Денис Уилям Куейд
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Dennis Quaid appeared in four Best Picture Oscar nominees, including The Right Stuff 1983 and Breaking Away 1979. He lost 40 pounds for the role of Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp 1994 and later battled anorexia. Quaid also fronts the band Dennis Quaid and the Sharks and is a licensed pilot.
Names, aliases, and relatives of Dennis Quaid — birth name, kin, and personal ties.
Dennis Quaid by the numbers — life, work, and family.
Dennis Quaid — early life, career, personal life, and legacy.
Dennis Quaid was born on April 9, 1954 in Houston, Texas to Juanita Bonniedale Quaid, a real estate agent, and William Rudy Quaid, an electrician. He grew up in the suburb of Bellaire and studied drama, Mandarin Chinese, and dance at Bellaire High School. He continued his education at the University of Houston but dropped out before completing his degree, then moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career, following his brother Randy Quaid who had already found success.
Quaid gained notice with his role in the coming-of-age film Breaking Away 1979 and earned strong reviews portraying astronaut Gordon Cooper in The Right Stuff 1983. He later starred in the sci-fi comedy Innerspace 1987 and played Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp 1994, a role that required significant weight loss. Quaid also appeared in the Best Picture-winning Traffic 2000 and the controversial The Substance 2024. Beyond acting, he wrote songs for three of his films including The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia 1981.
Dennis Quaid has been married four times: to P.J. Soles 1978-1983, Meg Ryan 1991-2001, Kimberly Buffington 2004-2018, and Laura Savoie married 2020. With Ryan, he has a son Jack Quaid, born in 1992. With Buffington, he had twins Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace in 2007. He was engaged to Lea Thompson from 1983 to 1989. Quaid is a licensed private pilot and enjoys golf with a handicap of five.
Quaid received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 16, 2005 at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard. The Texas Film Hall of Fame inducted him in Austin. His filmography includes four films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar. He is known for his performances in The Right Stuff and Breaking Away, and he continues to act and perform music with his band.
The complete filmography of Dennis Quaid — every film, TV show, and documentary credit, ranked by popularity.
Every award, honor, and recognition received by Dennis Quaid — Grammys, hall-of-fame inductions, civic honors, lifetime achievements.
A wall of memorable lines from Dennis Quaid — lyrics, interviews, and off-the-cuff remarks captured over a lifetime.
What, Like I Want to Look Like Dick Clark? No. I Think I’ll Look Great with Liver Spots.
I Could Never Hold a Job for More Than Three Months, Which Works Out Well Because That’s How Long a Movie Shoots.
There Are Three Things Being a Celebrity Is Good For: Raising Money for Charity, Dinner Reservations and Tee Times.
Movies Seem to Be Happening to Me Rather Than Me Going Out There and Saying, Well, I’m Going to Play This..
I Love Being a Dad. Basically It’s the Most Gratifying, Rewarding Relationship in Life. but at the Same Time, It Certainly Is the Most Challenging.
Little-known facts about Dennis Quaid — origins, oddities, and behind-the-scenes details from a public life.
In the mid-1990s Quaid struggled with anorexia after losing 40 pounds for Wyatt Earp 1994. He recalls still seeing a 180-pound person in the mirror at 138 pounds, but recovered with treatment.
He is a licensed private pilot with single and multiengine instrument ratings and a type rating for the Cessna Citation 500 series, regularly flying to his Montana property.
Both Dennis and his brother Randy Quaid have portrayed Doc Holliday: Dennis in Wyatt Earp 1994 and Randy in Purgatory 1999.
When performing with his band Dennis Quaid and the Sharks, he plays barefoot to feel at home.
Quaid has appeared in four films nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Breaking Away 1979, The Right Stuff 1983, Traffic 2000, and The Substance 2024.
He wrote songs for three of his films: The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia 1981, Tough Enough 1983, and The Big Easy 1986.
He auditioned for the role of Luke Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard but the part went to Tom Wopat.
His separation from Meg Ryan occurred on June 28, 2000, with divorce finalized July 16, 2001; Meg kept her jewelry and the Jeep Cherokee, and they shared custody of son Jack.
His newborn twins were hospitalized in November 2007 after an accidental drug overdose.
Quaid received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on November 16, 2005 at 7018 Hollywood Boulevard.
He lived with and was engaged to Lea Thompson for three years after meeting on the set of Jaws 3-D 1983.
The Texas Film Hall of Fame inducted him in Austin, Texas.
He received an offer to play Bob in Halloween 1978 but declined because of another project; his then-girlfriend P.J. Soles was in the film.
He turned down the role of Thomas Wayne in Batman Begins 2005, which went to Linus Roache.
He performs with his band Dennis Quaid and the Sharks.
His great-great-grandparents are also ancestors of Gene Autry, making them first cousins twice removed.
He has three children: son Jack Quaid b. 1992 with Meg Ryan, and twins Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace b. 2007 with Kimberly Buffington.
He is the younger brother of actor Randy Quaid.
He and Meg Ryan have both appeared in remakes of James Stewart films: Quaid in The Flight of the Phoenix and Ryan in You’ve Got Mail.
He was a candidate for the role of B.J. McKay in B.J. and the Bear 1978 but it went to Greg Evigan.
His wife Kimberly Buffington works as a real estate agent in Austin; her father Thomas B. Buffington is CEO of the company.
He is an uncle of actress Amanda Quaid.
His favorite director is David Lean.
He has half-siblings Buddy and Brandy Quaid.
He does voice-overs for Visa credit card commercials.
He is longtime friends with actor Brett Cullen, also a University of Houston drama student.
For his role as Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp, he lost 44 pounds, more than the director’s suggestion of 10-11 pounds.
His parents are William Buddy Quaid and Nita Quaid.
Friends with Bradley Cooper.
He became engaged to Kimberly Buffington in 2004.
He played a military pilot twice: in The Right Stuff 1983 and Innerspace 1987.
He has a golf handicap of 6.
He attended Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas.
He was scheduled to play the title role in David Lean’s adaptation of Nostromo in 1991, but Lean’s death canceled the project.
The Right Stuff 1983 was selected for the National Film Registry.
He first went to Hollywood at age 21 after touring with a band.
His drama teacher at Bellaire and the University of Houston was Cecil Pickett, father of actress Cindy Pickett.
He attended Pershing Junior High School in Houston.
He announced his engagement to Laura Savoie on October 18, 2019 after a four-month relationship.
He was suggested for a Razzie Award nomination in 2005 for The Alamo and The Day After Tomorrow but did not receive a nomination.
He began producing Viewpoint with Dennis Quaid in October 2025, a program about Highlands County, Florida.
He endorsed Donald Trump for president in 2024.
His brother-in-law is Evi Quaid.
He is a cousin of Bo Brinkman and first cousin once removed of Corbett Tuck and Dakota Brinkman.
He plays guitar and sings in his band, the Sharks.
Quick answers to the questions readers ask most about Dennis Quaid.
Celebrities similar to Dennis Quaid — same craft, ranked by reach.
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