Dana Barron

 

The actors and actress that cross our television screens are given the task of entertaining us, and making sure that their characters have an emotional impact on us. With some characters that we see on television, actors and actresses do just that; they play their role to such a degree, that the audience has made an emotional memory of them. Regardless if the character was funny, terrifying, hilarious, monstrous, or the original character, they have the ability to never be forgotten in some of our favorite movies. With the National Lampoon movies, no one can forget Audrey Griswold, not even the woman who played her, Dana Barron.

Dana Barron was born April of 1965, in New York City. Born to parents who both carried a natural talent and knack for acting, it wasn't a surprise when Dana herself began to show an interest in the field. Her father, Robert Barron, succeeded in being a commercial director, and was himself, a child actor. Her mother, Joyce McCord, was best known for her acting abilities while she was on stage. It's recorded that when her mother was acting, her presence alone could command the audience into moving into tears, laughter, anger, just with a simple gesture or change in her tone. Though Dana Barron had two influential parents in the world of television, acting, and the theatrical arts, she wasn't jumping into the scene just yet, that was something that she gave some time to do before she began to commit herself to it.

It wasn't until 1980 that Dana Barron took on her first acting project. On the soap opera show, "One Life To Live", Barron played the character Michelle Boudin. This was a role that she didn't play for too long, as she starred in the role for only one year, 1984-1985. However, this wasn't the first time that she was seen on the television screen. Her first big debut into the hearts and memories of audience members was the moment Dana Barron brought life to the beloved character Audrey Griswold in the classic National Lampoon franchise, "National Lampoons Vacation". Dana Barron was given this acting opportunity in the year of 1982 and completed shooting for the role in 1983. The movie itself came out the year of 1983, and audience members who saw this movie found themselves in tears from how much laughter was brought upon them. The entire franchise of "Vacation" movies started with "National Lampoon Vacation" itself, and the franchise immediately gained speed into making several other movies.

"National Lampoon Vacation" begins with father, Clark Griswold, played by Chevy Chase, who has one wish and one wish only; to spend time with his loving wife and kids, Audrey, played by Dana Barron, and Rusty, played by Michael Anthony Hall. In seeing a commercial on television for visiting the All-American park, "Walley World", Clark decides that this is exactly what he and his family should do in order to have fun together as a family. Clark's wife, Ellen, played by Beverly D'Angelo, decides that it is a great idea, however, she insists on them flying. Clark, however, has other plans, and decides that taking a road trip from Chicago to Los Angeles, where the park is located, will be worth much more quality time than flying. Still hesitant, Ellen gives in. From the moment that Ellen says, "okay", things already begin to go wrong and awry. Starting with the car that Clark rented not being ready, he in-turn rents a family truck that gives them all sorts of trouble all along the way. Going through parts of the western sides of the nation, they bump into vandals, Clark is stalked and tempted by a very attractive, curvy woman, and they pay a visit to Ellen's family. Just when matter couldn't get any more involved, Aunt Edna and her dog Dinky tag along for the ride for Aunt Edna to see her son in Phoenix. In trying to make good time, plus trying to recover from past events, Clark inevitably kills the dog, Dinky, as he forget to untie Dinky from the car while the family was trying to enjoy an outing and picnic. Because matter weren't bad enough, the family finds themselves stranded in the desert as the car has finally given in and died on them. Through their arguing, Clark finds a mechanic who seems helpful, but the only person the mechanic was helping was himself, as he swindles Clark out of all of his cash. In attempts to make matters better, they stop in a hotel located next to the Grand Canyon. With no money, Clark is turned down by the desk clerk. In his effort to get a room, Clark decides to steal money from the register, leaving behind a check, and heads back on the road. Matter continue to carry forward into the strange and unexpected as Aunt Edna passes away. While in Phoenix, not knowing what else to do with the body of Aunt Edna, they decide to leave her in the backyard of her son's house. Desperate more and more, Clark is still convinced this trip will end with them getting Wally World. They do eventually arrive, to find the park is closed in result of repairs and maintenance. Not accepting defeat, Clark decides to force him and his family into the park with a BB gun. The owner of the park stops them, and the SWAT team arrives. Before anything else can happen, Clark begins to divulge his family's attempt and reasoning for making the trip and what all has happened to them in order to enjoy their family vacation together. Feeling remorseful, the park director decides to let them stay and enjoy the park in it's entirety. The following "Vacation" movies were played by other actresses, Dana Barron didn't star as Audrey Griswold until 2003, when she come back to reprise her role in the movie "National Lamppon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure".

The years following Dana Barrons acting after "Vacation: she played in movies such as "Death Wish 4: The Crackdown", "Heartbreak Hotel", "Python", "The Invited", and "happythankyoumoreplease". In between her years of acting in movies ranging from 1985 to 2010, Dana Barron also did acting on television shows, and on some shows, she was somewhat of a regular. She starred in shows such as "Babylon 5", "Murder, She Wrote", "The Magnificent Seven", "Beverly Hills, 90210", and another National Lampoon movie, "Pucked". Her acting has been to her scheduling, as she also is married to Michael Vickerman, who is a writer and director of movies and television, and raising their child. However, her movie career has taken a change, where instead of being in front of the camera, she is taking more of a lead role and position working behind the camera, as she is succeeding as a trifecta of writer, producer, and director.

Add Your Comments about Dana Barron: