Beverly D’Angelo, now 74, was a familiar face in film and television throughout the ’70s and ’80s. Raised in Columbus, Ohio, she first pursued music — performing as a backing vocalist with Ronnie Hawkins’ band The Hawks, which later evolved into The Band. She still embraces her musical roots, recently appearing at a benefit concert in Beverly Hills.
Her career soon shifted to Broadway, where she starred in Rockabye Hamlet in 1976, before transitioning to television and film. Early screen appearances included the mini-series Captains and the Kings and a small role in Annie Hall directed by Woody Allen. She went on to feature in films such as Every Which Way but Loose, Hair, and Coal Miner’s Daughter.
Her defining role arrived in 1983 when she played Ellen Griswold opposite Chevy Chase in National Lampoon’s Vacation. She reprised the character in four sequels: National Lampoon’s European Vacation, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Vegas Vacation, and Vacation.
Beyond the Griswold franchise, D’Angelo appeared in films including American History X, where she portrayed the mother of Edward Norton’s character. On television, she had recurring roles on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and HBO’s Entourage. She also lent her voice to The Simpsons and appeared in comedies like The House Bunny and Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay. More recently, she featured in the holiday action film Violent Night alongside David Harbour.
Her personal life has also drawn attention. She was in a relationship with Al Pacino from 1997 to 2003, and the pair welcomed twins via IVF in 2001. Earlier, she was briefly married to Italian nobleman Don Lorenzo Salviati and had relationships with filmmaker Miloš Forman and Oscar-winning production designer Anton Furst.
Decades after becoming a household name as Ellen Griswold, D’Angelo continues to make occasional public appearances — recently spotted in Los Angeles — reminding fans that her Hollywood legacy is still very much intact.
