Where Is the Cast of Christmas Vacation Now?

Reflecting on the illustrious careers of these talented individuals, it’s fascinating to see how their lives have evolved since their iconic roles in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.” From the timeless charm of Julia Louis-Dreyfus to the captivating performances by Diane Ladd and Nicholas Guest, it’s clear that they’ve used their experiences in Griswoldville as stepping stones to greater heights.

There’s no shortage of consistently hilarious comedies to choose from, like Zoolander, The Hangover, Superbad, Old School, Anchorman, and Dumb and Dumber. Many more could be added to the list, but National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation stands out as something unique. It’s not just because the script is excellent; a significant portion of its humor comes from the delivery of lines by an impressive ensemble cast. Now, let’s discuss what the cast of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation has been up to lately.

Two key aspects prevented a cast member from being considered for a role in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: the passage of time and a decline in acting career. Regarding the first aspect, many of the film’s older cast members were from 1989. This includes John Randolph, who portrayed Clark Griswold’s father, E.G. Marshall and Doris Roberts (who played Ellen’s parents), as well as Uncle Lewis, played by William Hickey, and Great Aunt Bethany, portrayed by Mae Questal. For the second aspect, Nicolette Scorsese, who was the cashier (and object of Clark’s pool fantasies), has not worked in any projects since 2000.

Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase, renowned for his role in “Christmas Vacation,” has experienced as many highs as lows throughout his career. From the late ’70s to approximately the late ’80s, when “Christmas Vacation” was released, Chase’s career was thriving. This period included his stint on “Saturday Night Live,” where he clashed with fellow stars like Bill Murray, the underrated “Foul Play,” “Caddyshack,” “Vacation,” “Fletch,” “Three Amigos!,” and “Funny Farm.” However, the sequels to “Caddyshack” (1988) and “Fletch” (1989) underperformed critically and commercially. The ’90s saw little-seen flops like “Nothing But Trouble,” “Memoirs of an Invisible Man,” and “Cops & Robbersons,” while the 2000s were marked by “Snow Day” and “Zoom.” A brief resurgence came when he was cast as Pierce Hawthorne on “Community,” but further conflicts with castmates and the show’s creator led to a move to direct-to-video productions, where he seems to be staying.

Beverly D’Angelo

There’s no one more fitting than Beverly D’Angelo to embody Clark’s consistently loving wife, Ellen, on screen. Across five films (including the 2015 remake), it appears that she will always stand by him through thick and thin. Remarkably, D’Angelo has also remained a constant presence in the film industry.

In recent years, she’s made frequent guest appearances on shows like Shooter, Insatiable, True Lies, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. As for films from this decade, she’s starred in Drugstore June, Summer Camp, and the R-rated Christmas movie Violent Night, which offers a stark contrast to her work in Christmas Vacation. In the coming years, D’Angelo will be working on several low-budget movies, including Masha’s Mushroom, where Tara Reid takes the lead. Additionally, she has The Prince on her schedule, a film scripted by David Mamet and featuring an impressive cast that includes Nicolas Cage, J.K. Simmons, and Giancarlo Esposito.

Juliette Lewis

For close to four decades, Juliette Lewis has been a consistent figure in the entertainment world, gracing various significant projects with her talent. Many of these projects showcased standout performances that were frequently hailed as the best aspects of those productions. Her career kicked off with a memorable role in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” where she stepped into the shoes previously filled by Dana Hill, Dana Barron, Marisol Nichols, and Leslie Mann as Audrey Griswold. The 1990s saw her deliver impressive performances in films like “Cape Fear,” where she held her own against Robert De Niro’s powerful portrayal, “Kalifornia,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” “Natural Born Killers,” and “From Dusk Till Dawn.” The 2000s were less prolific for her, but the 2010s offered roles in “August: Osage County” and “Ma.

2021 saw her take on one of her most remarkable roles to date, portraying the grown-up Natalie in “Yellowjackets,” a series that has since garnered immense popularity and frequent Emmy nominations. Unfortunately, her time on this hit show is drawing to a close (unless the writers conjure up some extraordinary plot twists). However, fans can eagerly anticipate two other projects: “DreamQuil,” where she shares screen time with Elizabeth Banks and Sofia Boutella, and “Lips Like Sugar,” a thriller that teams her up with Kathryn Newton. The most exhilarating of these upcoming ventures is likely to be “The Trip.” This thriller is helmed by Jorma Taccone, known for his work with comedy troupe The Lonely Island, and features Samara Weaving and Timothy Olyphant as her co-stars.

Johnny Galecki

Speaking of Christmas Vacation, both Griswold children are thriving in these 2020s. Notably, Johnny Galecki, one of them, enjoyed a 12-season blockbuster success with The Big Bang Theory. His IMDb profile shows no upcoming projects, but he’d be comfortably set for life with the royalties from Big Bang alone.

In addition to that, he’s worked on several seasons of “Roseanne” and made occasional appearances on its reboot and spin-off series, “The Conners,” following ABC’s split with Roseanne Barr. Moreover, he’s starred in various films over the past decade, such as “A Dog’s Journey” and “Rings.

Randy Quaid

From the mid-nineties up until around the mid-2000s, Randy Quaid maintained a consistent acting career. However, after some legal issues and a temporary relocation to Canada, it appears that acting opportunities have dried up for him permanently. He will reprise his role in the low-budget comedy “The Christmas Letter” set for release in 2024, which also stars Chevy Chase. Prior to this role, there was a six-year gap between jobs for Randy Quaid. Before that six-year period, there had been an even longer hiatus of nine years without any acting work. Essentially, the last time the older Quaid brother made a significant impact in the film industry as an actor was back in 2005 with “The Ice Harvest” and “Brokeback Mountain”.

At the moment, Quaid doesn’t have any upcoming projects scheduled. However, fans can revisit his roles in ‘Kingpin’ or as Cousin Eddie in four different films, or simply enjoy the original ‘Christmas Vacation’. If they prefer to avoid ‘Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure’, they have that option too.

Miriam Flynn

As a cinephile, I’m always excited to talk about the silver screen, and when it comes to familiar faces, Miriam Flynn, who played Cousin Catherine in our family, is one that often pops up. She’s most recognized for her hilarious stints in the Vacation series, which includes five films, if you count Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure. However, she’s no stranger to the small screen, having appeared as Grandma Longneck in nine The Land Before Time direct-to-video movies. Recently, Flynn has been making guest appearances on shows like The Lincoln Lawyer, Call Me Kat, Shrinking on Apple TV+, and The Unicorn. She also had a role in Jake Johnson’s excellent directorial debut, Self Reliance, which was exclusively available on Hulu.

Diane Ladd

Since the 1950s, Diane Ladd, Laura Dern’s mother, has been recognized for her outstanding performances in various dramatic productions including “Chinatown,” “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” and “Wild at Heart.” However, in her role as Nora Griswold, she demonstrated her ability to bring humor and fun to the screen as well.

During the 2000s, Ladd experienced a bit of a slowdown, but she managed to shine occasionally with projects like “Inland Empire”. The 2010s saw her return more frequently, taking on roles in shows such as “Enlightened” (which starred her daughter), “Joy”, “Ray Donovan”, and “Young Sheldon”. Recently, she’s been keeping busy, co-starring in the critically acclaimed independent film “Isle of Hope”.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

Speaking of her role on “Seinfeld,” it might seem unusual to say this, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus’ career has never been stronger. While Elaine Benes was a fantastic character, Selina Meyer from “Veep” gave her some stiff competition. Even though the series by Armando Iannucci ended after seven seasons, Louis-Dreyfus hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.

Initially, she began a long-term role portraying Valentina Allegra de Fontaine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) with “The Falcon and the Winter Soldier” in 2021. She is scheduled to reprise this character in 2025 for “Thunderbolts.” In addition, when she’s not busy with major MCU productions, she takes on prominent roles in independent films like “You Hurt My Feelings” and “Tuesday.

Nicholas Guest

Margo Chester often bears the brunt of the Griswold family’s antics, but Todd, her husband, isn’t left unscathed either. Todd was portrayed by Nicholas Guest, an actor who has maintained a steady career, although not as prominently as Louis-Dreyfus. Guest may be familiar to some from his roles in shows like Madam Secretary, Sleepy Hollow, and the fittingly titled Guest Appearances. Additionally, he has achieved consistent success as a voice actor, with recent works including the reboot of MacGyver and the 2016 video game Titanfall 2.

2024-12-15 21:10