Ellen Hamilton Latzen’s debut on the big screen may very well be the role she’s most recognized for. Back in 1987, she starred in the intense suspense-drama Fatal Attraction, a film centered around a disturbed woman who engages in a fleeting affair with a married man and then becomes dangerously obsessed, going to extreme lengths to dismantle his life in hopes of claiming him for herself. In the movie, Latzen portrayed Ellen Gallagher, the young daughter of the unfaithful husband, played by Michael Douglas. Caught in the middle of a volatile situation involving her father, her mother—played by Anne Archer—and the man’s dangerous ex-lover, portrayed by Glenn Close—Latzen’s character became a pivotal element in the unfolding drama. The film resonated strongly with audiences and became a major box office success, capturing the mood of the era. Following this breakthrough, Latzen continued to appear in both television and film. She had a minor part in the 1988 comedy Mr. North and wrapped up the decade with a memorable role in Christmas Vacation, the third installment of the beloved National Lampoon’s Vacation franchise, starring Chevy Chase and Beverly D’Angelo. As Ruby Sue, the wide-eyed niece of the eccentric cousin Eddie (played by Randy Quaid), Latzen brought a sense of youthful purity that stood in charming contrast to the chaos around her. In 1990, she took on a supporting role in an episode of ABC Afterschool Specials that tackled the serious issue of drunk driving. However, as the ‘90s progressed, Latzen’s acting appearances became less frequent, with only a couple of additional roles credited for the remainder of the decade.
Ellen Latzen has been associated with several movies, films, and music projects throughout her career, but one that really stands out is Boys Life 2 from 1997—this happens to be her highest-rated work. On the flip side, her lowest-rated movie is National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, which came out quite a bit earlier in 1989. While there are plenty of other titles linked to her name, these two seem to represent the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to audience reception.