Is Cousin Eddie in Vacation?

By Michael Ferguson

Are you a fan of the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies? If so, you might remember Cousin Eddie, the lovable yet somewhat odd character played by Randy Quaid.

But have you ever wondered if Cousin Eddie made an appearance in every installment of the Vacation franchise? Let’s find out.

First off, for those who may not be familiar with the series, here’s a quick rundown. The Vacation movies follow the Griswold family as they embark on various road trips and vacations, each one filled with mishaps and misadventures. The series started in 1983 with “National Lampoon’s Vacation” and has since spawned several sequels and spinoffs.

Now, back to Cousin Eddie. He first appeared in “National Lampoon’s Vacation” as a supporting character.

Eddie is Clark Griswold’s (played by Chevy Chase) cousin-in-law, and he and his family show up unannounced during the Griswold’s cross-country trip to visit theme park Walley World. Eddie is portrayed as a bit of a redneck and is known for his trademark white sweater and black dickey. He also has a habit of emptying his RV sewage into storm drains.

After his debut, Cousin Eddie went on to become somewhat of a fan-favorite character. He returned in “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” (1989), this time playing a larger role as he and his family come to stay with the Griswolds for the holidays. In this movie, Eddie is shown to be unemployed and struggling financially but still manages to provide some comedic relief.

Cousin Eddie made one more appearance in the original series in “Vegas Vacation” (1997). This time around, he joins the Griswolds on their trip to Las Vegas after winning big at a slot machine. As usual, he provides plenty of laughs along the way.

So, to answer the question: no, Cousin Eddie is not in every Vacation movie. He appears in three out of the five movies in the original series. However, his character has become so beloved by fans that he has since been featured in other media, such as a made-for-TV movie called “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure” (2003) and an animated series called “The Griswolds” (2021).

In conclusion, while Cousin Eddie may not have been a main character in every installment of the Vacation franchise, his memorable appearances in “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” “Christmas Vacation,” and “Vegas Vacation” have cemented him as one of the most iconic characters in the series.