John Cusack Biography

John Cusack proved himself to be a reliable and unconventional leading man in films like The Grifters (1990), Being John Malkovich (1999, also starring Cameron Diaz) and High Fidelity (2000, with Jack Black). In the 1980s he was an earnest and gawky Lothario in teen films like The Sure Thing (1985), One Crazy Summer (1986) and Say Anything (1989). In the 1990s he grew into a smart and ironic star, able to play charming and good-hearted as well as callous. Offscreen he became known for his shrewd career choices and dedication to the theater. Like his pal Tim Robbins, Cusack does both quirky, independent films and mainstream Hollywood features. High Fidelity was a high point, with Cusack playing a Chicago music fanatic with girl (and maturity) trouble; Cusack starred, co-wrote and co-produced the film, based on the novel by Nick Hornby. Cusack’s other films include the black comedy Grosse Pointe Blank (1997, with Dan Aykroyd), Con Air (1997, with John Malkovich), Max (2002), Runaway Jury (2003, with Rachel Weisz and Gene Hackman), the heist film The Ice Harvest (2005), the bitter political satire War, Inc. (2008, with Hilary Duff), and the laff riot Hot Tub Time Machine (2010).