Beverly D’Angelo Reflects on Motherhood and Career Choices

Beverly D’Angelo, known for her role in “National Lampoon,” recently shared her thoughts on balancing motherhood with her acting career. At 49, she welcomed twins Anton and Olivia with her former partner, Al Pacino.

Now 73, D’Angelo was in a relationship with Pacino from 1996 to 2003. In a recent interview, she candidly discussed how her parenting priorities shaped her career. “I could have had a bigger career if I had been more focused, but the truth is, I was focused on my kids,” she mentioned.

“We got them so late that we were like, ‘Oh, we’ve been there, we’ve done that, let’s do this,’” she added, reflecting on the late timing of their parenthood.

D’Angelo and Pacino became parents through in vitro fertilization in 1997. She humorously advised against trying to do it at home when welcoming children.

She noted a generational gap with the mothers of her children’s classmates, explaining that they “didn’t really have the same references.” D’Angelo’s career took off in 1980 with her portrayal of Patsy Cline in “Coal Miner’s Daughter,” earning her a Golden Globe nomination.

However, she gained widespread fame playing Ellen Griswold alongside Chevy Chase in the classic comedy “National Lampoon’s Vacation” in 1983. D’Angelo reprised this role in multiple sequels, including “European Vacation” and “Christmas Vacation.”

In her interview, she expressed a desire to step back from the typical Hollywood lifestyle, choosing instead to raise her children in a more private environment. It was only when her kids mentioned that “everyone was talking about” the film that she realized its holiday legacy.

“I didn’t raise my children in that culture,” she said, indicating her detachment from the celebrity sphere.

Pacino, besides Anton and Olivia, has children from previous relationships, including his daughter Julie and a son born in June 2023 with Nour Alfallah.

In May 2023, D’Angelo shared a heartfelt Instagram video recounting how her romance with Pacino began on a flight in 1996. “My story with Al began 27 years ago when two artists met and fell in love,” she reflected in the video.

D’Angelo recalled how, in 1997, Pacino expressed his desire for her to be the mother of his children. Although she had avoided the “mother” role in her life, her love for Pacino made her “100 percent happy” with the idea.

She acknowledged the complexity of their relationship but highlighted how their love for their children has helped them navigate challenges as co-parents. “The unique and deep friendship between our two artists continues through the highs and lows,” she concluded.