John Cusack facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John Cusack
Cusack in 2014
Born	John Paul Cusack (1966-06-28) June 28, 1966 (age 59) Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actor producer screenwriter
Years active	1983–present
Political party	Democratic
Parent(s)	Dick Cusack (father)
Relatives	Ann Cusack (sister) Joan Cusack (sister) Jim Piddock (brother-in-law)

John Paul Cusack (born June 28, 1966) is an American actor. He has been in over 80 movies during his career, which has lasted more than 40 years. He started acting in the 1980s.

He became known for movies about growing up, like Sixteen Candles (1984) and Say Anything... (1989). Later, he acted in many different types of films. These included thrillers like The Grifters (1990) and comedies like Grosse Pointe Blank (1997). He also starred in the scary movie 1408 (2007).

John Cusack has been nominated for several awards. He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role in High Fidelity (2000). He also won a Canadian Screen Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2014 for his work in Maps to the Stars.

Early Life

John Cusack was born in Evanston, Illinois. His family is Irish Catholic. His father, Richard J. "Dick" Cusack, was a writer, actor, and producer. His mother, Ann Paula "Nancy" Cusack, was a math teacher and activist.

John has two older sisters, Ann and Joan, who are also actors. He also has two other siblings, Bill and Susie. John graduated from Evanston Township High School in 1984. He went to New York University for a year but left to focus on acting.

Career Highlights

Starting Out in the 1980s

John Cusack began acting in movies in the early 1980s. He had small parts in films like Class (1983) and Sixteen Candles (1984). His big break came in the teen comedy The Sure Thing (1985).

He also starred in Better Off Dead (1985). Even though he was unsure about it at first, the movie did well at the box office. He also worked on One Crazy Summer (1986). Cusack had a brief role in Stand by Me (1986). In 1988, he appeared in Eight Men Out, a film about a baseball scandal.

In the late 1980s, Cusack starred in Say Anything... (1989). In this movie, he became famous for a scene where his character, Lloyd Dobler, holds a boombox over his head. This scene became very well-known in pop culture.

Movies in the 1990s

In the 1990s, John Cusack played a con artist in The Grifters (1990). He also appeared in independent films like True Colors (1991).

He helped write and starred in the crime film Grosse Pointe Blank (1997). In this movie, he played an assassin who goes to his high school reunion. In the same year, he was in the action film Con Air (1997) and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil (1997). He also voiced the character Dimitri in the animated movie Anastasia (1997).

Cusack in Grosse Pointe Blank (1997)

In the movie Being John Malkovich (1999), Cusack played a puppeteer. His character finds a secret way into the mind of actor John Malkovich. This film was nominated for three Academy Awards.

Films in the 2000s

John Cusack was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for his role in High Fidelity (2000). He played Rob, a record store owner. In the early 2000s, he also appeared in romantic comedies. These included America's Sweethearts (2001), Serendipity (2001), and Must Love Dogs (2005).

Cusack starred in several thrillers. Some of these were Identity (2003), Runaway Jury (2003), and 1408 (2007). 1408 is based on a story by Stephen King and is now seen as a good horror film. He also appeared in action comedies like The Ice Harvest (2005). In Grace Is Gone (2007), he played a father dealing with loss.

In the disaster film 2012 (2009), Cusack played Jackson Curtis. His character tries to save his family during a global disaster.

Roles in the 2010s

In the 2010s, John Cusack starred in and produced the comedy Hot Tub Time Machine (2010). He did not appear in the sequel.

In 2012, Cusack played the famous writer Edgar Allan Poe in the movie The Raven. He studied Poe's letters to prepare for the role. He also played Richard Nixon in The Butler (2013).

Cusack as Edgar Allan Poe in The Raven (2012)

In 2014, Cusack appeared in Love & Mercy. He played Brian Wilson from The Beach Boys and worked with Wilson on the film. He also won an award for his role in Maps to the Stars (2014). During this time, he also appeared in many films released directly to video.

Recent Work: 2020s–Present

In 2020, John Cusack starred in his first TV series, Utopia. He has mentioned that it has become harder to get movies financed as he gets older.

In 2025, Cusack took on a role in the Chinese film Detective Chinatown 1900. He played Congressman Grant in this movie, which explores anti-Chinese feelings in early 20th-century San Francisco. The film was released on January 29, 2025. He is also set to appear in Fog of War.

Political Views

John Cusack is known for his political views. He is against war and has said that being anti-war means being pro-troops and pro-human. He supported Wesley Clark in the 2004 presidential election.

Between 2005 and 2009, Cusack wrote blogs for The Huffington Post. He spoke out against the Iraq War and the government at the time. He also appeared in an advertisement in 2008, sharing his views on political priorities.

Cusack at a Pre-Inaugural Party in January 2009

Cusack has also criticized government policies on drones and privacy. He became a supporter of the Freedom of the Press Foundation in 2012. He has supported Senator Bernie Sanders in his presidential campaigns. He is also a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.

In May 2020, Cusack was recording a protest in Chicago when he was attacked by police. He has said that speaking out helps him sleep better at night. He believes it is important to express anger at injustice.

Cusack has also been a critic of former President Donald Trump. In March 2025, he joined a protest call targeting Tesla, Inc. and its CEO, Elon Musk.

John Cusack has also been critical of military actions against Palestinians. He signed an open letter in 2017 supporting singer Lorde's decision to cancel performances in Israel. Following events in Gaza in 2023, he signed another open letter urging for a ceasefire. He has continued to speak in defense of Palestinians.

Personal Life

John Cusack has trained in kickboxing for over 20 years. He trained under former world champion Benny Urquidez. He started training for his role in Say Anything... and holds a high rank in Urquidez's kickboxing system.

In 2008, a person was arrested for stalking John Cusack outside his home. The person later received probation and was ordered to stay away from him.

Filmography

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations