Two weeks prior to his passing, he completed the final draft of a play
to memorialize his former college roommate entitled, "Backoff Barkman",
which was produced posthumously in the Midwest.
Served with the US Army in the Philippines in World War II.
Honored with an award from the Evanston Arts Council for preserving a
school and converting it into the Noyes Cultural Arts Center, which
houses the Piven Theater Workshop where his famous acting children
trained.
Attended College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Massachusetts, after
the war and played on the school's 1947 championship basketball team.
Wrote a series of films for the United Nations.
Worked in advertising, winning a Clio Award, until 1970, when he left
to start a production company, saying "Who cares if you brush your
teeth with Colgate or Palmolive? There are bigger issues out there."
Won an Emmy award for his abortion documentary "The Committee" in 1971
only one year after he left his advertising business and established
Cusack Productions.
Son of Margaret (McFeeley) and Dennis Joseph Cusack. All of his grandparents were Irish.