Randy Quaid

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Randy Quaid

Randy Quaid
Birth name Randall Rudy Quaid
Born October 1, 1950
Houston, Texas, USA
Spouse(s) Evi Quaid
Notable roles 'Lyndon Baines Johnson'in 'LBJ: The Early Years', 'Russell Casse' in 'Independence Day', Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon's Vacation

Randall Rudy "Randy" Quaid (born October 1, 1950) is an Academy Award-nominated actor. He was born in Houston, Texas, and is married to former Helmut Newton model Evi Quaid. Quaid is the older brother of fellow actor Dennis Quaid.


Contents

[edit] Career history

[edit] Feature films

In a career that spans over 30 years, he has appeared in over 90 movies. Peter Bogdanovich discovered him when Quaid was a student at the University of Houston in Houston, Texas. He got his first exposure (in more ways than one) in The Last Picture Show, when escorting Jacy Farrow (played by Cybill Shepherd) to late-night indoor skinny dipping at a swimming pool. It was the first of several roles he has had which were directed by Bogdanovich and/or based on the writings of Larry McMurtry.

Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
Randy Quaid as Cousin Eddie in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

Quaid appeared in several National Lampoon's Vacation movies where he proved an impressive scene-stealer as "Cousin Eddie", the dim-witted, bucolic in-law of Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase). He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Last Detail (1973) and won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of President Lyndon Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years (1987). He was featured (with Margaret Colin) in two science fiction movies, the unsuccessful Martians Go Home and very successful Independence Day. Other movies include Kingpin, where he played the lovable Amish bowler Ishmael, alongside Woody Harrelson and Weird Science (the television version) cast member Vanessa Angel; a loser father in Not Another Teen Movie; and an obnoxious neighbor to Richard Pryor's character in Moving. He played the lead role in the HBO movie Dead Solid Perfect as a golfer trying to make it on the PGA Tour. Quaid is often considered to be one of the most versatile actors of his generation, easily adapting to suit incredibly varied roles in both comedy and drama. In fact he's often nominated for awards when playing complex dramatic characters.

In 2004, Quaid appearred on stage undertaking the starring role of Frank in the world premiere of Sam Shepard’s “The God of Hell” produced by the New School University at the Actors Studio Drama School in New York. In “The God of Hell” Quaid's portrayal of Frank a Wisconsin dairy farmer who's home is infiltrated by a dangerous government operative who wants to take over his farm was wellreceived and reviewed by New York City's top theatre critics. It also marked the second time that Quaid starred in a Shepard play, the first being the long running Broadway hit “True West.”

In 2005, Quaid starred as Bill Geurrard in the Universal Pictures film The Ice Harvest. His chilling portrayal of a Kansas City mob boss was voted as one of the Top 10 Film Gangsters of all-time in a UK poll, the number one slot went to Marlon Brando. He had a pivotal supporting role in the SAG Award nominated ensemble drama Brokeback Mountain (2005) in which he played a homophobic rancher whose two male employees are the movie's main characters. On March 23, 2006, Quaid filed a lawsuit for $10 million plus punitive damages against Focus Features (LLC), Del Mar Productions (LLC), James Schamus, David Linde, alleging that they both intentionally and negligently misrepresented Brokeback Mountain as being, "a low-budget, art house film with no prospect of making any money" in order to secure Quaid's professional acting services at a considerably lower rate to his usual fee. The film then grossed over $160 million. The lawsuit was closely monitored by many actors who forgo their usual fees to make low-budget movies they believe have artistic merit. On May 5, 2006, Quaid dropped his lawsuit after he was advised that a financial resolution would be made. In 2007, Quaid portrays King Carlos the IV in Goya's Ghosts, a role for which he learned to play the violin, and he stars in the comedy Gary the Tennis Coach alongside Sean William Scott.

[edit] Television

Quaid received both Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for his 2005 portrayal of talent manager Colonel Tom Parker in the critically acclaimed CBS television network mini-series "Elvis." Quaid's other television appearances include a season as a Saturday Night Live cast member (1985–1986), the role of real-life gunslinger John Wesley Hardin in the miniseries Streets of Laredo, and starring roles in the short-lived series The Brotherhood of Poland, New Hampshire (2003) and Davis Rules (1991-1992). He was featured in the highly-rated TV movies Category 6: Day of Destruction and Category 7: The End of the World and starred in Last Rites, a made-for-cable Starz/Encore! premiere movie.

He also provided the voice of an animated Colonel Sanders character in a series of television commercials for fried chicken restaurant chain KFC.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Recurring Characters on SNL

  • The Floating Head: A Rod Serling-esque character in the Twilight Zone parody, "The Limits of the Imagination"
  • Rudy Randolph, Jr.: A pitchman dressed as a cowboy who sells irregular merchandise (e.g. furniture from the Gulf Coast that smells like dead bodies) or treasures from dictators (e.g. Ferdinand Marcos's clothes). Often paired with Rudy Randolph III (played by Robert Downey, Jr.) The name is a spin on Quaid's real name.

[edit] Celebrity Impersonations

[edit] References

[edit] External links

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