Notable Chicago Actors

Although regionally lumped together, Chicago actors have diverse careers and talents. A Saturday Night Live cast member, a theatre thespian, a conservatory student or even an old-fashioned experienced study from Chicago have been known to ignite a role like some staple film personalities often have not. As any Hollywood casting agent or Broadway producer knows, sometimes it just takes a Chicago actor to get the job done. After all, we Midwesterners aren't afraid to get our hands dirty.

The comedic world has often been the birthplace of Chicago actors. Bill Murray is one of its shining success stories. Bill Murray, a Wilmette native, was born September 21, 1950. When it comes to Chicago actors' careers, his is by far the most enviable. Television, comedy, drama, Shakespeare, animation, children's movies, independent, art house, major studio production: Bill Murray is a Chicago actor whose list continues to expand.

How Murray fell into his role as "Chicago Actor Supreme" is as comically bizarre as some of his film work. He did some acting in high school at Loyola Academy, theatrics at Regis College then dropped out and took his "theatrics" to National Lampoon Radio Hour. Murray didn't join the original cast of Saturday Night Live until it initially failed and had to quickly re-emerge. Fortunately, comedy led to television; television led to movies; movies led to working with Hollywood's A-list talents; and all roads led to a superb Chicago actor who never fails to amaze audiences with new dimensions of talent.

However, Chicago actors have proven that a single career can be divided amongst individuals. The Cusacks- Ann, Joan, Bill, John and Susie- are all Chicago actors who have dominated film of varying dimension, usually at the same time.

The Cusacks are that rare family of Chicago actors with a list of movies too long to unfurl but never short on is talent. John and Joan may be the two most recognizable Chicago actors of the clan because they stay the busiest, but Ann is no slouch herself. To boot, all of the Cusacks are theatre-trained Chicago actors. With a stage background, this group of Chicago actors is as at home at the Oscars, Cannes or Sundance as they are at a Cubs game.

In any given movie, the public can get two or more of these Chicago actors for the price of one. Joan and John have appeared in eight movies together; Bill and John are in The Jack Bull (1999), Con Air (1997) and Elvis Stories (1999) together. John, Joan, Ann and Bill are all in Grosse Point Blank (1997). The family that acts together, well, makes more movies together. They exemplify strength in numbers.

Chicago actors' roots lie in the city's vibrant and rich theatre scene. And none other than the Steppenwolf gang proves it. Gary Sinise, Laurie Metcalf, John Malkovich and Joan Allen- all 1950s-born kids from Illinois- have acted in the renowned theater company.

Gary Sinise, from Blue Island, is most famously recognized as Lieutenant Dan from Forrest Gump (1994) but locally hailed as one of the Steppenwolf Theatre Ensemble's founders. Sinise, known for playing intense yet quiet roles, originated the role of Tom Joad in the Steppenwolf's adaptation of The Grapes of Wrath. In it, he commanded acclaim for sympathetically and poignantly penetrating an audience.

Fellow Steppenwolf member Laurie Metcalf hails from Carbondale. A theatre graduate from Illinois State University and busy Chicago actor, Metcalf has an Obie Award, seven Jeff Awards and three Emmy Awards for her acting. Of Chicago actors, Metcalf is known for being the "Queen of Reinvention"; she has never played the same character twice, always challenging herself, fellow actors and the audience.

Third in the Steppenwolf bunch is John Malkovich of Benton whose Chicago actor's resume stretches internationally. He is known to work in Paris, London or, more frequently now, Lisbon. Stateside, Malkovich's elusive presence has graced period French-Restoration pieces (Dangerous Liasons), mainstream blockbusters (Con Air) and harrowing tragedies (The Killing Fields).

The fourth Chicago actor rounding out the Steppenwolf ensemble is Rochelle's Joan Allen. Like her colleagues, Allen has conquered stage, film and television. She originated Heidi Holland in Wendy Wasserstein's Pulitzer and Tony Award-winning The Heidi Chronicles, for which she won the Best Actress Tony. In fact, Allen is one of the most honored and decorated Chicago actor.

Neither Allen nor any of fellow Chicago actors are taking a break. We can expect more profound, award-winning work from this family.

Chicago is a theatre and film city known for producing a great line of actors- whether single acts like Bill Murray, family affairs like the Cusacks, or ensembles like the Steppenwolf group. Chicago is the home of great talent, and that's why Chicago actors are at home, no matter where they take their talent.