Hollywood loves a mess. We are basically conditioned to expect a three-year expiration date on any marriage involving an Oscar nominee. But then you have Richard Burke and Joan Cusack.
They've been together since 1993. That is more than 30 years. In celebrity time, that is roughly four centuries.
While the rest of the industry was busy with public meltdowns and high-stakes divorce settlements, this pair just... lived their lives in Chicago. No scandals. No tabloid leaks. It’s kinda wild when you think about it. If you’re looking for a dramatic story about a secret fallout or a hidden lifestyle, you’re going to be disappointed. The real story is actually way more interesting: it’s about how they intentionally opted out of the Hollywood machine to stay sane.
The Lawyer and the Legend: How Richard Burke and Joan Cusack Met
Most people know Joan. She’s the quirky heart of Working Girl, the voice of Jessie in Toy Story, and the chaotic energy of Sheila Jackson in Shameless. But Richard Burke? He isn't an actor. He doesn't direct.
Richard is a heavy-hitting Chicago attorney. He was also an executive for Classified Ventures, a major media company.
They met in the early 90s, right when Joan's career was hitting an absolute fever pitch. Instead of doing the "power couple" thing in a Malibu mansion, they got married in 1993 and stayed firmly rooted in the Midwest. Honestly, that's probably the secret sauce. You can't get sucked into the "who’s wearing what" drama of Los Angeles when you're worried about Chicago winters and local school boards.
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A Different Kind of Life in Chicago
By 2001, Joan was already being profiled by Crain’s Chicago Business for her "40 Under 40" status, but the focus wasn't just on her acting. It was about how she and Richard were raising their family. They have two sons, Dylan John Burke (born in 1997) and Miles Burke (born in 2000).
Joan has been very vocal about the fact that she didn't want a "nanny-raised" life for her kids. Richard's stable career as an attorney provided a backbone that allowed Joan to be picky with her roles. She often took jobs that filmed in Chicago or had shorter schedules so she could be home.
She once told an interviewer that New York and LA are "extreme." Chicago is just home. It's where the Burkes are just the Burkes, not a celebrity sighting.
Why the Richard Burke and Joan Cusack Dynamic Works
If you look at the mechanics of their relationship, it’s a classic "opposites attract" scenario that actually functions. You have the creative, high-energy performer and the grounded, analytical lawyer.
- Stability over Spotlight: Richard isn't chasing fame. He has his own successful career that has nothing to do with red carpets.
- Family First: They famously prioritized their sons' upbringing over "career-building" networking events.
- Midwestern Values: Both have deep ties to the area. Joan grew up in Evanston; Richard is a staple of the Chicago professional scene.
There was a moment back in 2013 when the whole family appeared at the Creative Arts Emmy Awards. It was a rare public glimpse of the four of them together. They looked like, well, a normal family. Richard was there in a standard suit, looking every bit the proud husband while Joan celebrated her work on Shameless.
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Misconceptions About Their Marriage
Is Joan Cusack still married to Richard Burke? Yes.
Because they are so private, the internet occasionally wonders if they’ve split up. They haven't. They just don't post "happy anniversary" tributes on Instagram every five minutes. In fact, neither of them is particularly active on social media in a personal capacity.
People also sometimes confuse Richard Burke with other famous Burkes or even Joan’s brothers, John and Bill. To be clear: Richard is the one who keeps the legal and business world running while the Cusack siblings handle the acting.
The Reality of Being a Non-Hollywood "Power Couple"
Being married to a lawyer while navigating a film career creates a weird balance. Richard's background in corporate services and law means he likely understands the "business" side of show business better than most.
But it’s the lack of ego that really stands out.
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You’ve seen Joan play characters that are loud, frantic, and emotionally raw. In real life, she credits her home life with Richard as the place where she can just "be." There’s no pressure to perform.
What We Can Learn from Their Longevity
If you're looking for actionable insights from a 30-year marriage, it basically boils down to one thing: Boundaries. Richard Burke and Joan Cusack built a wall around their private life. They didn't let the industry define their success. Success for them wasn't a bigger trailer; it was being able to go to a kid's soccer game without a paparazzi swarm.
Next Steps for Fans and Researchers:
- Look for Local Impact: If you're interested in their contribution to the arts, check out the Piven Theatre Workshop in Evanston, where the Cusack family got their start.
- Verify Sources: When looking for updates on Richard's career, stick to legal directories or Chicago business journals rather than celebrity gossip sites, which often get his professional details wrong.
- Watch the Work: If you want to see the result of a stable home life on an actor's craft, re-watch Joan's later work in Shameless. You can see a performer who is completely fearless because she knows exactly who she is when the cameras turn off.
The Burkes have proven that you don't have to live in the spotlight to stay in the game. You just have to know when to turn the lights off.