Dennis Quaid

Dennis Quaid

Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor. He has appeared in over 60 films, including Breaking Away (1979), The Right Stuff (1983), The Big Easy (1986), Innerspace (1987), Great Balls of Fire! (1989), Postcards from the Edge (1990), The Parent Trap (1998), Any Given Sunday (1999), Frequency (2000), The Rookie (2002), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Vantage Point (2008), Legion (2010), Soul Surfer (2011), and I Can Only Imagine (2018). He has also had starring roles in the television series The Art of More (2015) and Goliath (2016–2021).

Early Life and Career

Dennis Quaid was born in Houston, Texas, to Juanita Bonniedale (née Jordan) and William Rudy Quaid, an electrician. He has one brother, Randy Quaid, also an actor. Quaid attended Pershing Middle School and Bellaire High School in Houston, where he was a classmate of actor Kyle Chandler. He briefly attended the University of Houston before dropping out to pursue an acting career.

Quaid's early acting roles included appearances in the television series Barnaby Jones and The Streets of San Francisco. He made his film debut in 1975's Crazy Mama, starring Cloris Leachman. He had his breakthrough role in 1979's Breaking Away, for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination.

Film Career

In the 1980s, Quaid starred in a number of successful films, including The Right Stuff (1983), The Big Easy (1986), Innerspace (1987), Great Balls of Fire! (1989), and Postcards from the Edge (1990). He received a second Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance in The Right Stuff.

In the 1990s, Quaid continued to star in a variety of films, including Flesh and Bone (1993), Something to Talk About (1995), The Parent Trap (1998), and Any Given Sunday (1999). He received a third Golden Globe Award nomination for his performance in The Parent Trap.

In the 2000s, Quaid starred in the films Frequency (2000), The Rookie (2002), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Vantage Point (2008), Legion (2010), Soul Surfer (2011), and I Can Only Imagine (2018).

Television Career

In addition to his film career, Quaid has also had a successful television career. He starred in the television series The Art of More (2015) and Goliath (2016–2021). He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his performance in Goliath.

Personal Life

Quaid has been married four times. His first marriage was to actress P. J. Soles from 1978 to 1983. His second marriage was to actress Meg Ryan from 1991 to 2001. They have one son together, Jack Quaid. His third marriage was to Kimberly Buffington from 2004 to 2010. They have one set of twins together, Thomas Boone Quaid and Zoe Grace Quaid. His fourth marriage is to Laura Savoie, whom he married in 2020.

Quaid is a recovering alcoholic and drug addict. He has been sober since 1990. He is also a supporter of the arts and education. He is a founding member of the American Film Institute's Board of Trustees and a member of the National Endowment for the Arts' National Council on the Arts.