pne713's video: Randy Quaid evades star whackers long enough to accept Vancouver acting award

VANCOUVER — Months after making shocking claims that he was being stalked by shadowy Hollywood celebrity killers — or "star whackers" — actor Randy Quaid on Wednesday received a Vancouver Film Critics Circle acting award for playing, of all things, a hitman. The actor and his lawyers also took the occasion to tell reporters that his odds of being able to stay in the country are looking brighter. Last week, the Canada Border Services Agency withdrew its bid to have Quaid deemed inadmissible. And Quaid's wife, Evi, now has full Canadian citizenship and has begun the process of sponsoring her husband, meaning Quaid's claim for refugee status could be dropped. "When Evi and I came to Canada last October we can never have envisioned how things would unfold and how our lives would change," he said. "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.'" The setting for Wednesday's celebrity schmaltz was not a glitzy Hollywood auditorium, but the modest courtyard outside Quaid's lawyers' offices in downtown Vancouver. Still, Quaid, sporting a grey suit and red tie, seemed to bask in the spotlight as he accepted a belated award for his performance in the 2008 Canadian flick Real Time. In the film, Quaid plays a hitman hired to kill a compulsive gambler played by Canadian actor Jay Baruchel. Only 59 per cent of the audience "liked it," according to the website www.rottentomatoes.com. As if he were giving an Oscar speech, Quaid expressed his gratitude to the film's producer, his co-stars and the crew "for all their hard work." Curiously, he did not mention his wife, who — as in previous appearances before the press — stood beaming near him, her newly issued citizenship card clipped to her jacket. Asked how it felt to be Canadian, Evi, who was born in the U.S. but has a Canadian father, replied: "Unbelievable. I always knew I was." Local personality Terry David Mulligan presented the award on behalf of the Vancouver Film Critics Circle. "Randy's a really good actor, making really good films and we're really pleased to have him here," Mulligan said. Mulligan invited Quaid to attend next year's award presentation and be the presenter for film of the year, "if you're around and available." Quaid said he'd be there and said he was looking forward to working on many "exciting" Canadian productions. The Quaids made headlines back in October when the were arrested in Vancouver on outstanding U.S. warrants. The couple had failed to appear in a California courtroom to answer to felony vandalism and misdemeanour trespass charges. They were accused of causing more than $5,000 damage at a home they once owned. They have now missed several court dates. Quaid's lawyer, Catherine Sas, offered only a vague answer as to how they plan to resolve the charges. "We're going to move forward and focus our energy on resolving that positively just like we've done here in Canada," she said. Fellow lawyer John Shewfelt added they don't believe the charges are extraditable offences. The Canada Border Services Agency initially sought to have Quaid deemed inadmissible to Canada on the grounds that he had committed a criminal offence outside Canada. But after reviewing the case file, Shewfelt said the evidence was weak and he suspects that's why the Canadian government dropped its request for an admissibility hearing. If Evi Quaid is successful in sponsoring her husband, there would be no need to proceed with a refugee claim, the lawyers said. Whereas refugee claims can take up to two years to be heard, sponsorship applications can take nine months to a year to be processed. The couple have asserted repeatedly in interviews that they are being targeted by a cabal of Hollywood lawyers and business managers who are conspiring to have them killed and steal their money. They did not elaborate on those concerns on Wednesday. Sas said they feel "safe" in Canada. The Oscar-nominated Quaid is best known for his role as Cousin Eddie in the National Lampoon's Vacation movies, but he has also appeared in Brokeback Mountain, Kingpin and Independence Day. dquan(at)postmedia.com © Copyright (c) Postmedia News By Douglas Quan, Postmedia News February 23, 2011 2:13 PM Read more: http://www.canada.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Randy+Quaid+evades+star+whackers+long+enough+accept+Vancouver+acting+award/4334311/story.html Read more: http://www.canada.com/entertainment/movie-guide/Randy+Quaid+evades+star+whackers+long+enough+accept+Vancouver+acting+award/4334311/story.html