Dennis Quaid facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dennis Quaid
Quaid in 2024
Born	Dennis William Quaid (1954-04-09) April 9, 1954 (age 71) Houston, Texas, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Houston
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1975–present
Spouse(s)	P. J. Soles ​ ​ (m. 1978; div. 1983)​ Meg Ryan ​ ​ (m. 1991; div. 2001)​ Kimberly Buffington ​ ​ (m. 2004; div. 2018)​ Laura Savoie ​ (m. 2020)​
Children	3, including Jack Quaid
Relatives	Randy Quaid (brother) Gene Autry (first cousin twice removed)

Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor. He is famous for his many roles in movies and TV shows. You might know him from films like The Parent Trap, The Day After Tomorrow, and The Rookie. He has played many different kinds of characters, from astronauts to presidents!

About Dennis Quaid's Acting Career

Dennis Quaid has starred in a wide range of films. He is known for his friendly smile and for being able to play both funny and serious characters. Some of his most popular movies include Breaking Away (1979), The Right Stuff (1983), and Dragonheart (1996). He also played President Bill Clinton in a TV movie called The Special Relationship (2010), which earned him several award nominations. More recently, he played President Ronald Reagan in a movie about his life.

Early Life and Starting Out

Dennis Quaid was born in Houston, Texas. His mom was a real estate agent, and his dad was an electrician. He has a mix of English, Irish, and French family roots. His older brother, Randy Quaid, is also an actor. Dennis went to school in Houston and even studied Mandarin Chinese and dance! He later went to the University of Houston to study drama.

Dennis decided to move to Hollywood to become an actor before finishing college. He started with small roles in movies like Crazy Mama (1975). He slowly began to get noticed after appearing in films such as Breaking Away (1979) and The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981). He also played an outlaw in the Western movie The Long Riders (1980).

Becoming a Star

Dennis Quaid's big break came when he played astronaut Gordon Cooper in the movie The Right Stuff (1983). This film was very popular and even nominated for an Academy Award. He also starred in Jaws 3-D (1983) and the science fiction films Dreamscape (1984) and Enemy Mine (1985).

In 1987, he starred in the movie The Big Easy, where he played a detective. Critics really liked his performance, and he was nominated for an award. He also played the famous musician Jerry Lee Lewis in the movie Great Balls of Fire! (1989).

Quaid continued to get great reviews for his roles. He played the father in the popular remake of The Parent Trap (1998). He also starred in the science fiction film Frequency (2000), where he played a firefighter. In 1998, he even directed his first TV movie, Everything That Rises.

In 2000, he was part of the cast for the crime drama Traffic, which won many awards. He also played a real-life baseball pitcher named Jim Morris in the inspiring Disney sports movie The Rookie (2002). That same year, he earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for his role in Far from Heaven.

Later Career and Voice Acting

Since 2003, Dennis Quaid has continued to act in many different types of movies. These include the disaster film The Day After Tomorrow (2004), the family comedy Yours, Mine & Ours (2005), and the action thriller Vantage Point (2008). He also played a general in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009).

Quaid with the cast from Midway in 2019

He has also done a lot of work in television. From 2012 to 2013, he starred in the TV series Vegas. He played a main role in the Amazon Prime series Goliath in 2019.

In recent years, Quaid has starred in movies like A Dog's Purpose (2017), which is about the special bond between humans and dogs. He also played the father of a famous singer in I Can Only Imagine (2018). In 2019, he played a Vice Admiral in the war drama Midway. In 2022, he lent his voice to a main character in the animated Disney film Strange World.

Dennis Quaid's Personal Life and Interests

Family Life

Dennis Quaid has been married four times and has three children. His son, Jack Quaid, is also an actor! Dennis and his third wife, Kimberly Buffington, had twins in 2007. Sadly, when the twins were babies, they were accidentally given too much medicine at the hospital. The babies recovered, and this experience made Dennis a strong supporter of patient safety in healthcare. He even made documentaries about it to help prevent similar mistakes.

In 2020, Dennis married Laura Savoie. They share a strong Christian faith. Together, they started a film production company called Bonniedale Films.

Hobbies and Passions

Besides acting, Dennis Quaid is also a talented musician. He plays with his band, the Sharks. He even wrote and performed a song for his movie The Big Easy. He also has a pilot's license and enjoys flying planes. He is a very good golfer and has been named one of the best golfers in Hollywood!

Dennis is a big fan of the Houston Astros baseball team. He even narrated a DVD about their championship season in 2005. In 2020, he started a podcast called The Pet Show with Dennis Quaid and Jimmy Jellinek. During one episode, he learned about a cat also named Dennis Quaid and decided to adopt it!

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and Nominations

Dennis Quaid has won several awards for his acting. For his role in Far from Heaven (2002), he won the New York Film Critics Circle Award, the Chicago Film Critics Association Award, and the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award for that role. In 2012, his old university, the University of Houston, gave him a special award for his achievements.

See also

In Spanish: Dennis Quaid para niños