Full Breakdown
Joan Cusack Returns to Hollywood for Toy Story 5
6/13/2026, 8:57:41 PM
Return to the Red Carpet
At the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, Joan Cusack walked the red carpet for the world premiere of *Toy Story 5*, marking her first public appearance in eleven years and her first acting role in six. She reprises Jessie, a character she first voiced in 1995, as the sequel pits the toys against a smart tablet that threatens children’s play.
Family-First Hiatus
Cusack left acting to raise her two sons, Dylan (born 1997) and Miles (born 2000), with husband Richard Burke, a former attorney and CEO of Envoy Global who retired after 2025. The family lives in Chicago, where Cusack runs the lifestyle store Judy Maxwell Home, a venture she launched in the early 2010s. She describes the period as “priceless” and emphasizes a “normal” Midwestern upbringing for her children.
Timeline & Milestones
- 1995: First voiced Jessie in *Toy Story 2*.
- 1997: Birth of son Dylan.
- 1999: Marriage to Richard Burke.
- 2000: Birth of son Miles.
- 2011/2014: Opening of Judy Maxwell Home (sources differ).
- 2020: Last credited acting role before hiatus.
- 2026 June 19: *Toy Story 5* releases nationwide.
Official Statements
In a Variety interview, Cusack said she feels “honored to have worked in this industry for a long time” but values “living your life and raising your kids and being in Chicago and being a normal person.” She added that Chicago’s culture “prevents our family life from revolving around TV and the movies” and that the city’s “laid-back Midwestern attitude” matches the values she wants to teach her sons. She also noted she wants her children “to see that I have things I feel passionate about because it is such a great feeling to really love something.”
Criticism & Opposition
No source presented criticism of Cusack’s career pause or her return to the franchise.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the launch year of Judy Maxwell Home, citing 2011 and 2014 respectively. No other factual discrepancies appear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “I feel so honored to have worked in this industry for a long time,” — Joan Cusack, Actress
- “But it’s also great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person. It’s kind of priceless, so there’s that.” — Joan Cusack, Actress
- “My dad’s job brought [my parents] to Chicago for a couple of years, which they thought was a pretty good place to raise a family,” — Joan Cusack, Actress
- “I want [my kids] to see that I have things I feel passionate about because it is such a great feeling to really love something,” — Joan Cusack, Actress
What’s Next
*Toy Story 5* opens nationwide on June 19, 2026. Cusack has said she will return to her Chicago shop and family after filming, indicating future selective projects rather than a full-time comeback.
