John Cusack has evolved into one of the most accomplished and respected actors of his generation, garnering prestigious accolades for his dramatic and comedic roles. Cusack will next be seen in Mikael Håfström’s Shanghai, a period piece in which he stars opposite Gong Li and Chow Yun-Fat. In this remake of the 1935 thriller of the same name, Cusack plays an American man who explores a corrupt, Japanese-occupied Shanghai four months before Pearl Harbor in order to solve the murder of his friend.
Cusack recently starred in Hot Tub Time Machine, a comedy co-starring Rob Corddry, Craig Robinson and Clark Duke about friends who return to the ski lodge where they partied as youths and are transported back in time to 1987. Cusack produced the film through his New Crime Productions banner, which has produced several of his recent cinematic outings.
He also starred in Roland Emmerich’s apocalyptic epic 2012. This international blockbuster, which grossed more than $766 million worldwide, co-starred Chiwetel Ejiofor, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Danny Glover, Amanda Peet and Oliver Platt.
In 2008, Cusack voiced the title character in the animated family film Igor. He also starred in, wrote and produced the political satire War, Inc. with co-stars Marissa Tomei, Hilary Duff and Joan Cusack. The previous year, he starred in James C. Strouse’s Grace is Gone, which premiered at the 2007 Sundance Film Festival and was recognized with the Audience Award. Cusack also starred in Menno Meyjes’ romantic comedy Martian Child, opposite Amanda Peet, Oliver Platt and Joan Cusack.
Previously, Cusack was seen in Mikael Håfström’s horror hit 1408, with Samuel L. Jackson; Harold Ramis’ dark comedy The Ice Harvest, alongside Billy Bob Thornton; Gary Fleder’s Runaway Jury, opposite Hollywood legends Gene Hackman and Dustin Hoffman; James Mangold’s Identity, with Amanda Peet, Alfred Molina and Ray Liotta; Menno Meyjes’ controversial drama Max, opposite Noah Taylor; Tim Robbins’ Cradle Will Rock, an ensemble drama featuring Emily Watson, Susan Sarandon and John Turturro; and Mike Newell’s comedy Pushing Tin, with Billy Bob Thornton, Angelina Jolie and Cate Blanchett.
Cusack first gained the attention of audiences by starring in a number of 1980s film classics such as The Sure Thing, Say Anything, Sixteen Candles and Better Off Dead. The actor would shed his teen-heartthrob image by starring in a wide range of dramas, thrillers and comedies including The Grifters, Eight Men Out, Adaptation, Being John Malkovich, High Fidelity and Grosse Pointe Blank.
In 2001, Cusack was nominated for a Golden Globe Award® for Best Performance by an Actor in a Comedy or Musical for his role in High Fidelity, the feature-film adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel. In 1999, Cusack starred in the dark comedy Being John Malkovich, receiving an Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Actor.
Other film credits include Peter Chelsom’s Serendipity, Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line, Simon West’s Con Air, Clint Eastwood’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, Harold Becker’s City Hall, Woody Allen’s Bullets Over Broadway and Shadows and Fog, Joe Roth’s America’s Sweethearts, Alan Parker’s The Road to Wellville, Herbert Ross’ True Colors, James L. Brooks’ Broadcast News and Rob Reiner’s Stand By Me.
On the small screen, Cusack starred in HBO’s telefilm The Jack Bull, a traditional Western written by his father Dick Cusack. He also served as executive producer on the film.
Cusack currently divides his time between Los Angeles and Chicago.
This biography/filmography of John Cusack is courtesy of Relativity Media and The Raven
