RANDY QUAID

Full Name, Age & Place of Birth

Randy Randall Rudy Quaid was born on October 1, 1950, in Houston, Texas, USA, making him 74 years old as of mid‑2025 .

Early Life & Family

He is the eldest son of Juanita “Nita” (née Jordan), a real estate agent, and William Rudy Quaid, an electrician. Randy has English, Scots-Irish, and Cajun ancestry and grew up in Bellaire and southwest Houston . His younger brother is actor Dennis Quaid, and their connection extends to family legend—through their father, Randy is a first cousin twice removed to cowboy icon Gene Autry .

Education & Early Career Start

Randy’s journey into acting began in high school after he discovered his passion for drama. He pursued that with formal studies at the University of Houston, auditioning for and landing his debut role in The Last Picture Show (1971) under director Peter Bogdanovich .

Rise to Renown & Early Honors

His breakout came with The Last Detail (1973), where he earned Academy Award, Golden Globe, and BAFTA nominations for Best Supporting Actor . He followed that with standout roles in Midnight Express (1978), and later won a Golden Globe (and Emmy nomination) portraying President Lyndon B. Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years (1987) .

Iconic Film Roles

Randy became a beloved comedic figure through roles like Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation series (1983–2003), and Russell Casse in Independence Day (1996) . His other notable roles include Alameda Slim (voice) in Disney’s Home on the Range (2004), and Joe Aguirre in Brokeback Mountain (2005) . He also starred in cult favorites such as Kingpin and Real Time, the latter earning him a Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award in 2008 .

TV & Theatre Highlights

His TV credits include roles in Davis Rules (1991–1992), the Of Mice and Men adaptation (1981), Saturday Night Live (1985–1986), and the miniseries Elvis (2005), earning Emmy and Golden Globe nominations . On stage, he received strong acclaim for performances in Sam Shepard’s True West on Broadway and The God of Hell in 2004 .

Legal Struggles & Controversial Chapter

Randy’s later years were marked by high-profile legal battles. In 2009, he and his wife were arrested over an unpaid hotel bill and missed court dates, leading to arrest warrants . In 2010, the couple briefly sought asylum in Canada, alleging persecution by a group they called "Hollywood Star Whackers." They lived in Canada into the mid‑2010s and claimed enduring threats, before returning to Vermont when extradition issues were dismissed .

Personal & Creative Ventures

In addition to acting, Quaid fronted his own band, Randy Quaid & The Fugitives, releasing the single “Star Whackers” in 2011 accompanied by a self-produced short film . Politically, he became vocal after 2016, supporting elections fraud claims and gaining attention when former President Trump retweeted his views in 2020 .

Summary

From an award-nominated breakout in The Last Detail, to beloved comedic roles like Cousin Eddie and Russell Casse, Randy Quaid has left a cultural imprint across film, TV, and stage. His later life is marked by dramatic legal controversies, personal creative projects, and outspoken beliefs. His complex career paints a portrait of a gifted performer with a distinctive journey.