For decades, Dennis Quaid’s name has been synonymous with Hollywood’s acting prowess. A versatile actor, he has taken on both serious and comedic roles, capturing a wide audience worldwide with his undeniable talent. From his breakout role in Breaking Away to iconic performances in The Parent Trap, The Day After Tomorrow, and A Dog’s Purpose, this Houston native has secured a prominent place in show business. Read more about the life and career journey of this Houston-born star on houstonski.
Acting Education
Dennis William Quaid was born on April 9, 1954, in Houston, to a family with a father who was an electrician and a mother who worked as a real estate agent. He attended Paul W. Horn Elementary, Pershing Middle School, and Bellaire High School.
Inspired by his older brother Randy, also a well-known actor, Dennis enrolled at the University of Houston to study drama. However, he left his studies in 1974 to pursue an acting career in Los Angeles.
Career Beginnings
Dennis landed his first significant role in the 1978 film 9.30.55. His breakthrough came with the comedy-drama Breaking Away (1979), which follows a group of four teenagers just out of high school. The film won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay.
Quaid then appeared in the 1980 Western The Long Riders, starring alongside his brother Randy, and in the romantic comedy All Night Long (1981) with Gene Hackman and Barbra Streisand. He also took roles in a few low-rated films, such as Jaws 3-D (1983).
In 1983, Quaid gained widespread recognition for portraying the daring astronaut Gordon Cooper in The Right Stuff, based on Tom Wolfe’s book about test pilots selected for the U.S. space program. In 1987, he starred as a New Orleans homicide detective in the romantic thriller The Big Easy.
Battling Addiction During His Career
While working on the 1987 sci-fi comedy Innerspace, Quaid met actress Meg Ryan, with whom he developed a romantic relationship. Before Ryan agreed to marry him, she insisted he address his alcohol and drug addiction.
Following his role in the 1989 biographical musical Great Balls of Fire! about musician Jerry Lee Lewis, Quaid quit drugs for good. A year later, he married Meg Ryan.
Returning to his Christian faith played a crucial role in Quaid’s path to sobriety. In a 2018 interview with The Sunday Times, he admitted to using approximately two grams of cocaine daily in the 1980s.
Other Roles
After a supporting role in Postcards from the Edge (1990), Quaid took a hiatus from film, returning in 1993 in Flesh and Bone. To play tuberculosis-afflicted Doc Holliday in the Western Wyatt Earp (1994), Quaid lost nearly 20 kg.
In 1995, he played the cheating husband opposite Julia Roberts in the dramedy Something to Talk About. His subsequent films had limited success until he starred with Lindsay Lohan and Natasha Richardson in the 1998 romantic comedy The Parent Trap. That same year, Quaid joined an ensemble cast in Playing by Heart and made his directorial debut in Everything That Rises.
Quaid’s popularity surged again in the late ’90s and early 2000s, with roles in Any Given Sunday alongside Al Pacino and Cameron Diaz and the sci-fi thriller Frequency (2000).
In 2002, he starred in the crime drama The Rookie, based on a true story about a 40-year-old who joins the police academy. Quaid played opposite characters facing high-stakes situations and personal challenges.
That same year, the New York Film Critics Circle named Quaid Best Supporting Actor for his role in the retro-drama Far from Heaven. He also appeared in The Alamo (2004), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), and Vantage Point (2008).
In 2017, Quaid appeared in A Dog’s Purpose, a heartwarming adventure based on W. Bruce Cameron’s novel about a dog’s life and reincarnations. In 2019, he starred in its sequel, A Dog’s Journey, and joined James Franco in Kin and The Pretenders.
Three Marriages
In the ’90s, Quaid and Meg Ryan were considered one of Hollywood’s strongest couples. The two had a son, Jack. In June 2000, Quaid and Ryan surprised fans by announcing their divorce after nine years. The press speculated Ryan’s affair with Australian actor Russell Crowe contributed to the split.
In July 2004, Quaid married Kimberly Buffington, a Texas real estate agent, with whom he had twins, Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace. In 2007, Zoe Grace was mistakenly given an adult dose of heparin at the hospital, leading Quaid to file lawsuits for medical negligence and against the drug manufacturer. The couple divorced in 2018.
In October 2019, Quaid announced his engagement to 26-year-old Laura Savoie, a Ph.D. student at the McCombs School of Business at the University of Texas. They married in June 2020.
Fun Facts
- Dennis Quaid has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry.
- Besides acting, Quaid is a skilled musician. He plays guitar and performs with his band, The Sharks.
- Quaid’s hobbies include golf, motorcycling, and aviation. He has participated in well-known golf tournaments and earned a pilot’s license to enjoy time in the sky.
- Known for his dedication to acting, Quaid has undergone physical transformations and conducted in-depth research to fully embody his roles.
- Over his career, Quaid has worked with acclaimed directors like Oliver Stone, Martin Scorsese, and Roland Emmerich, showcasing his versatility as an actor.
- A passionate animal lover, Quaid has adopted several pets and actively supports animal protection organizations.
- Dennis’ son, Jack Quaid, followed in his father’s footsteps and has become a successful actor, appearing in The Hunger Games series and the TV show The Boys.
- Quaid is a philanthropist. Throughout his career, he has supported numerous charitable causes, including the Global Charity Initiative and Special Olympics.