Bracken's extensive television roles between 1952 and 2000 include an episode of "The Golden Girls" as Rose Nylund's ex-childhood boyfriend from St. Olaf, as well as an episode of "Tales from the Darkside" playing a stubborn old man who refuses to believe that he has died. After nearly 30 years out of feature films, he returned to perform character roles, including the sympathetic "Walley World" theme park founder Roy Walley in "National Lampoon's Vacation", and Duncan's Toy Chest toy store owner Mr. Duncan in "". Bracken also had a long career with Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey, starring in dozens of productions in the 1980s–early 2000s. One high point was their production of "Show Boat" in which he played Cap'n Andy Hawkes. This production was broadcast on PBS in 1990. He also played a cameo in Patrick Read Johnson's 1994 film, "Baby's Day Out", as one of the veterans in the old soldier's home.