Randy Quaid has been off the radar for years, but his numerous movies and TV shows stand as evidence of his once-successful Hollywood career.
The life of Hollywood icon Randy Quaid has been quite tumultuous, from numerous legal issues to controversial online rants and conspiracy theories culminating in his ousting from the Actors’ Equity Union.
Eventually, his career also took a downturn, as he clashed with various movie producers. Most of these altercations stemmed from his theories that they underpaid him. In 2005, he sued the producers of “Brokeback Mountain” for $10 million, claiming they misled him and paid well below the market rate for his participation.
Reports of his continuous physical and verbal altercations with the production staff ultimately left a bad stench on his reputation, with the media further vilifying him. As a result, he began to snag fewer roles, as more producers refused to work with him, while others pulled the plug on their contracts.
Why Did Randy Quaid Stop Making Movies?
The height of his misfortune came in 2009, after he and his wife Evi Motolanez, were arrested for failing to pay a $10,000 bill at a Santa Barbara hotel. They were charged with fraud, but Quaid’s case was later dismissed for lack of evidence, while the court found his wife guilty.
This was followed by a series of missed court appearances, skipping bail, and evading the law after having a warrant issued for their arrest. Finally, they sought asylum in Canada and Quaid resumed his rants about various conspiracy theories.
Over a decade later, Randy Quaid’s movie career never recovered. He gained media attention again in the early ‘20s, after posting a series of Twitter rants condemning Joe Biden’s presidency, and voicing theories on why Donald Trump should be the POTUS again. Over time, he’s shared more conspiracy theories, thrusting him into the spotlight.
It looks like the once-revered Hollywood legend is back to his old ways again. But long before Randy Quaid became the ridiculed conspiracy theorist, he had a host of movies and TV shows in his name. Here are seven of the most-watched that contributed to his fame.
1. Brokeback Mountain (2005)
“Brokeback Mountain,” released in 2005 features a star-studded cast of Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, and Randy Quaid. It followed Ennis and Jack, two shepherds who develop a sexual and emotional relationship. However, due to societal demands, the secret lovers marry their respective girlfriends, further complicating their romance.
Quaid played Joe Aguirre, a foreman who hired the couple to herd his flock through grazing pastures on Brokeback Mountain. He gave a wonderful performance as the stern foreman burdened with the discovery of the two shepherds’ secret affair.
2. Kingpin (1996)
The 90s film, “Kingpin” is one of a few feel-good movies Randy Quaid starred in. The plot followed Harrelson, a former professional bowler, whose career ended after losing an arm. What better way to seek redemption than through Amish bowler Ismael, played by Quaid?
3. National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983)
“The National Lampoon’s Vacation” focused on a family who embark on a cross-country vacation from Chicago to an LA Amusement park, Wally World. However, their should-have-been fun family expedition quickly became a nightmare as different mostly-hilarious hurdles came their way.
The presence of cousin Eddie (Randy Quaid) made the encounter even more nightmarish for the family, especially the patriarch Clark Griswold.
4. Not Another Teen Movie (2001)
Most millennials are familiar with this 2000s stereotypical coming-of-age romcom, capable of irking off just about anyone. It tells the tale of a high school jock who made a bet with his friends to convert a rando nerdy girl into a prom queen.
Pained by his recent breakup with the head cheerleader, Jake Wyler took the bet, but his quest to give the rebellious Janey Briggs a 360 turnaround proved more challenging than he anticipated. Randy Quaid starred as Mr Biggs, Janey’s deadbeat alcoholic dad. And sure enough, his performance made the movie more captivating.
5. Independence Day (1996)
Starring alongside Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum, Randy Quaid gave one of the best performances in his movies. He played Russell Casse, an alcoholic former fighter pilot, single stepfather, and Vietnam war veteran, supposedly abducted by aliens a decade before the film’s events.
Having the alien ships invade earth again validated his previous claims of abduction, ultimately putting him at the forefront of the quest to defend the earth against the alien invaders.
6. Major League II (1994)
The “Major League II,” the first sequel of the “Major League” movies starred Randy Quaid as one of the crazy fans. Despite his minor role, the star managed to make a statement with his passionate acting, becoming one of the standout cast members.
7. Days Of Thunder (1990)
The combination of Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman is enough to shake up any movie set. And thrown in a mix of Robert Duvall and Randy Quaid in his prime, you’ve got the “Days of Thunder.”
The ‘90s movie saw Quaid play car dealership mogul and racing team owner, Tim Daland, who was kind enough to give Tom Cruise’s Cole Trickle a shot at NASCAR.
Interestingly, the movie marked the iconic meeting of Cruise and Nicole Kidman, after playing lovers on-screen. Years after walking down the aisle on Days of Thunder, the two tied the knot in real life, but their relationship has since ended. The couple remains estranged, despite sharing one biological daughter, Suri Cruise.