How Old Is Aunt Bethany in Christmas Vacation?

By Robert Palmer

Aunt Bethany is one of the most beloved characters from the Christmas classic, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. She is known for her quirky personality and memorable lines throughout the movie.

However, many viewers have pondered about Aunt Bethany’s age. How old is she exactly?

Well, in the movie, Aunt Bethany is mentioned as being 80 years old. She is portrayed as a sweet and loving elderly woman who brings joy to the family during their Christmas celebrations. But did you know that actress Mae Questel, who played Aunt Bethany in the movie, was actually much younger than 80 at the time of filming?

Mae Questel was born on September 13th, 1908 in New York City. This means that during the production of Christmas Vacation in 1989, she was actually 81 years old! Despite her age, Mae Questel brought a lot of energy and humor to her role as Aunt Bethany.

It is interesting to note that Mae Questel had a long and successful career in show business before she played Aunt Bethany. She was best known for providing the voices of famous cartoon characters such as Betty Boop and Olive Oyl from Popeye.

In addition to her voice acting career, Mae Questel also appeared in several movies and television shows throughout her life. Her last film appearance was in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation where she gave a memorable performance as Aunt Bethany.

In conclusion, while Aunt Bethany may have been portrayed as being 80 years old in National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, actress Mae Questel was actually 81 at the time of filming. Despite her age, Mae Questel delivered a fantastic performance that will always be remembered by fans of the movie. And now you know!