Randy Quaid
Randy Randall Rudy Quaid (born October 1, 1950) is an American actor noted for his versatile performances across comedy and drama in film and television.[1][2]
He earned critical acclaim early in his career, receiving an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, along with Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations, for portraying a naive sailor in The Last Detail (1973).[2][3]
Quaid achieved broader recognition playing the bumbling but memorable Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation series, starting with the 1983 original, and appeared in other prominent films such as Independence Day (1996) and Brokeback Mountain (2005), while providing voice work for characters like Alabaster Jones in King of the Hill.[4][5] In the 2000s, Quaid encountered escalating personal and financial difficulties, including accusations from the IRS for unpaid taxes in 2004 and lawsuits against former representatives for allegedly creating fraudulent trusts to siphon his earnings.[6][7]
These culminated in 2010 felony charges in California for burglary, conspiracy, and defrauding a Santa Barbara inn of over $10,000 via an invalid credit card, after which he and his wife Evi evaded court appearances by fleeing to Canada.[8][9]
The couple sought refugee status there, asserting persecution by a shadowy network of "Hollywood star whackers" intent on murdering celebrities like Heath Ledger and David Carradine, a belief Quaid has reiterated publicly without corroborating evidence from independent investigations.[10][11]
Subsequent border-crossing attempts led to arrests, including in 2015, and ongoing disputes with U.S. authorities over bail and extradition.[12][13]