Keith Mack
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is a comedic film that follows the story of Clark Griswold, who is trying to give his family a perfect, old-fashioned Christmas. Clark is married to Ellen and they have two children, Audrey and Rusty. Clark's extended family also plays a significant role in the film, including his cousin Eddie and his family, as well as Clark's parents and Ellen's parents. One of Clark's in-laws is his brother-in-law, Art Smith, who is Ellen's father.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Clark W. "Sparky" Griswold Jr. |
| Portrayed by | Chevy Chase |
| Family | Ellen Griswold (wife), Audrey Griswold (daughter), Russell "Rusty" Griswold (son), Clark Griswold Sr. (father) |
| Occupation | Works at a food preservative/additive company |
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What You'll Learn
Who is Clark W. Griswold?
Clark W. "Sparky" Griswold Jr. is the patriarch of the Griswold family in the National Lampoon's Vacation series. He is portrayed by Chevy Chase, who played the character in every Vacation movie, including the 2015 reboot. Clark is a professional in the prepared food industry, working at a food preservative company. He is an expert in the field of additives and preservatives.
Clark is the husband of Ellen (née Smith) and the father of Audrey and Russell "Rusty" Griswold. Clark is well-meaning but flawed, and his over-eagerness often causes problems for his family. In the film National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Clark tries to give his family a perfect, old-fashioned Christmas, but his plans inadvertently cause chaos for his family and their neighbours. Clark is known for his temper tantrums and extreme behaviour, such as holding a Walley World employee at gunpoint when he arrives to find the park closed. Despite his flaws, Clark is a loving and benevolent force in the Griswold household, always trying to do his best for his family.
Clark's parents are Clark Griswold Sr. and Nora, and his in-laws are Art Smith and Frances Smith. Clark's extended family includes his aunt, uncle, and cousin Eddie, who plays a significant role in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. In the film, Clark's cousin Eddie kidnaps his boss, Mr. Frank Shirley, after Mr. Shirley cancels the Christmas bonuses. However, Mr. Shirley reinstates the bonuses and celebrates Christmas with Clark and his family.
Clark Griswold is a memorable and iconic character in the National Lampoon's Vacation series, and his antics and endeavours to create the perfect family vacation provide much of the humour and charm of the films.
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Who is Clark's brother-in-law?
In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold's brother-in-law is Eddie Johnson, played by Randy Quaid. Eddie is married to Catherine, who is the sister of Clark's wife, Ellen Griswold (née Smith). The couple has a daughter, Ruby Sue Johnson, played by Ellen Hamilton Latzen.
The Griswold family includes Clark's parents, Ellen's parents, an aunt, an uncle, and a cousin with a family of her own. Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, is the patriarch of the Griswold family, who works at a food preservative company. His wife, Ellen Griswold, played by Beverly D'Angelo, is the matriarch of the family. The couple has two children: Audrey Griswold, played by Juliette Lewis, and Russell "Rusty" Griswold, played by Johnny Galecki. Rusty was previously played by Anthony Michael Hall and Jason Lively in the previous two films.
In the film, Clark wants to have a perfect family Christmas, but his over-eagerness and the chaos caused by his extended family lead to several bumps in the road. Clark's cousin Eddie and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property, adding to the holiday high jinks.
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What is the name of Clark's wife?
I assume you are referring to Clark W. "Sparky" Griswold Jr., the patriarch of the Griswold family in the National Lampoon's Vacation film series. Clark's wife is Ellen Griswold (née Smith), played by Beverly D'Angelo in the film series. She is the matriarch of the Griswold family and the mother of Audrey and Rusty Griswold.
In the films, Ellen is the voice of reason, keeping everyone's spirits up as their holiday celebrations fall apart. She is also the one who tries to keep her husband, Clark, on the right track. Clark's parents are very fond of Ellen, in stark contrast to Ellen's parents, who are not exactly fond of Clark as a husband to their daughter.
Clark Kent, on the other hand, is a fictional superhero in DC Comics known as Superman. Clark Kent's wife is Lois Lane, his second love interest and ultimate love. In the crossover "Crisis on Infinite Earths", an alternate version of Clark is shown to have retired from vigilantism to live on a farm with his wife Lois and their two unnamed daughters.
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Who plays Clark's brother-in-law?
In National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Clark Griswold's brother-in-law, Eddie Johnson, is played by Randy Quaid. Eddie is married to Ellen Griswold's cousin, Catherine Johnson, who is played by Miriam Flynn.
The film follows Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase), who is trying to give his family a perfect, old-fashioned Christmas. However, his plans are sabotaged by unwelcome relatives and bad luck. Clark's wife, Ellen Griswold (Beverly D'Angelo), and their children, Audrey (Juliette Lewis) and Rusty (Johnny Galecki), also feature in the film.
The previous Vacation movies had focused entirely on Clark, Ellen, and their children. However, Christmas Vacation introduced the larger Griswold clan, including Clark's parents, Ellen's parents, an aunt, an uncle, and a cousin with a family of her own.
Clark's cousin, Eddie, and his family show up unplanned and start living in their camper on the Griswold property. Eddie is described as a "hick," and he causes trouble for the Griswolds by dumping his RV sewage into a nearby storm drain. Despite the chaos he brings to the Christmas celebrations, Eddie is part of the Griswold clan and adds to the comedic tone of the film.
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What is Clark's brother-in-law's role in the story?
In the National Lampoon's Vacation film series, Clark Griswold, the main character, is known for his well-intentioned but disastrous family vacations. Clark's brother-in-law, Eddie Johnson, plays a significant and comedic role in the story, especially in the first film, "National Lampoon's Vacation" (1983), and its sequel, "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" (1989). Eddie is married to Clark's wife Ellen's sister, Catherine, and they have two children, Vicki and Johnny.
In the 1983 film, Eddie and his family unexpectedly show up at the Griswold household just as the Griswolds are about to embark on their cross-country trip to Walley World. Despite the surprise visit, Clark reluctantly invites Eddie and his family to join them on their vacation. Eddie's presence adds a layer of chaos and humor to the journey. He is portrayed as a carefree, laid-back, and somewhat irresponsible character, often serving as a foil to Clark's uptight and overly optimistic personality.
Throughout the trip, Eddie's antics cause several problems for Clark. For example, Eddie's reckless driving and disregard for rules lead to a comedic scene where he drives the Griswold family car through a muddy field, getting it stuck and requiring Clark to push the car out. Eddie also has a tendency to mooch off of Clark, often taking advantage of his brother-in-law's generosity, such as when he expects Clark to pay for their meals and accommodations.
In "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation," Eddie and his family once again descend upon the Griswolds during the holiday season. Eddie's role in this film revolves around his unique brand of holiday cheer and his unwavering loyalty to Clark. While his antics still cause some trouble, he also provides comedic relief and a sense of family camaraderie. One of the most memorable scenes involving Eddie is when he empties his RV's sewage into the Griswold's sewer, causing a chain of events that leads to a hilarious and disastrous Christmas Eve.
Overall, Clark's brother-in-law, Eddie Johnson, serves as a source of comedic relief, chaos, and family dynamics in the Vacation film series. His carefree attitude and unpredictable behavior create several memorable moments and add to the overall humor of the stories. While he may cause some trouble for Clark, he is ultimately accepted as part of the family, and his presence emphasizes the theme of embracing imperfect yet loving family relationships.
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Frequently asked questions
Randy Quaid plays the role of Clark Griswold's hick cousin Eddie, who is married to Catherine, played by Miriam Flynn, making Eddie the brother-in-law of Clark Griswold.
Chevy Chase plays the role of Clark W. "Sparky" Griswold Jr. in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
Clark Griswold's children are Audrey, played by Juliette Lewis, and Russell, better known by his nickname "Rusty", played by Johnny Galecki.
