Dana Barron Explained

Dana Barron should not be confused with Dana Barros.

Dana Barron
Birth Date:22 April 1966[1]
Birth Place:New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation:Actress
Yearsactive:1976–present
Children:1

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 for NBC television.

Early life

Barron's 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.[2] [3] Barron is a fifth generation entertainer. Her grandfather was an opera singer, and her mother moved from Alabama to become an actress. Barron has a sister.[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, .

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 . 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.[2]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980He Knows You're AloneDiane Jensen
1983National Lampoon's VacationAudrey Griswold
1985Heaven Help UsJanine
1987Erica Sheldon
1988Heartbreak HotelBeth Devereux
1994Magic Kid 2Maggie Patterson
1994In the Living YearsKathy
1997City of IndustryGena
1998Louise de la Vallière
2000DumpedLauraVideo
2000StageghostRenee Bloomer
2001Fawn Lewis
2001Night ClassHeather
2006National Lampoon's PuckedTiny
2009Kathy Brown
2010HappythankyoumorepleaseThe Gynecologist
2010Kristy
2012MayflyDebShort

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1983DarleneTV film
1984One Life to LiveMichelle Boudin2 episodes
1985Melinda"The Children's Song"
1987–1989CrossbowEleanorRegular role
1988CBS Schoolbreak SpecialMegan Wells"No Means No"
1989In the Heat of the NightCorrie Kroller"Crackdown"
1992Laurie MooreTV film
1992Beverly Hills, 90210Nikki WittRecurring role (season 3)
1994Dream OnReo Saunders"Blame It on Reo"
1994JailbreakersSueTV film
1995Mary"The Human Condition"
1995Murder, She WroteSarah Tyler"School for Murder"
1998Babylon 5Lauren Ashley"The Corps Is Mother, the Corps Is Father"
1998–2000Casey WellsRecurring role
2000PythonKristinTV film
2003Audrey GriswoldTV film
2005McBride: Murder Past MidnightMarta ArnackTV film
2007PandemicLindsey MastrapaTV miniseries
2012Naughty or NiceBrenda WeirTV film
2012LeverageBetty"The Corkscrew Job"
2013Snow BrideDoriaTV film
2019The GoldbergsSecurity Guard #2"Vacation"

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Dana Barron – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB .
  2. http://www.celebrityparentsmag.com/2010/01/celebrity-parents-exclusive-dana-barron.html "Celebrity Parents Exclusive: Dana Barron"
  3. Web site: OBituaries Backstage. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141020144047/http://www.backstage.com/news/obituaries_29/ . October 20, 2014 .
  4. Sharbutt, Jay (June 30, 1989). "NBC's 'Santa Barbara' Is Top Daytime Emmy Winner". Los Angeles Times.