Joan Cusak:
Is an American actress
Birth Name: Joan Mary Cusak

Born: October 11, 1962 (age 53), New York City, New York, United States 

She began making films in her teens and soon became known for her hilarious supporting characters in such films as My Bodyguard (1980) and Sixteen Candles (1984). She made her film breakthrough as an adult in Working Girl (1988). In the early 1990s, she left Hollywood to spend more time with family. Her 1997 comeback, the film In & Out, was to rave reviews, with Cusack later winning an Emmy for her guest role in the TV series Shameless. 

Early Life:

Cusack grew up in a family of thespians: All four of her siblings have pursued acting careers, most notably her youngest brother, John. She grew up in the Chicago suburbs and attended the Piven Theater Workshop. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Madison with a degree in English in 1985.

Early Films:

supporting characters in such films as My Bodyguard (1980) and Sixteen Candles (1984). The young actress gradually received more grown-up roles, finding her breakthrough role in Working Girl , Secretaria ejecutiva (1988), earning a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination playing Melanie Griffith's street-smart best friend. She also received strong reviews the following year for the drama Men Don't Leave with Jessica Lange.

Took some small film roles, but her big break came after graduation, when she joined the cast of the legendary "Saturday Night Live". In 1987, she produced a memorable turn in the acclaimed Detrás de las noticias, Broadcast News (1987). She has appeared in other films such as the romantic comedy-drama Broadcast News (1987), the comedies Stars and Bars and Married to the Mob (both 1988), the romantic comedy-drama Say Anything... (1989),

The fIlm of 1990's :

In 1997, it was to rave reviews as a bride who gets left at the altar when her fiancé (Kevin Kline) realizes he's gay in In & Out. Cusack earned her second Best Supporting Actress nomination for her performance. That same year, she gave a brief but memorable performance in her brother John's vehicle, Grosse Point Blank. She finished the decade turning in a number of strong supporting performances in such films as Arlington Road, Runaway Bride and Cradle Will Rock, as well as providing the voice for Jessie the Cowgirl in Toy Story 2 (all in 1999), and Toy Story 3 (2010).

Other notable films include Los locos Addams II (1993), Tiro al blanco (1997) and ¿Es o no es? (1997), which earned her a second Oscar nomination.  the dark comedy Addams Family Values (1993), romantic comedy Nine Months (1995), the mystery thriller film Arlington Road (1999), the romantic comedy Runaway Bride (1999).  She is also the narrator of the children's television series Peep and the Big Wide World (2004–2011). Usually appearing as a supporting actress, Cusack appeared in a long string of movies, including High Fidelity (2000), School of Rock (2003) and Raising Helen (2004). She also expanded her voice work in such animated films as Chicken Little (2005), Toy Story 3 (2010) and Hoodwinked Too: Hood vs. Evil (2011).

Shameless:
 
Playing Sheila Jackson on the drama-comedy Shameless, which enters its sixth season in 2016. For her work in Shameless, Cusack has received Emmy nominations for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series five years running, winning in 2015P. In 2010, Cusack joined the Showtime drama/comedy Shameless as Sheila Jackson, the mother of Karen Jackson (Laura Slade Wiggins). The first season premiered on January 9, 2011, and had its first finale March 27, 2011. Cusack replaced actress Allison Janney, who originally portrayed the role in the first edit of the pilot episode but was forced to drop out of the part owing to her series regular commitment on the ABC comedy Mr. Sunshine. Janney took the role with the understanding the character would be less prominent on the show, but when producers decided to increase the character's screen presence, she was forced to pull out of the part. Cusack has received critical acclaim for her performance, receiving Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series nominations in 2011, 2012, and 2013 as well as a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series in 2014 and 2015, winning in the later year.

Personal Life:

She is the sister of actor John Cusack. They have appeared together in 10 productions: Class (1983), Sixteen Candles (1984), Grandview, U.S.A. (1984), Broadcast News (1987), Say Anything... (1989), Grosse Pointe Blank (1997), Cradle Will Rock (1999), High Fidelity (2000), Martian Child (2007) and War, Inc. (2008).
She is married to attorney Richard Burke, President and CEO of VISANOW Global Immigration, since 1993. They have two sons: Dylan John (b. 1997) and Miles (b. 2000). Cusack owns a home in Three Oaks Township, Michigan, and lives in Chicago, Illinois.