Photo: Steve Grantz / WireImage.com

Born in Evanston, IL; daughter of actor Dick Cusack (1925-2003), sister of actor John Cusack (b. 1966); educated at the Piven Theater Workshop (Evanston) and the University of Wisconsin (Madison). Ex-"Saturday Night Live" performer (1985-86), in films since the age of 16. Cusack excels at offbeat comedic roles and was outstanding as the harried production assistant in BROADCAST NEWS (1987) and as Melanie Griffith's secretarial sidekick in WORKING GIRL (1988). Other notable credits include MARRIED TO THE MOB (1988), SAY ANYTHING... (1989), MEN DON'T LEAVE and MY BLUE HEAVEN (both 1990), HERO and TOYS (both 1992), ADDAMS FAMILY VALUES (1993), CORRINA, CORRINA (1994), NINE MONTHS and TWO MUCH (both 1995), MR. WRONG (1996), GROSS POINTE BLANK and IN & OUT (both 1997), CRADLE WILL ROCK, TOY STORY II (voice) and RUNAWAY BRIDE (all 1999), HIGH FIDELITY and WHERE THE HEART IS (both 2000), THE SCHOOL OF ROCK and LOONEY TUNES: BACK IN ACTION (both 2003), RAISING HELEN and THE LAST SHOT (both 2004), ICE PRINCESS and CHICKEN LITTLE (voice) (both 2005), FRIENDS WITH MONEY (2006), MARTIAN CHILD and WAR, INC. (both 2007), and KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL (scheduled for 2008). Cusack starred in her own short-lived TV series "What About Joan" in 2001.    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1988: WORKING GIRL    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role 1997: IN & OUT 2 nominations