Joan Cusack, 63, Resurfaces And Shows Off Her Gorgeous Gray Hair Transition

Joan Cusack surprised fans with a red carpet appearance after 11 years out of the spotlight. She attended the "Toy Story 5" launch in London, England, on May 28, 2026, for her ongoing voice role as the beloved cowgirl toy Jessie. Fans of the "Toy Story" franchise and of Cusack alike were delighted to see the star after over a decade away from public events. 

Cusack did not disappoint. She arrived in a crisp, button-down shirt tucked into a high-waisted, long black skirt. The chic simplicity of Cusack's red carpet look was very Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, proof that Kennedy's style is still on trend in 2026. Cusack accessorized with a pair of dark, statement frames that added personality and sophistication to her look. They were a strong example of how glasses can highlight personal style in women over 50. But best of all, Cusack's appearance also highlighted her gorgeous grey hair transition.

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She was subtly letting her grey hair show through, and her refreshing acceptance of aging was a glorious thing to see at the "Toy Story" event. Plus, her chic bob and bangs made for the perfect hairstyle to show off grey hair. Cusack's self-confident approach to this red carpet appearance highlights her unique relationship to stardom and unrealistic beauty standards put on women.

One of the joys of red carpet events is that rare moment when a celebrity confidently and unashamedly embraces aging. Joan Cusack looked radiant herself at the "Toy Story 5" premiere, and subtle hints of her grey hair added to this charm. Cusack has resisted the Hollywood pressures to fight aging and force reinvention largely because she chose to step away from stardom to focus on motherhood, her family life, and unexpected ventures that brought her joy.  

Cusack and her husband, Richard Burke, decided to settle in Chicago to raise their children, shifting her focus away from acting. "My kids were young, and I didn't really want to take acting work, because I always had to go away," Cusack told The New Yorker in 2019. She opened up a gift shop, Judy Maxwell Home, to put her entrepreneurial spirit to work. "I was trying to think of something to do, because I'm not really a big cooking person," she added. 

Part of this came from Cusack's honest admission during the interview that she didn't find the celebrity life that fun. So she made a life-altering decision to focus on other things in life that brought her more joy. Of course, she's stayed involved in the "Toy Story" franchise, but on the whole, Cusack's life choices have been uniquely unconventional. And her grey hair is just one part of that larger identity of independence and self-assurance.