Joan Cusack
Known for: Acting
Joanna "Joan" Mary Cusack is an American actress. An acclaimed character actress known for her distinctive voice and offbeat comedic timing, her portrayals of neurotic, endearing characters have earned her numerous accolades, including nominations for two Academy Awards and five Primetime Emmy Awards, winning once in 2015. Cusack received nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her roles in the comedy-drama Working Girl (1988) and the romantic comedy In & Out (1997). Her other starring roles include those in Toys (1992), Addams Family Values (1993), Nine Months (1995), Cradle Will Rock (1999), Where the Heart Is (2000), Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), School of Rock (2003), and Kit Kittredge: An American Girl (2008). She has also provided the voice of Jessie in the Toy Story franchise (1999–present), for which she won an Annie Award, and Abby Mallard in Chicken Little (2005). Cusack was a cast member on the comedy sketch show Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1986. She starred on the Showtime hit drama comedy series Shameless (2011–2015) as Sheila Jackson, a role for which she received five consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning for the first time in 2015. She is the sister of actress Ann Cusack and actor John Cusack.
Filmography
Film
Toy Story 5
Jessie (voice)
2026
Series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Pam Burton
1999
Series
Shameless
Sheila Jackson
2011
Series
American Dad!
Widow Support Group Leader (voice)
2005
Series
The Office
Erin's Biological Mother
2005
Series
Saturday Night Live
Self - Various Characters
1975
Series
Phineas and Ferb
Glenda
2007
Series
The View
Self
1997
Series
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self - Guest
2003
Film
Toy Story 2
Jessie (voice)
1999
Film
Toy Story 3
Jessie (voice)
2010
Series
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
Self - Guest
1992
Series
Great Performances
Anne
1971
Series
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest
1993
Film
Toy Story 4
Jessie (voice)
2019
Series
Max & Ruby
2002
Series
A Series of Unfortunate Events
Justice Strauss
2017
Series
The Oscars
Self
1953
Series
The Oscars
Jessie (voice)
1953
Series
Late Night with David Letterman
Self - Guest
1982
Series
Peep and the Big Wide World
Narrator (voice)
2004
Film
The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Dr. Burton
2012
Film
Chicken Little
Abby Mallard (voice)
2005
Series
Performance
Annie
1991
Film
The School of Rock
Rosalie Mullins
2003
Film
Instant Family
Mrs. Howard
2018
Film
Addams Family Values
Debbie Jellinsky
1993
Series
Homecoming
Francine Bunda
2018
Film
Klaus
Mrs. Krum (voice)
2019
Film
Runaway Bride
Peggy Flemming
1999
Film
Arthur Christmas
Lead Elf (voice)
2011
Film
Sixteen Candles
Geek Girl #1
1984
Film
Confessions of a Shopaholic
Jane Bloomwood
2009
Film
Say Anything...
Constance Dobler
1989
Film
Arlington Road
Cheryl Lang
1999
Film
Ice Princess
Joan Carlyle
2005
Film
High Fidelity
Liz
2000
Film
Small Fry
Jessie (voice)
2011
Film
Working Girl
Cyn
1988
Film
Mars Needs Moms
Mom (voice)
2011
Film
Looney Tunes: Back in Action
Mother
2003
Film
Toy Story That Time Forgot
Jessie (voice)
2014
Film
My Sister's Keeper
Judge De Salvo
2009
Series
The Stinky & Dirty Show
Red (voice)
2016
Film
In & Out
Emily Montgomery
1997
Film
Where the Heart Is
Ruth Meyers
2000
Film
Raising Helen
Jenny Portman
2004
Film
Hoodwinked Too! Hood VS. Evil
Verushka the Witch (voice)
2011
Film
Hawaiian Vacation
Jessie (voice)
2011
Film
Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
Tilly
2016
Series
What About Joan?
Joan Gallagher
2001
Film
Snatched
Barb
2017
Film
Hero
Evelyn Laplante
1992
Film
Grosse Pointe Blank
Marcella
1997
Film
Nine Months
Gail Dwyer
1995
Film
Friends with Money
Franny
2006
Film
Toys
Alsatia Zevo
1992
Film
Partysaurus Rex
Jessie (voice)
2012
Film
Married to the Mob
Rose
1988
Film
Let It Snow
Tin Foil Woman
2019
Film
Cradle Will Rock
Hazel Huffman
1999
Film
My Bodyguard
Shelley
1980
Film
Freaks of Nature
Peg Parker
2015
Film
Class
Julia
1983
Film
War, Inc.
Marsha Dillon
2008
Film
The Pixar Story
Jessie (voice) (archive footage)
2007
Film
My Blue Heaven
Hannah Stubbs
1990
Film
Two Much
Gloria
1995
Film
Broadcast News
Blair Litton
1987
Film
The End of the Tour
Patty
2015
Film
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
Rachel Bitterman
2002
Film
Corrina, Corrina
Jonesy
1994
Film
Men Don't Leave
Jody
1990
Film
Unicorn Store
Gladys
2017
Film
Martian Child
Liz
2007
Film
Kit Kittredge: An American Girl
Miss Lucinda Bond
2008
Film
The Christmas Train
Agnes
2017
Film
The Last Shot
Fanny Nash (uncredited)
2004
Film
Welcome to Me
Dawn Hurley
2015
Film
Mr. Wrong
Inga Gunther
1996
Film
Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary
Self
1989
Film
Grandview, U.S.A.
Mary Maine
1984
Film
Stars & Bars
Irene Stein
1988
Film
Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny
Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
2016
Film
The Allnighter
Gina
1987
Film
Toy Story: 30 Years and Beyond - A Special Edition of 20/20
Self
2026
Film
Saturday Night Live in the '80s: Lost and Found
Self
2005
Film
Toy Story 6
Jessie (voice)
Film
The Face is Familiar
2009
Film
The Cabinet of Dr. Ramirez
Cathy
1991
Film
A Smile Like Yours
Nancy Tellen
1997
Film
Acceptance
Nina
2009
Film
The Mother
Annie
1994
Hidden Vulnerability: A Look Into the Making of 'Arlington Road'
1999
Film
Cutting Loose
1980
Film
Toy Story of Terror!
Jessie (Voice)
2013