The Quaids Are Canada's Problem Now

Evi Quaid gets Canadian citizenship, which allows husband Randy to remain in the country and avoid felony vandalism charges in California

By Josh Grossberg Feb 23, 2011 9:55 PMTags
Randy Quaid, Evi QuaidAP Photo/The Canadian Press, Darryl Dyck

The Quaids' run for the border appears to have paid off.

Randy Quaid's attorney tells E! News that the Canadian Border agency has withdrawn admissibility proceedings against the Vacation star, which means he'll be allowed to remain in Canada despite facing felony vandalism charges in California for allegedly squatting in a former home.

And lets not forget about those alleged "Hollywood star whackers" out to get him, either.

So how exactly did the erstwhile Cousin Eddie persuade authorities to let him hang around? Chalk it up to his wife Evi's Canuck connection: Her father was born there.

"Evi's Canadian citizenship was formally recognized and we received her citizenship card on Feb. 10. Evi has formally applied to sponsor her husband and it is anticipated that Randy will be granted his permanent resident status in due course and before the refugee claim is scheduled," Quaid's lawyer, Catherine Sas, said at a press conference Wednesday.

The timing didn't hurt, either. According to Quaid, the real reason he came to Canada was for some "R&R" and so he could finally pick up the Vancouver Film Critic's Circle Award, an honor he was supposed to have received in 2009 for his turn in the comedic drama Real Time.

The Quaids has crossed the border into Vancouver in October and were taken into custody after a warrant was issued for their arrest when they missed a hearing in their squatting case. They soon applied for asylum on the grounds that that nefarious ring was out to murder him. But while his missus claimed citizenship, the thespian's refugee status was in doubt.

Now that Quaid can remain in the country as a resident, the pair read a joint statement expressing how happy they were to be in Maple Leaf territory.

"Today, we're here to say, Thank you, Canada. Thank you for your warm welcome. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to live in peace," said Randy. "Professionally. . .the brightest spot these past 2 1⁄2 years has been the film Real Time and now this award, which I finally get a chance to receive and was the reason we came to Canada in the first place."

The Toronto Globe and Mail also quoted Evi as saying it felt "unbelievable" to be a Canadian and that she always felt like a "natural" citizen.

— Reporting by Claudia Rosenbaum