John Cusack
He gave a generation its romantic and rebellious voice, from holding a boombox aloft to wrestling with moral ambiguity in dark comedies.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American actor, producer, and screenwriter·Birthday: June 28·Generation X
Biography
John Cusack emerged from the Chicago suburbs and a family of performers to become the defining face of a certain kind of thoughtful, sardonic American youth in the 1980s. His breakthrough role as the lovelorn Lloyd Dobler in 'Say Anything...' cemented his status as an alternative leading man, more interested in authenticity than bravado. Cusack deliberately shattered that teen-idol mold, diving into complex, often morally murky roles in films like 'The Grifters' and 'Bullets Over Broadway.' He co-wrote and starred in the cult hit 'Grosse Pointe Blank,' merging hitman thriller with high school reunion comedy, a blend that showcased his unique tonal command. For decades, he has operated as a fiercely independent actor, choosing projects that intrigue him, from blockbuster disaster films to intimate indies, all while maintaining a palpable, prickly intelligence on screen.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
John was born in 1966, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When John Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
John's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Lloyd Dobler in Cameron Crowe's seminal teen romance 'Say Anything...' (1989), creating an iconic cinematic moment.
- Earned a Golden Globe nomination for his role in the Stephen Frears crime drama 'The Grifters' (1990).
- Co-wrote and starred in the critically praised dark comedy 'Grosse Pointe Blank' (1997), which he also produced.
- Received widespread acclaim for his portrayal of a conflicted puppeteer in Spike Jonze's surreal adaptation 'Being John Malkovich' (1999).
Did You Know?
He is the son of documentary filmmaker Dick Cusack and the brother of actors Joan and Ann Cusack.
A dedicated Chicago Cubs fan, he was part of an investment group that attempted to buy the team in 2008.
He is a practicing Transcendental Meditation advocate and has discussed its role in his creative process.
He turned down the role of Charlie in 'Three Men and a Baby' to star in 'Eight Men Out.'
“The world is full of guys. Be a man. Don't be a guy.”
