From L: Beverly D’Angelo, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis and Chevy Chase.Photo:Amanda Edwards/Getty, Daniel Boczarski/Getty, Rodin Eckenroth/Getty
Amanda Edwards/Getty, Daniel Boczarski/Getty, Rodin Eckenroth/Getty
The Griswolds are reuniting!
Taking place Dec. 8 through 10 in Edison, New Jersey, the convention is best known for its panel ofChristmas-movie stars, which now includes theSaturday Night Livealum, 79, plus D’Angelo, 71, Quaid, 72, and Lewis, 50. It will also markYellowjacketsstar Lewis' first convention ever.
The four starred the 1989 holiday comedy classicChristmas Vacationin which Chase plays patriarch Clark Griswold, who faces a series of unlucky happenstances while trying to have a traditional Christmas with his family that includes wife Ellen (D’Angelo), daughter Audrey (Lewis), son Rusty (Johnny Galecki) and extended relatives like cousin Eddie (Quaid).
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Cast photo fromNational Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation(1989).Warner Bros/Kobal/Shutterstock
In June, PEOPLE exclusivelyrevealed Chase’s headlining attendanceat the upcoming convention, which is a winter wonderland for Christmas fanatics — complete with a holiday market full of local artists and vendors, photo ops and other activities.
Last year’s event saw several Hallmark, Lifetime and GAF holiday stars, includingAndrew Walker, Nikki DeLoach,Paul Campbell,Danica McKellar,Chad Michael MurrayandAutumn Reeser. They joined headliners andMean GirlscostarsLacey ChabertandJonathan Bennett.
Hallmark holiday movie favoriteTyler Hynestold PEOPLE in August 2022 at Christmas Con Pasadena that his dream Christmas-movie costar would be Chase.
“I mean, if we’re talking about holiday stars, I would just think of Chevy Chase from theLampoonmovies.Christmas Vacationis one of those legendary movies I grew up on,” said Hynes, 37, noting he was named after Chase’sCaddyshackcharacter. “Doing these movies now and having him be in it would be a full-circle moment.”
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation(1989).Archive Photos / Getty Images
Archive Photos / Getty Images
In December 2022, D’Angelo revealed in an interview with PEOPLE that she nearly turned down the role of Ellen Griswold opposite Chase in the firstVacationmovie, which premiered in 1983.
“I wasso sure that I wasn’t the right person,” she said at the time.
At that early point in her career, D’Angelo had done musicals and drama includingHairandCoal Miner’s Daughter, in which she playedPatsy Cline. “I really didn’t know what my direction was going to be,” the actress said.
What’s more, she was around 30 and would be playing a mother toAnthony Michael Hall, who was a teenager. “I even suggested somebody else to my agent and he went, ‘No, no, no. Really, take a look at the script,’ " D’Angelo continued.
And in the end, “I’m just so honored that the Griswolds are so embedded in our culture about what a family is, because it’s a good family,” she added.
source: people.com
