Dana Barron

Dana Barron (born April 22, 1966) is an American actress who is best known for her role as the original Audrey Griswold in the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation which she reprised in 2003's National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure for NBC television.

Dana Barron
Barron at the 2012 New York Comic Con
Born (1966-04-22) April 22, 1966
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActress
Years active1980–present
Children1

Early life

Barron was born in New York City.. Her mother, Joyce McCord, is a stage actress.[1] Her father, Robert Weeks Barron, was a director of commercials and a Congregationalist church pastor; Robert founded The Weist-Barron School of Television, the first commercial and soap opera acting for television school in the world.[1][2][3] Barron has a sister named Allison. She is a fifth generation entertainer. Her grandfather was an opera singer, and her mother moved from Alabama to become an actress.[2]

Career

Barron's sister, Allison, had been doing TV commercials at a young age, and Barron told her father that she wished to do the same. She began acting at age 10, doing TV commercials as well. By age 11, she was appearing with Christine Baranski in Hide and Seek on Broadway. By age 13, her first film was the horror film He Knows You're Alone, with Tom Hanks, which was also Hanks' first film.[2]

In 1983, Barron starred in the Chevy Chase comedy National Lampoon's Vacation, originating the role of Audrey Griswold. The film became a classic,[2] and Barron would reprise the role 20 years later in the NBC TV movie spinoff, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure.

Dana also appeared in an episode of The Equalizer.

Barron received a Daytime Emmy Award in 1989 for her appearance in the CBS after-school special No Means No.[4] Barron appeared on the soap opera One Life to Live from 1984 to 1985 as Michelle Boudin. She starred in the 1998 The Magnificent Seven as Casey.

She had a recurring role as Nikki Witt on the Fox series Beverly Hills, 90210, during which she was able to make her character's clothes and modify her lines.[2]

In 1992, she starred with JoBeth Williams and Chris Burke in the NBC movie Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted. Barron has made guest appearances on TV shows including The Equalizer, In the Heat of the Night, Murder, She Wrote, and Babylon 5 as a telepath named Lauren Ashley in the Season 5 episode "The Corps Is Mother, the Corps Is Father".

Personal life

Barron was in a long term relationship with filmmaker Michael Vickerman. They have a son, Taylor.[2]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1980 He Knows You're Alone Diane Jensen
1983 National Lampoon's Vacation Audrey Griswold
1985 Heaven Help Us Janine
1987 Death Wish 4: The Crackdown Erica Sheldon
1988 Heartbreak Hotel Beth Devereux
1994 Magic Kid 2 Maggie Patterson
1994 In the Living Years Kathy
1997 City of Industry Gena
1998 The Face of Alexandre Dumas: The Man in the Iron Mask Louise de la Vallière
2000 Dumped Laura Video
2000 Stageghost Renee Bloomer
2001 The Perfect Nanny Fawn Lewis
2001 Night Class Heather
2006 National Lampoon's Pucked Tiny
2009 A Letter to Dad Kathy Brown
2010 Happythankyoumoreplease The Gynecologist
2010 The Invited Kristy
2012 Mayfly Deb Short

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1983 The Brass Ring Darlene TV film
1984 One Life to Live Michelle Boudin 2 episodes
1985 The Equalizer Melinda "The Children's Song"
1987–1989 Crossbow Eleanor Regular role
1988 CBS Schoolbreak Special Megan Wells "No Means No"
1989 In the Heat of the Night Corrie Kroller "Crackdown"
1992 Jonathan: The Boy Nobody Wanted Laurie Moore TV film
1992 Beverly Hills, 90210 Nikki Witt Recurring role (season 3)
1994 Dream On Reo Saunders "Blame It on Reo"
1994 Jailbreakers Sue TV film
1995 The Watcher Mary "The Human Condition"
1995 Murder, She Wrote Sarah Tyler "School for Murder"
1998 Babylon 5 Lauren Ashley "The Corps is Mother, the Corps is Father"
1998–2000 The Magnificent Seven Casey Wells Recurring role
2000 Python Kristin TV film
2003 National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation 2: Cousin Eddie's Island Adventure Audrey Griswold TV film
2005 McBride: Murder Past Midnight Marta Arnack TV film
2007 Pandemic Lindsey Mastrapa TV miniseries
2012 Naughty or Nice Brenda Weir TV film
2012 Leverage Betty "The Corkscrew Job"
2013 Snow Bride Doria TV film

References
  1. "Dana Barron Biography (1968-)". Film Reference. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  2. "Celebrity Parents Exclusive: Dana Barron" Archived September 12, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Celebrity Parents Magazine. Retrieved July 14, 2013.
  3. http://www.backstage.com/news/obituaries_29/
  4. Sharbutt, Jay (June 30, 1989). "NBC's 'Santa Barbara' Is Top Daytime Emmy Winner". Los Angeles Times.

See also
  • Dana Plato and Dana Hill, two other American actresses named Dana that were also prominent at Barron's peak of fame.
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