Woman | |
2019 | Klaus | Mrs. Krum | Voice |
Television[]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1985-1986 | Saturday Night Live | Various | |
1994 | Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle | Mrs. Bean | |
1994 | Great Performances | Annie | One Episode |
2000-2001 | What About Joan | Joan Gallagher | |
2004 | Peep and the Big Wide World | Narrator | |
2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Pamela Burton | One Episode |
2010 | Phineas and Ferb | Glenda Wilkins | One Episode |
2013 | The Office | Erin's Biological Mother | One Episode |
2011-2015 | Shameless | Sheila Jackson | |
2016 | American Dad! | Widow Support Group Leader | One Episode |
2017-2019 | A Series of Unfortunate Events | Justice Strauss | Four Episodes, Special Guest Star |
2016-2019 | The Stinky & Dirty Show | Red |