Who Played the Daughter in National Lampoon’s Vacation?

By Michael Ferguson

If you’re a fan of the National Lampoon’s Vacation series, you may be wondering who played the daughter in the first movie. Well, wonder no more because we have the answer for you!

In the 1983 film National Lampoon’s Vacation, the role of Audrey Griswold was played by Dana Barron. Audrey is the teenage daughter of Clark and Ellen Griswold, played by Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo respectively.

The Character of Audrey Griswold

Audrey is portrayed as a typical moody teenager who is not thrilled about going on a family road trip to Walley World. Throughout the movie, she is often seen arguing with her brother Rusty and complaining about various aspects of their journey.

Despite her teenage angst, Audrey has some memorable moments in the film. One of her most iconic scenes involves her meeting up with a boy named Jack at a hotel pool.

The two share an awkward conversation before Jack tells Audrey that he has to go “spank his monkey”. This scene has become somewhat of a cult classic among fans of the movie.

Dana Barron’s Career

While National Lampoon’s Vacation was undoubtedly Dana Barron’s most famous role, she had been acting for several years prior to being cast in the film. She made her professional debut in 1980 on an episode of The Robert Klein Show and went on to appear in several TV shows including Cheers and The Love Boat.

After National Lampoon’s Vacation, Barron continued to act but never reached quite the same level of fame as she did with that role. She did reprise her role as Audrey in 2003 for a made-for-TV sequel called National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie’s Island Adventure.

Conclusion

So there you have it – Dana Barron played Audrey Griswold in National Lampoon’s Vacation. While Audrey may have been a bit of a brat in the movie, Barron’s portrayal of her has undoubtedly left a lasting impression on fans of the franchise.