Is It Cousin Eddie or Uncle Eddie in Christmas Vacation?

By Michael Ferguson

If you’re a fan of the holiday classic, Christmas Vacation, you may have heard the character referred to as both Cousin Eddie and Uncle Eddie. So which is it? Let’s dive in and find out.

Who is Cousin Eddie?

First, let’s establish who Cousin Eddie is. He is a character played by Randy Quaid in the National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise. Cousin Eddie first appears in the original Vacation movie as the redneck relative of Clark Griswold’s wife, Ellen.

Enter Uncle Eddie

In Christmas Vacation, Cousin Eddie makes his return to the screen as a major character. However, he’s not referred to as Cousin this time around. Instead, he’s introduced as Clark’s wife’s brother-in-law: Uncle Eddie.

The Confusion

So why the confusion between his titles? It seems that some fans have simply carried over the “Cousin” title from his previous appearance in the franchise. Additionally, in some promotional material and merchandise for Christmas Vacation, he is still referred to as Cousin Eddie.

The Conclusion

However, according to the official script and credits for Christmas Vacation, Randy Quaid’s character is indeed named Uncle Eddie. So while it may be tempting to refer to him as Cousin based on previous movies or merchandise, it is technically incorrect.

In Conclusion – It’s Uncle Eddie

In conclusion, while many fans affectionately refer to him as Cousin Eddie due to his past appearances in the franchise and some merchandise still using that title, Randy Quaid’s character in Christmas Vacation is officially named Uncle Eddie according to the script and credits. So there you have it – it’s Uncle Eddie!

  • Tip: Keep an eye on official sources such as scripts and credits to avoid confusion on character names.
  • Fun Fact: Randy Quaid improvised many of Cousin Eddie’s lines in Christmas Vacation, including the iconic “Shitter was full” scene.