Cusack's Priceless Hiatus
Joan Cusack Returns for Toy Story 5, Valuing Six-Year Hiatus for 'Normal' Family Life
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Key Points
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At the Los Angeles premiere, Cusack said it’s “kind of cool” to be on a red carpet for Toy Story 5 because “there’s not that many movies that do huge red carpets,” and she reacted to viewers’ excitement with a soft “Aw.”
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Cusack has also been living her Chicago “normal” life through work off-camera: she has run a gift shop called Judy Maxwell Home since 2011.
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Her previous return to public view came at the London premiere on May 28—where fans “almost didn’t recognize” her due to noticeable changes including “shorter hair and bangs” and “dark, oversized glasses.”
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On the craft of voice work, Cusack told Deadline (as quoted by Closer) that she “realized there’s like a real craft to” voice acting, explaining: “Because you can’t use your face or your body, you just have to use your voice. It’s kind of really hard.”
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Toy Story 5 is specifically scheduled to hit theaters on June 19.
Joan Cusack stepped back onto the red carpet this month for the first time in roughly 11 years, promoting Toy Story 5 and reprising her voice role as Jessie. The 63-year-old, who last appeared on-screen in 2020, said the years away from Hollywood were worth it. "It's great to live your life and raise your kids and be in Chicago and be a normal person," she told Variety. "It's kind of priceless."
Toy Story 5 hits theaters on June 19. It marks Cusack's most public reemergence since she quietly stepped back from acting and settled into life in Chicago with her husband, attorney Richard Burke, and their two sons.
A Deliberate Exit From Hollywood Life
Cusack's retreat was not accidental. She moved from Los Angeles to Chicago specifically to raise her sons, Dylan, now 28, and Miles, now 25, away from the entertainment industry. Closer Weekly reported that she wanted to prevent family life from revolving around TV and movies. That goal, she said, shaped everything about the past six years.
Off-camera, Cusack kept busy running Judy Maxwell Home, a gift shop she has owned in Chicago's Old Town neighborhood since 2011. Locals have spotted her working the floor in person. It is a long way from Hollywood red carpets — and apparently, that was exactly the point.
Fans Almost Missed Her at the London Premiere
Cusack first resurfaced publicly at the London premiere of Toy Story 5 on May 28, attending with her husband at the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square. The reaction from fans was immediate — and a little surprised. Closer Weekly noted that many "almost didn't recognize" her. She arrived with shorter hair and bangs, paired with dark oversized glasses, a noticeably different look from her years in the spotlight.
She then appeared at the Los Angeles premiere on June 9 at the Dolby Theatre, alongside Tom Hanks, Tim Allen, and new cast member Greta Lee. At that event, Cusack said it was "kind of cool" to be on a red carpet again, adding that "there's not that many movies that do huge red carpets" anymore, according to Wonderwall.
Why Voice Acting Took 25 Years to Master
Cusack also spoke about what draws her back to the Toy Story franchise specifically. She told Deadline, as quoted by Closer Weekly, that voice acting demands a distinct and difficult skill. "You can't use your face or your body, you just have to use your voice," she said. "It's kind of really hard." She added that it took her roughly 25 years to truly understand the craft.
In Toy Story 5, Jessie takes a more central role than in past films. The List reported that the story follows a toys-versus-tech premise, with the toys facing off against a smart tablet called Lilypad, voiced by Greta Lee. Early reactions from the LA premiere have called the film "deeply profound," a strong signal ahead of its June 19 opening.
Toy Story 5 Carries Major Stakes for Disney
The film is not just a personal milestone for Cusack. For Disney, it may be a financial lifeline. The company's stock has fallen more than 11% year-to-date in 2026, according to Yahoo. Toy Story 5 is tracking for a domestic opening weekend between $150 million and $175 million, which would be the biggest debut in the franchise's 31-year history.
The full franchise has earned over $3.3 billion worldwide across four films. Disney is releasing Toy Story 5 exclusively in theaters, a direct bet that a beloved legacy franchise can still pull audiences away from streaming. A strong opening would validate that strategy at a critical moment for the studio.
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