Randy Quaid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Randy Quaid
Quaid in 2008
Born	Randy Randall Rudy Quaid (1950-10-01) October 1, 1950 (age 74) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Houston
Occupation	Actor, comedian
Years active	1971–present
Spouse(s)	Ella Jolly ​ ​ (m. 1980; div. 1989)​ Evi Motolanez ​ (m. 1989)​
Children	1
Relatives	Dennis Quaid (brother) Jack Quaid (nephew) Gene Autry (first cousin twice removed)

Randy Randall Rudy Quaid (born October 1, 1950) is an American actor and comedian. He is known for playing funny characters in comedies and serious characters in dramas.

He was nominated for an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, and a Golden Globe Award for his role in the 1973 movie The Last Detail. He also won a Golden Globe for playing U.S. President Lyndon Johnson in the TV movie LBJ: The Early Years (1987).

Quaid is famous for playing Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies. He is also known for his role as Russell Casse, the pilot who saves the world in Independence Day (1996). He was also the voice of the villain Alameda Slim in the Disney animated movie Home on the Range (2004).

Early Life and Education

Quaid was born in Houston, Texas. His mother, Juanita, was a real estate agent, and his father, William, was an electrician. He is the older brother of another famous actor, Dennis Quaid.

In high school, Randy took a drama class just for fun. He did not think he would like it, but he loved the class. He decided he wanted to become a professional actor. He went on to study acting at the University of Houston.

While he was in college, a teacher sent him to an audition for the director Peter Bogdanovich. Bogdanovich was making the movie The Last Picture Show. Quaid got a part in the movie, which was his very first film role.

Acting Career

Randy Quaid has been in more than 90 movies. He has played many different kinds of characters, from funny to serious.

Famous Movie Roles

After his first movie, Quaid worked with director Peter Bogdanovich again on What's Up, Doc? and Paper Moon.

His first role to receive major awards attention was in The Last Detail (1973). He played a young sailor, and his performance earned him nominations for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a BAFTA Award.

The Vacation Movies

In 1983, Quaid first appeared as the funny and strange Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon's Vacation. He played this character in four of the Vacation movies. Cousin Eddie became one of his most famous roles. He even starred in a TV movie spin-off called National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure (2003).

Action and Sci-Fi Hits

In 1996, Quaid played a very important role in the science fiction movie Independence Day. He played Russell Casse, a former pilot who makes a big sacrifice to help save the planet from aliens. That same year, he also starred in the bowling comedy Kingpin as an Amish bowler named Ishmael.

Other Notable Films

Quaid has appeared in many other well-known films.

• He played a supporting role in the drama Midnight Express (1978).
• He was in the racing movie Days of Thunder (1990) with Tom Cruise.
• He played the monster in a 1992 version of Frankenstein.
• He had a supporting role in the critically acclaimed movie Brokeback Mountain (2005).
• He voiced the main villain, a cattle rustler named Alameda Slim, in the Disney animated movie Home on the Range (2004).

Television and Theater Work

Quaid has also had a successful career in television. From 1985 to 1986, he was a cast member on the comedy show Saturday Night Live.

He won a Golden Globe Award for playing President Lyndon Johnson in the TV movie LBJ: The Early Years (1987). He also received Emmy Award nominations for his roles in A Streetcar Named Desire (1984) and the miniseries Elvis (2005), where he played Elvis Presley's manager, Colonel Tom Parker.

In 2004, Quaid returned to the stage to star in a play called The God of Hell.

Personal Life

Randy Quaid was married to Ella Jolly from 1980 to 1989, and they have a daughter named Amanda. In 1989, he married Evi Motolanez.

Quaid is an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump.

Filmography

See also

In Spanish: Randy Quaid para niños