Dick Cusack Explained

Dick Cusack
Birth Name:Richard John Cusack
Birth Date:29 August 1925
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Death Place:Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
Education:College of the Holy Cross (BA)
Occupation:Actor, filmmaker, documentary maker
Years Active:1970–2003
Children:5, including Ann, Joan and John

Richard John Cusack (August 29, 1925  - June 2, 2003[1]) was an American actor, filmmaker and documentary maker.

Personal life

Cusack was born in New York City, the son of Margaret Cusack (née McFeeley) and Dennis Joseph Cusack.[2] His family was of Irish Catholic background.[3] He served with the U.S. Army in the Philippines in World War II. After the war, he attended College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he played basketball with Bob Cousy and roomed with Philip F. Berrigan, the peace activist.[1] [4] [5]

Cusack and his wife, Ann Paula "Nancy" (née Carolan; 1929–2022),[2] [6] had five children: Ann Cusack, Joan Cusack, Bill Cusack, John Cusack and Susie Cusack, all of whom followed him into the acting profession.[5] Circa 1963–1966, the Cusack family moved from New York City to Evanston, Illinois, where the five children grew up.

Career

Until 1970, Cusack worked as a Clio Award-winning advertising executive.

He then pursued a career as a film actor, beginning with minor roles. Most of his acting roles were playing authority figures, such as a United States Senate chairman, minister/chaplain, and U.S. secretary of state. He played a judge in the TV movie Overexposed and in the theatrical releases Things Change and Eight Men Out.

Cusack was a documentary filmmaker.[7] His 1971 documentary, The Committee, won an Emmy Award. He also owned a film production company.

He was honored with an award from the Evanston Arts Council for preserving a school and converting it into the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, which houses the Piven Theatre Workshop where his famous acting children trained. Two weeks before his death, he completed the final draft of a play to memorialize his former college roommate entitled, Backoff Barkman, which was produced posthumously in the Midwest.

Death

Cusack died on June 2, 2003, in Evanston, Illinois, from pancreatic cancer, aged 77.[5]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980My BodyguardPrincipal
1983ClassChaplain Baker
1984The Lost Honor of Kathryn BeckUnknownTelevision film
1988Eight Men OutJudge Friend
1988Things ChangeJudge
1989The PackageSecretary of State
1990Crazy PeopleMort
1992OverexposedJudgeTelevision film
1993The FugitiveAttorney Walter Gutherie
1995While You Were SleepingDoctor Rubin
1996Evil Has a FaceLesterTelevision film
1996Chain ReactionSenate Chairman
1999The Jack BullJury ForemanTelevision film
2000High FidelityMinister
2000Return to MeMr. BenningtonFinal film role

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994Missing PersonsChampionEpisode: "If You Could Pick Your Own Parents..."
1987SableMahoneyEpisode: "Watchdogs"
1997Early EditionElderly ManEpisode: "The Wall: Part 2"

Notes and References

  1. News: Martin, Douglas . Dick Cusack, Playwright, 77, And an Actor . The New York Times . June 4, 2003.
  2. News: Miss Carolan, Newton Centre, Is Bride of Richard Cusack . . February 14, 1960 . 5 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120725091351/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1901144112.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Feb+14%2C+1960&author=&pub=Daily+Boston+Globe+(1928-1960)&desc=Miss+Carolan%2C+Newton+Centre%2C+Is+Bride+of+Richard+Cusack&pqatl=google . 25 July 2012 . ProQuest Archiver . dead .
  3. News: About a boy . 9 March 2012 . 5 April 2019 . Irish Times.
    - News: Quiet man Cusack boards the ark . . November 28, 2012 . 5 May 2019 . Evan . Fanning.
  4. News: Is Art Mightier Than War? . . Paul . O'Donnell . 5 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20030202183749/http://www.beliefnet.com/story/120/story_12015_1.html . 2 February 2003 . dead .
  5. News: Obituary: Richard Cusack, 77 - Ad man, playwright who led acting clan . Mark Caro . . 3 June 2003.
  6. News: Newton Girl Plans February Wedding . . December 6, 1959 . 5 May 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120725050658/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/boston/access/1901483702.html?FMT=CITE&FMTS=CITE:AI&type=historic&date=Dec+06%2C+1959&author=&pub=Daily+Boston+Globe+(1928-1960)&desc=Newton+Girl+Plans+February+Wedding&pqatl=google . 25 July 2012 . ProQuest Archiver . dead .
  7. News: Being John Cusack . . 1 July 2000 . 5 May 2019 . Guardian News & Media Limited.