Joan Cusack Is Way More Than John's Sister: Facts You Might Not Have Known About the Character Actress

Joan Cusack is one of those actresses who makes everything she shows up in funnier. Frequently cast in supporting roles, and sometimes known as a character actress, she's brought charisma and sass to films like Broadcast News, Working Girl, Addams Family Values and School of Rock, to name just a few.

Cusack's long resume has sometimes been overshadowed by the success of her younger brother, John, but she's a star in her own right, and has racked up an eclectic list of credits including rom-coms, animated movies, Emmy-winning TV shows and more.

Here are some interesting facts you may not have know about Joan Cusack's quirky career.

Joan Cusack started out as a Saturday Night Live cast member

Before she was famous, Cusack was part of the Saturday Night Live cast. She was only on the show for one season, from 1985 to 1986, and the season isn't well-remembered, as it marked a notorious transitional period for the sketch comedy show. During her time on SNL, Cusack did impersonations of Brooke Shields, Jane Fonda and Queen Elizabeth.

Joan and John Cusack have been in 10 movies together

There's no sibling rivalry between Joan and John Cusack. In fact, the two stars have been working together since the earliest days of their careers, and have been in 10 movies together: 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).

In an interview, John praised Joan's abilities, saying that she's usually the funniest part of any movie they're in together.

Joan Cusack has two Oscar nominations

When it comes to Oscar nominations, funny performers are often snubbed, but Cusack has been nominated for not one but two Academy Awards. She earned the Best Supporting Actress nomination for Working Girl (1988) and In & Out (1997).

She was also nominated for an Emmy for her performance in the show Shameless four times in a row, before finally winning it in 2015.

She voiced a beloved cartoon character

With her distinctive voice, Cusack has done lots of voiceover work, and she most notably voiced Jessie the cowgirl doll in Toy Story 2, 3 and 4.

She had a short-lived sitcom

In 2001, Cusack starred in her own sitcom, What About Joan?, playing a teacher in Chicago. Don't remember the show? Most people don't — it was canceled early in its second season, with 10 episodes going unaired and lasting less than a year in total.

She owns a store named after a Barbra Streisand character

Cusack has owned a charming home goods store, Judy Maxwell Home, since 2011. The Chicago shop is named after Barbra Streisand's character in the 1972 comedy What's Up, Doc?, which is the actress' favorite movie.

In a New Yorker article, she said the shop offered a welcome respite from the drama of the entertainment industry. As she described it, "Being a celebrity actress isn’t that fun, over and over. It’s just not that great of a world, except for being exposed to cool sets and talented, interesting people. But this is so fun.”

Joan Cusack is content in supporting roles

Cusack is primarily known for her excellent work in supporting roles, and while many actors don't like playing the "best friend of the main character" part, she's always embraced it, saying, "I've played the 'best friend,' which I'm honored to play. I feel it carries great responsibility to . . . say things best friends would say when I get the chance."

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