photo:
http://centromujer.republica.com/files/2009/03/dennis-quaid-interpreta-a-bill-clinton.jpg
Biography
Dennis 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. Dennis 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).
A talented actor, Quaid's career seemed to lose steam in late 80s/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, Far From Heaven (2002) as a closeted husband and In Good Company (2004), as an aging ad executive whose new boss is a young kid.
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 "Jiffy Lube/Dennis Quaid Charity Classic" in Austin, Texas. The golf tournament attracts numerous celebrities with the proceeds split between three 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's 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."
Family
Marriages: Quaid has picked 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, at 32 years old was 18 years younger than Quaid. Quaid's son Jack served as the best man for the wedding at Quaid's ranch in Montana. Quaid was engaged for three years to actress Lea Thompson who he met on the movie set of "Jaws 3-D" in 1983. Quaid's marriage to Meg Ryan ended after it was revealed that she'd had an affair with Russell Crowe while filming Proof of Life (Ryan's relationship with Crowe did not last long after the divorce was announced), but Quaid insists that the relationship had already been deteriorating before then and insists that he still feels some lingering affection for Meg, as she is the mother of his only son, Jack. Some think that the divorce ultimately worked in his favor, as his career has been presently preceding with much more success than Meg's.
Randy Quaid, Dennis' older brother, is also an actor. Dennis Quaid has a sister named Brandy.
Selected filmography
American Dreamz (2006)... President Staton
Yours, Mine, and Ours (2005)... Frank Beardsley
In Good Company (2004)... Dan Foreman
Flight of the Phoenix (2004)... Frank Towns
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)... Jack Hall
The Alamo (2004)... Sam Houston
Cold Creek Manor (2003)... Cooper Tilson
Far From Heaven (2002)
The Rookie (2002)... Jimmy Morris
Dinner With Friends (TV) 2001 ...Gabe
Traffic (2000)... Arnie Metzger
Frequency (2000)... Frank Sullivan
Any Given Sunday (1999)... Jack 'Cap' Rooney
Savior (1998)... Joshua Rose/Guy
The Parent Trap (1998)... Nick Parker
Switchback (1997)... Frank LaCrosse
Dragonheart (1996)... Bowen
Flesh and Bone (1993)...Arlis Sweeney
Postcards from the Edge (1990)... Jack Faulkner
Come See the Paradise (1990)... Jack McGurn
Great Balls of Fire! (1989)... Jerry Lee Lewis
Everybody's All-American (1988).....Gavin Grey
The Big Easy (1987)... Det. Remy McSwain
Innerspace (1987)... Lt. Tuck Pendleton
Enemy Mine (1985))... Willis Davidge
Dreamscape (1984)...Alex Gardner
The Right Stuff (1983)... Gordon Cooper
Jaws 3-D (1983)... Michael 'Mike' Brody
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)... Travis Child
Caveman (1981)... Lar
The Long Riders (1980)... Ed Miller
Breaking Away (1979)... Mike
Quotes
"There are three things being a celebrity is good for: raising money for charity, dinner reservations and tee times" -to Golf Digest
