Dennis Quaid

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Dennis Quaid

Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor.

1 Biography
- 1.1 Family
2 Filmography
3 Quotes
4 External links

[edit] Biography

Quaid was born to William Rudy Quaid and Juanita Bonniedale Jordan in Houston, Texas. He studied drama at Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas and later in college. He dropped out of the University of Houston before graduating and moved to Los Angeles, California, to pursue an acting career. He initially had trouble finding work but began to gain notice when he appeared in Breaking Away (1979) and earned good reviews for his role in The Right Stuff (1983).

Known for his famous grin, Quaid was a versatile actor, performing in both comedic and dramatic roles. Quaid's acting career seemed to reach its peak in the mid-to-late 1980s, with starring roles in such films as Enemy Mine and Innerspace. He also achieved acclaim for his portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in Great Balls of Fire (1989).

Quaid's career seemed to lose steam in late 1980s/early 1990s after he fought and kicked a painful cocaine addiction, but he continued to prove his worth in a variety of films, and seems to be experiencing a resurgence in popularity since the late nineties. Some of Quaid's most recent film credits include Traffic (2000) as a lowlife attorney, Frequency (2000) as a fireman, Far From Heaven (2002) as a closeted husband, and In Good Company (2004), as an aging advertising executive whose new boss is much younger.

Aside from acting, Quaid is also a musician, and plays with his band the Sharks. He also has a pilot's license.

Quaid is a scratch golfer and, in 2005, was named as the top golfer among the "Hollywood set" by Golf Digest. He lends his name to the annual "Dennis Quaid Charity Weekend" (formerly the "Jiffy Lube/Dennis Quaid Charity Classic") in Austin, Texas. The golf tournament attracts numerous celebrities with the proceeds split among local children's charities. He is a member of Bel-Air Country Club in Beverly Hills and tries to stay at homes on private courses when he is on the road.

Quaid works with the charity "International Hospital for Children in New Orleans." He makes trips to Central America to help build medical clinics and transport sick children back to the United States for treatment they cannot get locally.

In a 2006 interview with Best Life magazine, Quaid said that in the mid-1990s he suffered from anorexia nervosa, saying, "I'd look in the mirror and still see a 180 lb. guy, even though I was 138 pounds," and "for many years, I was obsessed about what I was eating, how many calories it had, and how much exercise I'd have to do."

He is also a huge fan of the rock band Phish and has been spotted at several of their concerts.

He is 6`1 1/2 .

[edit] Family

Quaid has chosen a holiday for each of his weddings (Fourth of July, Valentine's Day, Thanksgiving Day):

July 4, 2004 – present; Kimberly Buffington (real estate agent)
February 14, 1991 – June 16, 2001; Meg Ryan (actress); son Jack Henry (born April 24, 1992)
November 25, 1978 – January 23, 1983; P.J. Soles (actress)

Quaid married Kimberly Buffington of Austin, Texas, who is 18 years younger than Quaid. Quaid was engaged for three years to actress Lea Thompson (Back to the Future, Caroline in the City), whom he met on the movie set of Jaws 3-D in 1983. Dennis Quaid was married to Meg Ryan from 1991 to 2000.

Randy Quaid, Dennis' older brother, is also an actor and former castmember of the NBC sketch show, Saturday Night Live. Coincidentally, Dennis Quaid hosted a Christmas episode of SNL in the 1990-1991 season.