Honestly, it’s a miracle this movie even exists. Most people sit down every December, crack a beer or pour some eggnog, and laugh at Clark Griswold’s descending sanity without realizing the absolute chaos happening behind the lens. The cast of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation wasn't just a group of actors playing a family; they were a collection of legends, future superstars, and some truly eccentric personalities trapped on a freezing Warner Bros. backlot.
If you think the movie is wild, the reality of what happened to these people is weirder.
The Man, The Myth, The Legend: Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase is Clark Griswold. You can't separate them. By 1989, Chevy was already a titan of comedy, but he was also notoriously... let's say "challenging" to work with. Did you know Chris Columbus was actually supposed to direct this movie? He walked away. He literally couldn't handle Chevy. He told John Hughes he’d rather quit than spend another day on set with him. Hughes, being a pro, sent Columbus a different script instead—a little indie flick called Home Alone. So, in a weird way, we have Chevy’s difficult reputation to thank for two holiday classics.
Fast forward to 2026, and Chevy is still leaning into the legacy. Just this past fall, he wrapped up a massive tour across the U.S., doing live screenings of the movie for thousands of fans. He’s 82 now, but he’s still got that dry, biting wit. On New Year's Day 2026, CNN premiered a documentary called I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, which basically sums up his entire career. He’s still married to Jayni Chase (they’ve been together since ’82!), and despite all the "Community" drama where he was written off for being, well, Chevy, he remains the undisputed king of the Griswold clan.
Beverly D’Angelo and the Crotch Grab
Beverly D’Angelo is the glue. Ellen Griswold is the only reason Clark didn't end up in a psych ward by the second act. But here’s something most people miss: that iconic SWAT team scene.
You know the part where the SWAT team bursts in and everyone has to "freeze"? If you look closely at Beverly’s hand, she is straight-up cupping Chevy’s groin. This wasn't in the script. Beverly recently admitted in a January 2026 interview that she did it because it was the very last shot of the day and she wanted to see if anyone would notice. The director, Jeremiah Chechik, didn't see it. Chevy told her she couldn't do it. She did it anyway. And because they didn't have time for another take, it stayed in the movie forever.
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Beverly is 74 now and honestly looks incredible. She’s still working constantly—she was just in Violent Night and has about five projects lined up for the next two years. She and Chevy are actually still best friends. They’ve done five movies together, and she basically describes their relationship as a 40-year-old marriage without the paperwork.
The Kids Who Became Massive Stars
This is the part that usually blows people's minds. The kids.
Johnny Galecki (Rusty)
Before he was making $1 million an episode on The Big Bang Theory, Johnny Galecki was a 14-year-old kid in a beanie trying to help his dad fix the Christmas lights. He actually beat out a young Leonardo DiCaprio for the role. Can you imagine Leo as Rusty? The casting director thought Leo was too "thoughtful" and not "goofy" enough.
Johnny is basically retired from acting these days, focusing on being a dad. He recently welcomed a daughter, Oona Evelena, with his wife Morgan. But if you’re a fan of The Conners, you might have seen him reunite with his onscreen sister, Juliette Lewis, where they played—get this—lovers.
Juliette Lewis (Audrey)
Juliette was just 16 when she played Audrey. She’s gone on to have maybe the most "serious" career of the bunch, with an Oscar nomination for Cape Fear and a recent killer run on Yellowjackets. It’s kind of hilarious to watch her in Christmas Vacation now, knowing she’d eventually become a punk rock frontwoman and a Hollywood heavyweight.
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In the world of the cast of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Juliette and Johnny are the ones who truly transcended the "child actor" curse. They both stayed in the business and thrived, which is rare for the rotating door of Griswold children.
Why Cousin Eddie Still Matters
Randy Quaid. Man, what a story.
Cousin Eddie is the heart of the movie’s madness. That white sweater with the black dickie? That was Randy’s idea (well, his wife’s idea). The clicking sound he makes with his tongue? That was based on a guy Randy knew growing up in Texas.
But Randy’s real life took a sharp turn into the "Eddie" zone a few years back. He had those well-documented legal troubles, fled to Canada, and claimed "Star Whackers" were out to get him. It got dark for a while. However, there’s been a bit of a comeback lately. In 2024, he actually reunited with Chevy Chase for a low-budget movie called The Christmas Letter. It wasn't exactly a blockbuster, but seeing Eddie and Clark together again on screen was a massive nostalgia hit for the fans. As of 2026, he’s living in Vermont and staying relatively low-key, though he’s still very vocal on social media.
The Legacy of the Elders
We’ve lost quite a few members of the cast of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation over the years. It's the sad part of a movie that’s nearly 40 years old.
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- John Randolph (Clark Sr.): Passed away in 2004.
- E.G. Marshall (Art): The grumpy father-in-law passed in 1998.
- Doris Roberts (Frances): Before she was the mom on Everybody Loves Raymond, she was Ellen’s mom. She passed in 2016.
- William Hickey (Uncle Lewis): The guy who burned down the tree. He died in 1997.
- Mae Questel (Aunt Bethany): This is a cool bit of trivia—she was the original voice of Betty Boop! She passed in 1998, and this was her final film.
- Diane Ladd (Nora Griswold): As of late 2025/early 2026, Diane is still a force of nature. She recently lost her husband, Robert Charles Hunter, in July 2025, but at 90 years old, she’s still appearing in films like Blue Champagne.
The Neighborly Rivalry
Let's not forget Todd and Margo. Nicholas Guest (Todd) has done a ton of voice acting since the movie, but Julia Louis-Dreyfus (Margo) became... well, Julia Louis-Dreyfus. Seinfeld, Veep, and now the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
It’s hilarious to think that Valentina Allegra de Fontaine was once a snooty neighbor getting soaked by a stray ice slick from Clark’s gutters. Julia has arguably become the most successful person to ever walk onto a Vacation set.
What You Should Do Next
If you're planning your next rewatch, pay attention to the attic scene. When Clark is watching the old home movies, the film is labeled "Christmas '59," but the footage actually says "Christmas 1955." It’s a tiny continuity error that most people miss because they’re too busy crying along with Chevy.
Also, keep an eye on the cue cards. During Clark's legendary "Hallelujah! Holy s—t!" rant about his boss, the cast actually wore giant cue cards around their necks because the speech was so long and fast that Chevy couldn't memorize the whole thing in one go. If you watch his eyes, he’s darting from person to person—not just for comedic effect, but to read his next line!
Actionable Insight for Fans:
If you're looking for more than just the movie, check out the 2026 CNN documentary on Chevy Chase. It gives a raw, unvarnished look at the making of these films and doesn't shy away from the friction on set. Also, if you’re ever in Burbank, the "Griswold House" is actually part of the Warner Bros. backlot (Blondie Street), and it’s the same house used in Bewitched. You can occasionally see it on studio tours if they aren't filming.
The cast of National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation created something that somehow gets funnier as it gets older. Whether it’s Johnny Galecki’s skyrocketing career or Beverly D’Angelo’s improvised antics, the movie is a masterclass in ensemble comedy that will probably be playing in living rooms for another 40 years.