If you’ve watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation—which, let’s be honest, is basically a legal requirement every December—you know the scene. A dirty, wide-eyed little girl stares up at a glowing Santa display with a mix of wonder and profound confusion. That kid is Ruby Sue. She’s the daughter of Cousin Eddie and Catherine, the one who stopped talking because she was "cursed" until a mule kicked her in the door. It’s a hilarious, slightly dark, and weirdly sweet performance. But who played Ruby Sue Johnson?
Her name is Ellen Latzen.
She wasn't just some random child extra pulled off a Sears catalog shoot. By the time she landed the role of Eddie’s daughter, she was actually one of the most recognizable child actors in Hollywood. You probably remember her from something much more intense than a comedy about a family house-fire. She was the little girl in Fatal Attraction. Yeah, the one whose dad was played by Michael Douglas and whose bunny ended up in a pot on the stove.
Why Ellen Latzen Was the Perfect Ruby Sue
Casting a kid for a John Hughes-written movie is a specific science. You need someone who looks like they’ve actually lived a life, not a "stage kid" with bleached teeth and a scripted pageant smile. Latzen had this natural, grounded quality. When she stands there in her oversized coat, looking at Clark Griswold’s chaotic light display, you believe she’s lived in a trailer her whole life.
She was only nine years old when the movie filmed in 1989.
The chemistry between Latzen and Chevy Chase is actually pretty underrated. While Randy Quaid is busy chewing the scenery as Cousin Eddie, Latzen plays the straight-man to the absurdity around her. Think about the scene in the bedroom where she’s telling Clark about her "eyes crossing." She delivers those lines with a deadpan seriousness that makes the comedy land. It’s not "cutesy." It’s real.
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From Fatal Attraction to the Griswold Family
Latzen’s career started with a bang. Most actors spend decades trying to get into a Best Picture nominee. She did it at age six. In Fatal Attraction (1987), she played Ellen Gallagher. That role required some heavy lifting for a kid. She had to navigate the tension of a dissolving marriage and the absolute terror of being kidnapped by a stalker.
Coming off that intensity, Christmas Vacation must have felt like a vacation.
She beat out thousands of other kids for the part of Ruby Sue. It’s funny because, in the original Vacation movie (1983), the characters of Ruby Sue and Rocky were played by different actors. In that first film, Ruby Sue was played by Jane Krakowski. Yes, that Jane Krakowski from 30 Rock and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. But by 1989, Krakowski had outgrown the role, and the production needed someone younger to fit the "impoverished child" aesthetic of Eddie’s brood.
What Happened to the Girl Who Played Ruby Sue Johnson?
Usually, when a kid is in two of the biggest movies of the 80s, you expect them to become the next Jodie Foster or Natalie Portman. Latzen did keep acting for a bit. She appeared in The Unbearable Lightness of Being and did some TV work, including a spot on Family Ties.
But then, she just... stopped.
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She didn't have a "Hollywood meltdown." There were no tabloid headlines or tragic downward spirals. Honestly? She just wanted to be a normal person. She went to high school. She went to boarding school in Vermont. She decided that the grind of auditions and the artificiality of the industry wasn't where her heart was.
In her adult life, Latzen has been surprisingly open about her time as a child star. She even started a podcast called Watched, where she interviewed other former child actors about their experiences. It’s a fascinating look at the industry from the perspective of people who were essentially "retired" by the time they could drive a car. She’s worked in various industries since then, including the culinary world and advertising. She lives a life far removed from the red carpets, and she seems completely fine with that.
The Legacy of a Holiday Icon
It’s wild how one role can define a person’s public identity for thirty-five years. Every year, when the 24-hour marathons of Christmas Vacation start, Latzen’s inbox probably blows up. She’s become a permanent fixture of American pop culture.
There is something timeless about Ruby Sue. She represents the "forgotten" part of the holidays—the kids who don't have the perfect tree or the mountain of gifts but still find the magic in a bunch of twinkling lights (even if those lights are causing a city-wide power surge).
People often ask if she stays in touch with the cast. She’s mentioned in interviews that while they don't exactly have Sunday dinner, there’s a shared bond. She’s done some "autograph" circuits and fan conventions, where she meets people who have "Ruby Sue" tattoos or who can quote her lines verbatim. It’s a strange kind of immortality.
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Why We Still Care About Ruby Sue
We care because Christmas Vacation isn't just a movie; it’s a mirror. Everyone has a Cousin Eddie in their family. Everyone has felt like Clark Griswold, trying to force a "perfect" moment while the world falls apart. Ruby Sue is the heart of that. She’s the reminder that the holiday spirit isn't about the "Snot" the dog or the overcooked turkey.
If you look at the "where are they now" files for the rest of the kids, it’s a mixed bag. Juliette Lewis (Audrey) became an Oscar nominee. Johnny Galecki (Rusty) became one of the highest-paid actors on television with The Big Bang Theory. Cody Burger (Rocky) also left the industry and became a network engineer.
Latzen occupies this unique space. She was the "it" child actor for a three-year window, and then she walked away on her own terms. That’s a rare success story in Hollywood.
Practical Takeaways for Fans of the Film
If you're planning your next rewatch or want to dive deeper into the lore of the Griswold family, here are a few things to keep in mind:
- Look for the Subtle Details: In the scenes with Latzen, watch her reactions to Randy Quaid. Much of what you see on screen was genuine reaction to Quaid’s improvisations.
- The Fatal Attraction Connection: If you’ve never seen it, watch Fatal Attraction just to see the range Latzen had as a six-year-old. It makes her performance as Ruby Sue even more impressive.
- Support the Actors: Many former child stars like Latzen appreciate when fans recognize their current work or personal projects rather than just asking for a quote from a movie made decades ago. Check out her past podcast episodes if you can find the archives.
- Check the Credits: Remember that Ruby Sue was played by Jane Krakowski in the first film. It’s a fun trivia fact that usually wins bar bets.
The story of the girl who played Ruby Sue Johnson is a reminder that you can be part of something massive and still choose a quiet, fulfilling life afterward. Ellen Latzen isn't "the girl who disappeared." She’s the woman who grew up, moved on, and left us with one of the most memorable characters in holiday cinema history. Next time you see her on screen staring at those 25,000 Italian twinkle lights, you'll know there's a lot more to her story than just a mule kick and a miracle.