Dick Cusack

Richard John Cusack ( ; August 29, 1925 – June 2, 2003) was an American actor, documentary filmmaker and playwright.

Early life Cusack was born Richard John Cusack on August 29, 1925, in New York City, the son of Margaret Cusack (née McFeeley) and Dennis Joseph Cusack. His family was of Irish Catholic background. He served with the U.S. Army in the Philippines in World War II. After the war, he graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, where he played basketball with Bob Cousy and roomed with Philip F. Berrigan, the peace activist.

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. 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.

Personal life Cusack married his wife, Ann Paula "Nancy" (née Carolan; 1929–2022) in 1960. Together they had five children: Ann Cusack, Joan Cusack, Bill Cusack, John Cusack and Susie Cusack, all of whom followed him into the acting profession. Circa 1963–1966, the Cusack family moved from New York City to Evanston, Illinois, where the five children grew up.

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

Filmography Film Year Title RoleNotes 1980 My BodyguardPrincipal 1983 Class Chaplain Baker 1984 The Lost Honor of Kathryn Beck Unknown Television film 1988 Eight Men Out Judge Friend 1988 Things Change Judge 1989 The Package Secretary of State 1990 Crazy People Mort 1992 Overexposed Judge Television film 1993 The Fugitive Attorney Walter Gutherie 1995 While You Were Sleeping Doctor Rubin 1996 Evil Has a Face Lester Television film 1996 Chain Reaction Senate Chairman 1999 The Jack Bull Jury Foreman Television film, writer 2000 High Fidelity Minister 2000 Return to Me Mr. Bennington Final film role

Television Year Title RoleNotes 1994 Missing Persons Champion Episode: "If You Could Pick Your Own Parents..." 1987 Sable Mahoney Episode: "Watchdogs" 1997 Early Edition Elderly Man Episode: "The Wall: Part 2"

Awards Year Award Result Notes 2000 Commitment to Chicago Award Shared with his wife and children