Quaid appeared inside many ''National Lampoon's Vacation movies in which he proved an impressible scene thief when a sweet dim bulb relative of Clark Griswold (Chevy Chase). He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in The Last Detail (1973) and won the Golden Globe for his portrayal of President Lyndon Johnson in LBJ: The Early Years (1987) He was featured (with Margaret Colin) in 2 science fiction movies, the abortive Martians Last House & super successful Independence Day.

His television appearances include the year as a SNL cast member (1985-1986), the role of real-life hit man John Wesley Hardin in the mini-series Streets of Laredo, and the leading role in the awkwardly-titled A Brotherhood of Poland, Just released Hampshire (2003).

He as well provided a voice of an alive Colonel Sanders character in the series of commercial message for fried chicken restaurant chain KFC.

He as well got the a portion in the Roland Emmerich directed movie Independence Day''. He played Russell Casse, the out fighter pilot, world health organization occurs as drunk, caring personal human. He comes back to combat fallowing a aliens come endangering Globe. He is the hero of Us, after he is the lthe single one by owning a missile, & it blocks & he must require drastic measures to save Globe.