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Anthony Michael Hall Opens Up About Working With Chevy Chase on ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation’

The landscape of comedy films changed in 1983 when the very first National Lampoons Vacation film was released. With the premiere of this iconic film came the start of actor Anthony Michael Hall’s successful movie career.

During a recent interview, longtime actor Anthony Michael Hall remembered how his role on National Lampoons Vacation was the first time he met some of Hollywood’s biggest players. Among these Hollywood stars, of course, is Vacations star, Chevy Chase.

“Chevy was kinda like the way he is,” Anthony Michael Hall says of the actor and comedian during a recent Inside of You interview. “Kind of snarky and funny.”

The longtime actor adds that his real-life self wasn’t entirely different from the character he portrays in the popular film.

“I was nervous, as a kid, absolutely,” Hall notes.

Anthony Michael Hall Was Part Of A Classic Favorite

As Anthony Michael Hall spoke during the interview, the actor recalled the moment he first arrived on the Vacation set to portray young Rusty in the classic comedy.

“I was Rusty,” the actor adds with a chuckle. “I was fourteen years old so I looked up to everybody!”

The popular “on the road” comedy film was the first of the National Lampoon Vacation series. And, many would argue one of the most iconic of the group.

The initial Vacation likely falls just behind the 1989 installment that has since become an iconic holiday classic: National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.

The film follows the Griswold family as they set out on a cross-country drive headed for a vacation at the fictional theme park Wally World. Clark Griswold (Chase), the patriarch of the Griswold clan, insisted the family make the drive to the fun park in an effort to spend more time with his wife, Ellen (Beverly D’Angelo), and his two kids Rusty (Hall) and Audrey (Dana Barron).

The Griswolds Make An Iconic Trip Across the Country

Of course, things do not go smoothly for the Griswolds as they venture across America headed towards “America’s Favorite Family Fun Park.”

During the trip, the family faces a variety of obstacles that threaten Clark’s “ideal” vacation. These obstacles include a vandalized vehicle; a car crash that leaves the family stranded in the desert; and an unexpected death.

And, it wouldn’t be a Vacation film without the Griswold family stopping by to visit cousin Eddie along the way. During this stop, the Griswold’s pick up their elderly Aunt Edna and her pup, Dinky.

Ah yes, poor, poor Dinky. The little guy probably kept up with them for about a mile or so…

Anyway, after the success of this iconic film, Anthony Michael Hall went on to star in a variety of other iconic films such as Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Weird Science.