Randy Quaid As Eddie Johnson

Randy Quaid is the older brother of Dennis Quaid and was already a well established actor before performing as Eddie Johnson in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. He had performed on Saturday Night Live with Chevy Chase and was in A Streetcar Named Desire with Beverly D’Angelo.

Randy earned Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations for his role in the 1973 film The Last Detail. He was also in Midnight Express and Long Riders. In 1987, Randy landed an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Lyndon B. Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years.

Randy Quaid Now

Randy’s role as Eddie Johnson made such a splash that it inspired a television movie spinoff called Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure. Before starring in that, Randy was also in The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle and The Adventures of Pluto Nash.

Randy tried his hand at voice acting in the animated movie Home on the Range. In 2005, he appeared in Brokeback Mountain and Elvis, the latter of which earned him an Emmy nomination. Clearly, his acting career is still going strong far beyond Christmas Vacation.