John Cusack

Cusack in 2009, magicinfoto / Shutterstock.com

Birth Name: John Paul Cusack

Place of Birth: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.

Date of Birth: June 28, 1966

Ethnicity: Irish

John Cusack is an American actor, producer, screenwriter, and political activist. Among his many film roles over four decades are The Sure Thing, The Journey of Natty Gann, One Crazy Summer, Say Anything…, Bullets over Broadway, Grosse Pointe Blank, Con Air, Cradle Will Rock, High Fidelity, Serendipity, Max (2002), Identity, Runaway Jury, Must Love Dogs, Hot Tub Time Machine, and The Paperboy.

He is the son of Ann Paula “Nancy” (Carolan), a teacher and political activist, and Richard John “Dick” Cusack, an actor and filmmaker. Among his siblings are actors Ann Cusack and Joan Cusack. He was raised in a Catholic family, of Irish descent. He grew up in Evanston, Illinois.

Some genealogies trace John’s patrilineal line to James Cusack, who was born, c. 1585, around Gerardstown, Meath.

John’s paternal grandfather was Dennis Joseph Cusack (the son of Dennis Francis Cusack and Catherine Maria Brennan). John’s grandfather Dennis was born in Manhattan, New York City, New York, to Irish parents. John’s great-grandfather Dennis was born in Killian, County Galway, Francis Cusack and Margaret Tracy. John’s great-grandmother Catherine was the daughter of Lawrence Brennan, who was from Dublin; and of Bridget Fahey.

John’s paternal grandmother was Margaret McFeeley (the daughter of Thomas McFeeley and Ann McGowan/McGowen). Margaret was born in New York, to Irish parents. Thomas was the son of Dennis Francis McFeely and Mary Duffy. Ann was the daughter of Patrick McGowen and Bridget Hart.

John’s maternal grandfather was William Bartholomew Carolan (the son of Patrick Carolan and Ellen Murphy). William was born in Massachusetts, to Irish parents. Patrick was born in Kells, County Meath, the son of James Carolan and Catherine Ann Geoghegan. John’s great-grandmother Ellen was the daughter of Dennis/Denis B. Murphy and Catherine Golden, who were from County Kerry.

John’s maternal grandmother was Mary Agatha McGillen (the daughter of Owen McGillen and Annie Esther Fitzpatrick). Mary was born in Brookline, Norfolk, Massachusetts. Owen was Irish, the son of Jamnes McGillen and Margaret O’Rourke. John’s great-grandmother Annie was born in Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, to Irish parents, John Fitzpatrick and Mary Margaret Murray, who had roots in Cork.

Sources: Genealogy of John Cusack – https://www.geni.com

John’s paternal grandfather, Dennis Joseph Cusack, on the 1900 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John’s paternal grandmother, Margaret McFeeley, on the 1920 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John’s maternal grandfather, William Bartholomew Carolan, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John’s maternal grandmother, Mary Agatha McGillen, on the 1910 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org

John’s maternal great-grandmother, Annie Esther Fitzpatrick, on the 1880 U.S. Census – https://familysearch.org