John Cusack was born on June 28, 1966 in Evanston, a northern district of Chicago. His father, Richard, worked in an advertising agency but later found out that he wasn’t satisfied with it. In 1970, he strived for a more substantial life, forming a production company and moving into documentary film-making. Mother, Nancy was a school-teacher-turned-a-full-time-mother to her five children, Ann, Joan, Bill, John, and Susie.
Life at the Cusack household was nowhere near ordinary, to say the least. Soon enough it became clear that the five siblings were so into the world of acting. They would imitate scenes from movies; so much that John described his childhood as ‘one continuous performance’. But he wasn’t just talking. By the age of 8 he enrolled in Piven Theatre Workshop, run by family friends, Byrne and Joyce Piven, together with his sisters, Ann and Joan, and Jeremy, the Piven’s son, who would later be John’s lifelong friend.
John confessed hating his time at Evanston Township High School because he felt like an outsider, but he kept himself busy – watching European films, American classics, black-and-white-flicks, anything, determined to learn everything there is to know about this fast-growing fascination and passion of his. By the time he was 12, he already got a lot on his belt, doing radio spots acting and commercial voice-overs. At 14, John had starred in many stage productions and was already known as ‘a brilliant and generous improviser’.
During the ‘80s, John played in more other movies, including “Class”, “Sixteen Candles”, “Better Off Dead”, “The Sure Thing”, and “The Journey of Natty Gann”. These movies did little to John’s big movie stardom status, but like he cared. By this time, John was even more determined to pursue career in film and he gulped each and every movie experience with passion and dedication like a sponge. Filming “The Sure Thing” introduced John to co-star Tim Robbins, who is a big influence on his career and attitude. Robbins inspired him to form New Crime Theatre in his hometown with childhood friend, Jeremy Piven, where he began directing plays.
At early twenties, Cusack was already mature and experienced, he surely knew what he wanted and a lot of times he turned down good movie offers, which seemed foolish, but hey, the guy had his own standards. Then came “Say Anything”, his probably-most memorable and biggest role yet. He played Llyod Dobler, who he later admitted as being so much alike as him. John’s performance in ‘Say Anything’ proved that he could carry a leading role, portraying a hopeless-loser and made him very charmingly likeable. Suddenly Cusack was an unlikely sex-symbol.
But John didn’t intend to be a sex-symbol, or the object of females’ obsession. Or even a celebrity. He’d always hated the pretentious world of Hollywood, but realized that he had to go there to make movies. What he wanted was to be a serious actor with complex roles. We got to admire him for that.
And so the ‘90s marks beginning of John’s journey in more versatile and grown-up roles. He also wrote a comedy-thriller script called “Grosse Pointe Blank”, which was turned into a movie by Disney. “High Fidelity”, his other memorable role, allowed him to star, as well as co-produced and wrote the scores. (He did not disappoint. I’ve seen it.)
If we were to mention all of John’s works and achievements, it will be a very long list. By 2006, he already had almost 50 movies under his belt and there is no sign of him stopping, or even taking a breath. Cusack has a mind of his own, one that is probably not understood by all; his continuing loathing for celebrities, his love for literature and passion for film-making. He will not for a second feel down if his movie fails to hit the blockbuster, that’s for sure. We are bound to respect him, it’s hard not to. Well, and the fact that he's an active humanitarian probably makes it almost impossible, even.
John Cusack has gone a long way. From his early childhood at a small town in Chicago with five siblings and determined parents, to a well-rounded, passionate, unique and brilliant artist who knows what he wants, is not afraid to fail and dares to be different.
Where does he go on from now, you ask? Continue what he does best. Acting? Writing? Directing? Hating the superficiality of Holywood? You choose. I can’t decide.
John confessed hating his time at Evanston Township High School because he felt like an outsider, but he kept himself busy – watching European films, American classics, black-and-white-flicks, anything, determined to learn everything there is to know about this fast-growing fascination and passion of his. By the time he was 12, he already got a lot on his belt, doing radio spots acting and commercial voice-overs. At 14, John had starred in many stage productions and was already known as ‘a brilliant and generous improviser’.
During the ‘80s, John played in more other movies, including “Class”, “Sixteen Candles”, “Better Off Dead”, “The Sure Thing”, and “The Journey of Natty Gann”. These movies did little to John’s big movie stardom status, but like he cared. By this time, John was even more determined to pursue career in film and he gulped each and every movie experience with passion and dedication like a sponge. Filming “The Sure Thing” introduced John to co-star Tim Robbins, who is a big influence on his career and attitude. Robbins inspired him to form New Crime Theatre in his hometown with childhood friend, Jeremy Piven, where he began directing plays.
At early twenties, Cusack was already mature and experienced, he surely knew what he wanted and a lot of times he turned down good movie offers, which seemed foolish, but hey, the guy had his own standards. Then came “Say Anything”, his probably-most memorable and biggest role yet. He played Llyod Dobler, who he later admitted as being so much alike as him. John’s performance in ‘Say Anything’ proved that he could carry a leading role, portraying a hopeless-loser and made him very charmingly likeable. Suddenly Cusack was an unlikely sex-symbol.
But John didn’t intend to be a sex-symbol, or the object of females’ obsession. Or even a celebrity. He’d always hated the pretentious world of Hollywood, but realized that he had to go there to make movies. What he wanted was to be a serious actor with complex roles. We got to admire him for that.
And so the ‘90s marks beginning of John’s journey in more versatile and grown-up roles. He also wrote a comedy-thriller script called “Grosse Pointe Blank”, which was turned into a movie by Disney. “High Fidelity”, his other memorable role, allowed him to star, as well as co-produced and wrote the scores. (He did not disappoint. I’ve seen it.)
If we were to mention all of John’s works and achievements, it will be a very long list. By 2006, he already had almost 50 movies under his belt and there is no sign of him stopping, or even taking a breath. Cusack has a mind of his own, one that is probably not understood by all; his continuing loathing for celebrities, his love for literature and passion for film-making. He will not for a second feel down if his movie fails to hit the blockbuster, that’s for sure. We are bound to respect him, it’s hard not to. Well, and the fact that he's an active humanitarian probably makes it almost impossible, even.
John Cusack has gone a long way. From his early childhood at a small town in Chicago with five siblings and determined parents, to a well-rounded, passionate, unique and brilliant artist who knows what he wants, is not afraid to fail and dares to be different.
Where does he go on from now, you ask? Continue what he does best. Acting? Writing? Directing? Hating the superficiality of Holywood? You choose. I can’t decide.
"The more you expose yourself as a celebrity, the less interesting you are to watch in your work, because if you're putting yourself out there all the time, you're not holding anything back."
1 comment:
You write very well.
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