How Old Is Ellen in Christmas Vacation?

By Robert Palmer

If you’re a fan of the classic holiday movie “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” you may have found yourself wondering just how old Ellen, Clark Griswold’s wife, is supposed to be. While the film doesn’t explicitly state her age, there are clues throughout that can help us piece together an estimate.

One of the biggest factors to consider is the age of Ellen’s children. In the film, we see that she and Clark have two kids: a young daughter named Ruby Sue and an older son named Rusty.

Based on Rusty’s appearance and behavior, it’s safe to assume that he’s in his early to mid-teens. Meanwhile, Ruby Sue is probably around 6 or 7 years old.

Taking these ages into account, we can assume that Ellen is likely somewhere in her mid-to-late 30s. This lines up with actress Beverly D’Angelo’s actual age at the time of filming – she was born in November of 1951, which would have made her about 37 when “Christmas Vacation” was released in 1989.

Of course, it’s worth noting that this is all speculation based on context clues – there’s no definitive answer to Ellen’s age in the movie. However, by examining details like her children’s ages and D’Angelo’s real-life birthday, we can make an educated guess.

So next time you’re watching “Christmas Vacation” and find yourself wondering about Ellen’s age, keep these factors in mind. While it may not be a crucial piece of information for enjoying the film, it can add an extra layer of depth to your viewing experience!

Factors Affecting The Estimation

The Age Of Her Children

As mentioned earlier, one of the biggest clues we have about Ellen’s age comes from looking at how old her kids are. Rusty appears to be in his early to mid-teens, while Ruby Sue is around 6 or 7. Based on these ages, we can make an educated guess that Ellen is likely in her mid-to-late 30s.

The Actress’ Age

Another factor to consider is the age of the actress who played Ellen, Beverly D’Angelo. Born in November of 1951, D’Angelo would have been about 37 years old when “Christmas Vacation” was released in 1989. While it’s possible for actors to play characters significantly younger or older than themselves, it’s likely that the filmmakers had D’Angelo’s real age in mind when portraying Ellen.

Conclusion

While we may not know for sure how old Ellen is supposed to be in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” we can make an educated guess based on context clues like her children’s ages and the actress’ real age. By examining these factors, we can estimate that she is likely in her mid-to-late 30s during the events of the film. Of course, at the end of the day, Ellen’s age may not be a crucial detail – but it’s always fun to dive into a little bit of speculation and analysis when watching a beloved movie!

  • Tip: Don’t get too caught up in figuring out every single detail about a character – sometimes it’s more important to just enjoy the story!
  • Tip: Use context clues like dialogue and setting to help you piece together information about characters and their backgrounds.