Randy Quaid

Randall Rudy "Randy" Quaid (born October 1, 1950) is an American actor nominated for a Golden Globe, BAFTA and an Academy Award for his role in The Last Detail. Quaid also won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Emmy for his portrayal of U.S. President Lyndon Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years. Quaid is well known for his roles in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies, Brokeback Mountain and Independence Day. --- Randy Quaid was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Juanita Bonniedale "Nita" (née Jordan), a real estate agent, and William Rudy Quaid, an electrician. Randy attended Pershing Middle School and Bellaire High School. He is the older brother of actor Dennis Quaid and the uncle of Jack Quaid, and half brother, Buddy John Quaid. He is a third cousin of cowboy movie star Gene Autry. He briefly attended college at the University of Houston, studying acting through the university's School of Theatre and Dance. Quaid has appeared in over 90 films. Peter Bogdanovich discovered him when Quaid was a student at the University of Houston, and he received his first exposure in Bogdanovich's The Last Picture Show. His character escorts Jacy Farrow (played by Cybill Shepherd) to a late-night indoor skinny-dip at a swimming pool. It was the first of several roles directed by Bogdanovich and/or based on the writings of Larry McMurtry. Quaid's first major role was in the critically acclaimed The Last Detail (1973). He played a young US Navy sailor on his way to serve a harsh sentence for stealing $40 from an admiral's wife's pet charity. Jack Nicholson played the sailor assigned to transport him to prison. Nicholson's character eventually becomes his friend and mentor, helping him experience different aspects of life before he goes behind bars. Quaid was nominated for a Golden Globe, BAFTA and an Academy Award for his role in The Last Detail. 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. He was nominated for an Emmy and won a Golden Globe for his portrayal of President Lyndon Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years. Quaid's other television appearances include a season as a Saturday Night Live (SNL) cast member (1985–1986), the role of 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), and the two part television film adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel Of Mice and Men, playing the character of Lenny. He was featured in the highly rated television films 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. --- Quaid was married to Ella Marie Jolly on May 11, 1980; they separated on September 9, 1986 and divorced August 24, 1989. They had a daughter, Amanda Marie. Quaid then married Evi Motolanez on October 5, 1989 at a Montecito, California resort (The San Ysidro Ranch). His brother Dennis, actress Meg Ryan, and Randy's six-year-old daughter Amanda were in attendance. Quaid and Evi met in December 1987 on the set of the film, Bloodhounds of Broadway, starring Madonna and Quaid.