Joan Cusack walks red carpet with husband at Academy Museum Gala as she continues return to Hollywood spotlight

Joan Cusack made a rare red carpet appearance at the annual Academy Museum Gala alongside her husband Richard Burke after ditching the glitz and glamour of Hollywood. 

The 64-year-old actress attended the star-studded soirée alongside her husband, and the longtime couple coordinated in chic, black tie attire.

For the event, she wore a short-sleeved, sequin-covered dress paired with an emerald green clutch for a pop of color.

Her husband, a retired attorney and corporate executive, wore a classic tuxedo paired with a satin bowtie as he supported her. 

Cusack last walked the red carpet in May, which marked her first appearance at a public event in 11 years. 

Over the summer, she opened up about her decision to step away from Hollywood life to open a Midwest gift store while beginning to make her gradual return to the spotlight.

'I've been in Chicago raising my kids, which there's nothing more important to me than that,' she told People. 

'It's been kind of crazy to be part of it, a red carpet thing. It's just not what I do. I don't even dress up that much.'

She said she once tried the Hollywood lifestyle but couldn't get used to the atmosphere and the weather.

'I never lived anywhere else,' she explained. 'I think a couple times I tried to go out to LA, and I'd be in a coffee shop and the waitress would be like, "Oh my God, I just got a part doing blah-blah-blah." 

'Everyone's so beautiful. It's too sunny,' she continued. 'I don't even like the sun, so I couldn't do it.' 

The actress lives in Chicago with her husband, whom she married in 1996, and their two adult sons, Dylan and Miles.

She then reiterated that her recent red carpet appearance was something of an anomaly in her reclusive lifestyle. 

'In my life, I haven't really done that many of those things,' Cusack admitted.

About her red carpet appearance earlier this year, she said: 'I think I turned the corner with my husband and was like, "Whoa. What's going on here?" And then those guns popped the confetti out and I was like, "Whoa. What’s happening?"'

Over the weekend, Cusack was among the many stars who flocked to the sixth annual Academy Museum Gala in Los Angeles, where Taylor Swift is set to deliver a hotly anticipated performance.

Swift wrote the original song I Knew It, I Knew You for this summer's roaring box office hit Toy Story 5, making her eligible for a nomination at the next Oscars.

Cusack reprised her voice acting role as cowgirl toy Jessie in Pixar and Disney's hit follow-up film.

Academy Museum president Amy Homma hailed Swift, 36, as 'an extraordinary talent whose work resonates around the world,' in a statement announcing her booking.

'We are thrilled to welcome her to this year’s gala and look forward to her performance to close a wonderful evening of honoring three extraordinary filmmakers and supporting the Academy Museum’s mission to celebrate and preserve cinema.' 

This year's Academy Museum Gala is honoring Oscar winner Charlize Theron, Oscar nominee Colman Domingo and Halloween director John Carpenter.

Theron will be given the Icon Award for global impact, which at past ceremonies has gone to Julia Roberts, Penelope Cruz, Meryl Streep and Rita Moreno.

Domingo is being bequeathed the Vantage Award, a tip of the hat to artists who fly in the face of the prevailing narratives in cinema.

His predecessors in receiving the gong include Michael B Jordan, Paul Mescal, 12 Years a Slave director Steve McQueen and Saturday Night Live alumnus Bowen Yang.

Carpenter, who is also a noted composer, is being garlanded with the Luminary Award for those whose work has broadened the scope of creativity in cinema.

In previous years, the prize has been presented to Quentin Tarantino and to Brazilian filmmaker Walter Salles, whose 2024 political drama I'm Still Here won the Oscar for best international feature months after he was feted at the museum.

Homma showered praise on Theron, Domingo and Carpenter for their 'extraordinary careers,' which she said 'exemplify the creativity, innovation, and excellence that continues to move the industry forward.'

Steven Spielberg and his wife Kate Capshaw are co-chairing the awards ceremony along with Spy Kids director Robert Rodriguez. 

Swift's performance comes after the publicity whirlwind attending her 1,000-guest wedding to NFL star Travis Kelce at Madison Square Garden in July.

In the wake of her nuptials, she released four new songs including the hit single Patient Zero for the deluxe 'encore' edition of her 2025 album The Life of a Showgirl.