Celebrity birthdays for the week of Oct. 11-17:
Oct. 11: Country singer Gene Watson is 83. Singer Daryl Hall of Hall and Oates is 80. Actor Catlin Adams ("The Jerk," "The Jazz Singer") is 76. Country singer Paulette Carlson (Highway 101) is 75. MTV VJ Mark Goodman is 74. Actor David Morse ("St. Elsewhere") is 73. Actor Stephen Spinella ("24") is 70. Actor Joan Cusack is 64. Guitarist Scott Johnson of Gin Blossoms is 64. Actor-writer Michael J. Nelson ("Mystery Science Theater 3000") is 62. Actor Sean Patrick Flanery is 61. Actor Lennie James ("The Walking Dead") is 61. Musician Todd Snider is 60. Actor Artie Lange ("MADtv") is 59. Actor Jane Krakowski ("30 Rock," "Ally McBeal") is 58. Actor Andrea Navedo ("Jane the Virgin") is 57. Rapper MC Lyte is 56. Actor Constance Zimmer ("UnREAL," "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.") is 56. Actor Darien Sills-Evans ("Superior Donuts," "Treme") is 52. Singer NeeNa Lee is 51. Actor Emily Deschanel ("Bones") is 50. Actor Trevor Donovan ("90210") is 48. Rapper Cardi B is 34.
Oct. 13: Gospel singer Shirley Caesar is 89. Musician Paul Simon is 85. Keyboardist Robert Lamm of Chicago is 82. Country singer Lacy J. Dalton is 80. Singer Sammy Hagar is 79. Singer John Ford Coley of England Dan and John Ford Coley is 78. Model Beverly Johnson is 74. Actor John Lone ("The Last Emperor," "Rush Hour 2") is 74. "The X-Files" creator Chris Carter is 70. Singer Cherrelle is 67. Singer-actor-talk show host Marie Osmond is 67. Singer Joey Belladonna of Anthrax is 66. Actor T'Keyah Crystal Keymah ("That's So Raven," "In Living Color") is 64. Country singer John Wiggins is 64. Actor Christopher Judge (TV's "Stargate SG-1") is 62. Actor Matt Walsh ("Veep") is 62. Actor Reginald Ballard ("Martin," "The Bernie Mac Show") is 61. Actor Kate Walsh ("Private Practice," "Grey's Anatomy") is 59. Musician Jeff Allen of Mint Condition is 58. Actor Tisha Campbell-Martin ("My Wife and Kids," "Martin") is 58. Country singer Rhett Akins is 57. TV personality Billy Bush is 55. Actor Sacha Baron Cohen ("Borat," "Da Ali G Show") is 55. Guitarist Jan Van Sichem Jr. of K's Choice is 54. Singers Brandon and Brian Casey of Jagged Edge are 51. Actor Kiele Sanchez ("Lost") is 50. Singer Ashanti is 46. Singer-rapper Lumidee is 46. Contemporary Christian singer Jon Micah Sumrall of Kutless is 46. Actor Caleb McLaughlin ("Stranger Things") is 25.
Oct. 14: Director Carroll Ballard ("The Black Stallion") is 89. Singer Cliff Richard is 86. Singer Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues is 80. Actor Greg Evigan ("My Two Dads," "B.J. and the Bear") is 73. Singer Thomas Dolby is 68. Actor Lori Petty ("A League of Their Own") is 63. Actor Steve Coogan ("Night at the Museum" movies) is 61. Singer Karyn White is 61. Actor Edward Kerr ("Pretty Little Liars," "Snoops") is 60. Actor Jon Seda ("Chicago P.D.," "Homicide: Life on the Street") is 56. Bassist Doug Virden (Sons of the Desert) is 56. Country singer Natalie Maines of The Chicks is 52. Singer Shaznay Lewis of All Saints is 5

John Cusack has publicly backed Mark Ruffalo in the actor's increasingly heated fight with Paramount Skydance over its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
Cusack quote-posted Ruffalo's response to the company over the weekend and added just three words: "Solidarity - well said." Paramount had said the actor invoked "antisemitic tropes" while arguing against the deal.
Ruffalo called that accusation "appalling and fundamentally dishonest." He said his criticism concerned Israeli government policy, a military technology contract and the corporate executives involved, and that his views "should never be interpreted as hostility toward Jewish people."
The confrontation began after Ruffalo shared footage of Oracle executive vice chair and Paramount board member Safra Catz discussing technology Oracle made available to Israel after the Hamas-led attacks of Oct. 7, 2023. He connected the clip to Oracle cofounder Larry Ellison, whose son David Ellison is Paramount's chairman and CEO, and to his wider opposition to the Warner Bros. transaction.
Cusack offered no further explanation with his post. The message accompanied Ruffalo's full statement, which defended scrutiny of Oracle's government contracts and data and surveillance businesses while raising concerns about possible job losses and editorial independence if the acquisition proceeds.

#oracle

John Cusack is boosting public support for Mark Ruffalo as the Hulk actor pushes back against antisemitism claims tied to his criticism of Paramount Skydance.
Ruffalo, 58, has been outspoken about the company's proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. and has questioned its executives' business ties to Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack.
The Guardian reported that Paramount responded on Friday, August 21, saying it was "troubled when antisemitic tropes are invoked in purported service of a business dispute."
The company added that it does not tolerate prejudice and said it wants the proposed transaction judged on its legal merits.
Starbuck/ AFF-USA.COM / MEGA

#paramount #business #cusack

John Cusack has made his position known as Mark Ruffalo challenges Paramount's allegations. The Hulk star is locked in a feud with Paramount Skydance over its its bid to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Paramount responded with a statement accusing Ruffalo of invoking "antisemitic tropes" in a business dispute.
Mark Ruffalo has found an ally in John Cusack, who is standing by him in solidarity as he weathers antisemitism accusations. According to Entertainment Weekly, the allegations emerged after Ruffalo condemned Oracle last week. The tech company is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison. His son, David Ellison, heads Paramount Skydance and is spearheading the $110 billion bid to merge Paramount with Warner Bros.
Ruffalo rejected the antisemitism claims in a lengthy response on X (formerly Twitter). It read, "The accusation that I am antisemitic is appalling and fundamentally dishonest. Criticizing the actions of the Israeli prime minister, a military technology contract, or the executives who supply it is not the same as criticizing Jewish people."
The 13 Going on 30 actor clarified that his views stem from his own political beliefs. He emphasized that no one should interpret his views as animosity toward Jewish people. Ruffalo also noted that his Jewish friends and colleagues have deeply shaped his understanding of acting, activism, and humanism. Those loved ones, he said, have been like family to him throughout his life.
John Cusack, who has been a vocal supporter of Palestinian rights and a critic of corporate consolidation in Hollywood, weighed in shortly after. Responding to Ruffalo's statement, Cusack wrote simply: "Solidarity — well said."

#john #mark

Scotland's Scott Cusack followed in the footsteps of both his mum and dad by becoming a Commonwealth Games judo medallist.
The 30-year-old took bronze in the -90kg division on Saturday, following in the footsteps of Loretta and Billy, who were on the podium at the 1990 Auckland Games.
Loretta was at the Glasgow venue as the sport's competition manager for the Games, watching on as her boy edged a pulsating contest against Danny Vojnikovich of Australia, winning by Ippon.
Both men were walking a tightrope after picking up two penalties, knowing that a third would result in automatic disqualification.
But Vojnikovich made a tackle without a grip, allowing Cusack to claim the medal, to the delight of the home crowd in Glasgow.

#cusack #footsteps #scott

John Cusack discussed his upcoming debut graphic novel, Momo, while attending San Diego Comic-Con 2026
"There's no bull, and there's no committee," he said of being an author as opposed to acting
Momo is scheduled for a Sept. 29 release
John Cusack is elaborating on why he's shifted from film to writing fiction.
On Friday, July 24, the 60-year-old Serendipity star opened up about his new book Momo and the artistic freedom that the project has brought while speaking to Variety during the 2026 San Diego Comic-Con.

#cusack #comic #serendipity #variety

The coach of former Sheffield United footballer Maddy Cusack told the Football ***** ociation (FA) she was "generally a liar", an inquest into her death has heard.
Cusack, 27, was found unconscious by her father David at their family home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023 and was ***** ounced dead the same day.
Jonathan Morgan, who coached Cusack from February 2023 while she was at Sheffield United, gave evidence to a two-week inquest at Chesterfield Coroner's Court on Monday.
When responding to the claim, which the inquest heard was made in an account he gave to the FA, Morgan said that she had "omitted a lot of information" when she spoke to her family about his behaviour.
The inquest has previously heard from Grace Riglar, who played for the team and was in a relationship with Cusack, who said Cusack was "anxious" about Morgan joining the club after her experience of working with him at Leicester City.

Former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack was concerned she would be stigmatised and ridiculed over her mental health, an inquest has heard.
The 27-year-old was found dead at her home in Horsley, Derbyshire, on 20 September 2023.
Her father, David Cusack, told Chesterfield Coroner's Court that being reunited with a coach she did not like and changes to her contract had left her demotivated.
He said: "We thought she was depressed, not suicidal."
David Cusack told the court life had been made "unpleasant" for his daughter by coach Jonathan Morgan while she played for Leicester City.

While John Cusack is incredibly private when it comes to his personal life, his prominent family tree more than makes up for it.
The Golden Globe-nominated actor, who turned 60 on June 28, has Hollywood in his blood, not only the son of a prominent Hollywood actor and writer, but also has four other siblings who are in the entertainment industry.
The last name "Cusack" should be enough of a tip off, but read on below to learn more about the High Fidelity star's famous family members…
Richard John "Dick" Cusack first began his career as an advertising executive before pivoting into acting. However, his first acting role didn't come until 1980's My Bodyguard, the same year his son John made his own debut in a short film. He continued acting for the next two decades, mostly playing authority figures in films like Class (1983, his son's major film debut), The Fugitive (1993), While You Were Sleeping (1995), and High Fidelity (2000).
He also owned a production company, through which he made documentary films, and worked as a playwright in Chicago. He was also responsible for the Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston, where all his kids trained in their craft. ****** passed away in 2003 at the age of 77, survived by his four kids and longtime wife Nancy.

Joan Cusack has opened up about attending her first Hollywood red carpet event in nearly a decade.
The Oscar-nominated actor, 63, returns to voice Jessie in Toy Story 5 — her first major film role since the franchise's 2019 fourth installment — and recently celebrated at the film's U.K. and Los Angeles premieres with her family.
"In my life, I haven't really done that many of those things," Cusack said of red carpets in the latest issue of People. "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?'"
"But I've been in Chicago raising my kids, which there's nothing more important to me than that," she continued. "And 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."