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‘Christmas Vacation’ cast: Where are they now
With a career that spanned more than five decades, Tony winner John Randolph was the kind of actor who defined “range.” He appeared in TV, film and on the stage, and brought that versatility with him when he played Clark Griswold Sr. in “Christmas Vacation.” Randolph died at age 88 in 2004.
Chevy Chase
‘Christmas Vacation’ cast: Where are they now — Chevy Chase, who starred in the “Vacation” franchise as disaster-prone patriarch Clark Griswold, survived the “Christmas” installment to go on to movies like “Vegas Vacation” and “Hot Tub Time Machine,” as well as TV comedies like “Community.” He’s filming another “Vacation” sequel set to bow in 2015.
Beverly D’Angelo
Beverly D’Angelo played Clark’s incredibly patient wife, Ellen, in all the “Vacation” movies and she has stayed busy on the big and small screens since. That includes stints in movies like “American History X” and “The House Bunny,” and TV shows such as “Entourage” and “Law & Order: SVU.” D’Angelo is also expected to appear in 2015’s “Vacation.”
Johnny Galecki
How adorable was little Johnny Galecki as Rusty Griswold? Since his days helping Chase’s Clark string up those Christmas lights, Galecki has become a consistent face on TV. Between “Roseanne” and “The Big Bang Theory,” the former child star has some of the medium’s biggest comedies on his resume.
Juliette Lewis
Juliette Lewis played Griswold daughter Audrey, a part that has rotated through a few actresses since the original “Vacation” arrived in 1983. Lewis was a natural fit thanks to her comedic talent, but she’s also become a drama giant too: She’s since starred in movies like “Cape Fear,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape” and more. Lewis is filming the Fox drama-mystery series, “Wayward Pines.”
Diane Ladd
Diane Ladd already had an impressive career by the time she joined “Christmas Vacation” as Clark’s mom, Nora Griswold, and she didn’t slow down once that movie was done. Bouncing between movies and TV, Ladd has been in classics like “Primary Colors” and HBO’s short-lived comedy “Enlightened.”
Doris Roberts
Doris Roberts was another cast member whose career preceded her when she walked onto the set of “Christmas Vacation.” After working on Broadway and starring in TV series like “Soap” and “Remington Steele,” Roberts played a Griswold in-law long before she became the overbearing mother on “Everybody Loves Raymond.”
Randy Quaid
We’re pretty sure every family has at least one Cousin Eddie in the family tree. Randy Quaid made this kooky Griswold relative not only funny, but also endearing, and he reprised the role in 1997’s “Vegas Vacation.” Quaid’s career has recently been overshadowed by gossip after he and his wife, Evi, sought asylum in Canada in 2010 on the grounds that there were “murderous people in Hollywood” out to get them. The couple <a href=”http://www.tmz.com/2014/12/15/randy-quaid-canada-passport-felony-warrant-fugitive-lawsuit-john-kerry/” target=”_blank” target=”_blank”>reportedly tried to return to the United States in 2014 without success. </a>
Miriam Flynn
Miriam Flynn was so devoted to playing the memorable Cousin Catherine that she revived the role in 2003’s made-for-TV “Christmas Vacation” sequel alongside Quaid. Outside the “Vacation” series, Flynn also has appeared in a number of TV series, and has done voice work for animated programs like “ChalkZone” and “The Land Before Time.”
Nicholas Guest
If the Griswolds’ next-door neighbor Todd wasn’t so snobby, we’d almost feel sorry for what he endured from the family over the holiday. Since his “Christmas” role, Nicholas Guest has stuck mainly to TV, including a part on the ’90s sitcom “USA High.” In recent years he’s been more active as a voice actor, doing work in Disney hits like “Frozen” and “Tangled.”
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Right before we all came to know Julia Louis-Dreyfus as Elaine on “Seinfeld,” she was Margo, the other annoying neighbor sniping about the Griswolds. Louis-Dreyfus was fresh off a stint on “Saturday Night Live” when she starred in “Christmas Vacation,” and she has held on to her funny bone in years since. Lately, she’s winning Emmys with “Veep.”
Brian Doyle-Murray
Being a lovable actor obviously runs in the Murray family. Brian Doyle-Murray, the older brother of Bill Murray, played an insufferable boss in “Christmas Vacation” but we can’t help but adore him anyway. Doyle-Murray is now more likely to be found on the small screen, with roles in projects like “The Bill Engvall Show,” “The Middle” and, most recently, “Sullivan & Son.”
E.G. Marshall
When you’ve done “The Crucible” and “Waiting for Godot” on Broadway, not to mention starring roles in “12 Angry Men” and “Tora! Tora! Tora!,” “Christmas Vacation” is just a drop in the bucket. But we’re always thrilled to see E.G. Marshall as Clark’s father-in-law whenever we catch the comedy classic. The actor continued to work in film and TV right up until his death at age 84 in 1998.
