Michael R. Cusack (born 25 October 1990) is an Australian animator, filmmaker, musician, and voice actor. He is known as the co-creator and co-star of the Adult Swim animated series Smiling Friends (2020–2026), in which he voices the characters Pim, Allan, and various others. He is also the creator of the Adult Swim animated series YOLO (2020–25) and the Hulu animated sitcom Koala Man (2023).
Early life Cusack was born on 25 October 1990, and raised in Dapto, New South Wales, and later moved to Melbourne.
Career Cusack became interested in animation in his 20s and taught himself Adobe Flash using online tutorials. He uploaded his content to his YouTube channel and Newgrounds account. He created and portrayed Lucas the Magnificent, a parody of New Atheist "neckbeards", in live-action YouTube videos and on Twitter, beginning in 2014; he later stated that the character led to him meeting and befriending American animator Zach Hadel, as Lucas the Magnificent stated that he wanted Hadel to animate the intro of Lucas' potential Let's Play show. They began to collaborate online, then later in person when Cusack traveled to meet Hadel in Burbank, California.
Cusack wrote, directed, animated, produced, and starred in the Rick and Morty special episode Bushworld Adventures, a parody of the series that aired on Adult Swim in 2018 as part of the network's April Fools' Day tradition. The success of Bushworld Adventures led him to create YOLO and Smiling Friends for the network, the latter alongside Hadel. He also voiced Knifey in the video game High on Life and its sequel, Nugget in the television film The Paloni Show Halloween Special, and Mammon in the online series Helluva Boss.
Personal life Cusack continues to reside in Melbourne although he regularly divides his time between Melbourne and Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Filmography
Film Year Title RoleNotes 2026 Smell The Flowers Short film; writer, director, producer, cinematographer, editor
Television Year Title RoleNotes 2018 Rick and Morty Rick Sanchez, Morty Smith, Various Episode: Bushworld Adventures Writer, director, producer, animator, compositor Fresh Blood Koala Man, Damo, Darren, variousEpisode: Koala Man Writer, director 2020–2025 YOLO Lucas the Magnificent, various Creator, director, writer, executive producer, animator, storyboard artist 2022–2026 Smiling Friends Pim, Allan, various Co-creator, director, writer, storyboard artist, storyboard revisionist, art director, character design supervisor, designer, animator 2023 Koala Man Koala Man, Liam, Damo, Darren, various Creator, co-developer, writer, executive producer 2024 Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy Servo Mini-series2025 Big City Greens Jim Owner Episode: "Flexed" Kiff Old Crumb Episode: "Ye Olde Candy Shoppe of Horrors"2026 Toon World Express Episode: "Nearly Departed" Writer, director Robot Chicken Pim Episode: "Robot Chicken Adult Swim Special" TBA Dad's House Co-creator, executive producer
Video games Year Title RoleNotes 2022 High on Life Knifey Voice 2026 High on Life 2
Web Year Title RoleNotes 2012 Question for Ted Various 2 episodes YOLO Sarah Short 2013–2015 Weedheads Various 2 episodes 2014–2025 Damo and Darren Damo, Darren, various 7 episodes 2014 YOLO 2 Sarah and Some Crazy Happy Woman Short 2018 OneyPlays Himself 1 episode Shrek Retold Donkey Animator 2019 The Cyanide & Happiness Show Aladdin 1 episode 2021 Smiling Friends: Free Draw Self Adult Swim special 2020–2022 The Official Podcast Podcast, Guest 2022 The Create Unknown 2 episodes 2023–2024 Helluva Boss Mammon 2 episodes 2025–present Crocodile and Cube: In The Studio Crocodile Also creator, writer, director 2026 Gameoverse Snappers Pilot episode
References
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