Beverly D’Angelo Believes Her Career Would Have Been More Successful if She Hadn't Prioritized Her Kids

Beverly DAngelo has always prioritized hands-on parenting with her 24-year-old twins, Anton and Olivia Pacino, even when it required personal sacrifices. At 74, DAngelo shared that she only realized the widespread popularity of her 1989 holiday classic National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation when her children were around 10 years old. She recalled in an interview with People on Monday, November 24, that her twins mentioned classmates frequently talked about the movie at school.

Despite her fame, DAngelo admitted she kept her children somewhat shielded from Hollywoods limelight. I did not raise my kids in that culture, she explained, referring to her children with ex-partner Al Pacino. If I had focused more on my career, I might have achieved more professionally, but my priority was my children, honestly.

The actress never anticipated that Christmas Vacation would become a multi-generational cult favorite. I never imagined it, DAngelo said. Nobody could have predicted that decades later, the Griswolds would still be part of our culture. The film, which also features Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid, Juliette Lewis, and Johnny Galecki, continues to resonate with audiences.

DAngelo gave birth to Anton and Olivia at age 49 in 2001 through IVF. Reflecting on balancing motherhood and career, she said, I had them later in life, and it was like, Lets do this. She has openly discussed the challenges and joys of becoming a parent at a later age over the years.

Although Al Pacino has never married, DAngelo revealed that he always wanted to start a family with her. I had a vision of raising children in a family setting, she told Closer Weekly in 2017. After three months together, Al looked at me and said, I want you to be the mother of my children. That was all I needed to hear.

She explained further, I got pregnant at 48, delivered shortly after turning 49, and by 51, I was navigating life as a single parent. DAngelo and Pacino, who dated from 1997 to 2003, resolved a contentious custody arrangement in 2004. Despite past conflicts, they have maintained a cooperative relationship for the sake of their children. The key is building a new history and moving forward into co-parenting, she said.

Regarding the lessons from her separation, DAngelo emphasized the importance of acceptance. We all want to change what we dislike, but we cannot change another person, she noted. You have to accept differences and what led to the breakup to move forward. From my support network and loved ones, I have shaped the ideal partnership in my life.

Author: Sophia Brooks