Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor. He became known during the 1980s after appearing in several successful films, including as Mike Brody in Jaws 3-D (1983), Alex Gardner in Dreamscape (1984), Remy McSwain in The Big Easy (1987), Tuck Pendleton in Innerspace (1987), Jefferson "Jeff" Blue in Undercover Blues (1993), Bowen in DragonHeart (1996), Joe Doe/William in Gang Related (1997), Frank Towns in Flight of the Phoenix (2004), Jack Hall in The Day After Tomorrow (2004) and Reverend Shaw Moore in Footloose (2011).
Early life
Quaid was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Juanita Bonniedale "Nita" (née Jordan), a real estate agent, and William Rudy Quaid (November 21, 1923 – February 8, 1987), an electrician and a fourth cousin of Gene Autry.He is the younger brother of actor Randy Quaid. Quaid has Irish and Cajun (French) ancestry. He attended Pershing Middle School in Houston. He studied Chinese and dance at Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas, and later in college, at the University of Houston, under drama coach Cecil Pickett.
Career
After his brother, Randy, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Last Detail (1973), Quaid dropped out of the University of Houston before graduating and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career of his own.[2] 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 grin, Quaid has appeared in both comedic and dramatic roles.[2] Quaid had starring roles in the films Enemy Mine (1985) and Innerspace (1987). He also achieved acclaim for his portrayal of Jerry Lee Lewis in Great Balls of Fire! (1989).
Quaid's career lost steam in the early 1990s, after he fought anorexia nervosa and kicked a cocaine addiction. He continued to garner positive reviews in a variety of films, however, such as Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp (1994). He starred in the remake of The Parent Trap (1998), playing the part of the twins' father, and as an aging pro football quarterback in Oliver Stone's Any Given Sunday (1999). Some of Quaid's more recent film credits include Frequency (2000), The Rookie (2002), Far From Heaven (2002), The Flight of the Phoenix (2004), In Good Company (2004), The Day After Tomorrow (2004), Yours, Mine and Ours (2005), Vantage Point (2008), G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009), and Pandorum (2009).
In 2009, Quaid guest starred in an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants, playing Mr. Krabs' grandfather, Captain Redbeard.
He portrayed U.S. President Bill Clinton, alongside Michael Sheen as Tony Blair and Hope Davis as Hillary Clinton, in the 2010 film The Special Relationship.
Filmography:
Legion (2010)
Pandorum (2009)
G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (2009)
The Express (2008)
The Horsemen (2008)
Vantage Point (2008)
Smart People (2008)
Terra (2007) (voice)
American Dreamz (2006)
Yours, Mine and Ours (2005)
In Good Company (2005)
Flight of the Phoenix (2004)
The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
The Alamo (2004)
Cold Creek Manor (2003)
Far From Heaven (2002)
The Rookie (2002)
Stranger Than the Wheel (2001)
Traffic (2000)
Frequency (2000)
Any Given Sunday (1999)
Playing By Heart (1998)
The Parent Trap (1998)
Savior (1998)
Switchback (1997)
Gang Related (1997)
Dragonheart (1996)
Something to Talk About (1995)
Wyatt Earp (1994)
Undercover Blues (1993)
Wilder Napalm (1993)
Flesh and Bone (1993)
Postcards from the Edge (1990)
Come See the Paradise (1990)
Great Balls of Fire! (1989)
Everybody's All-American (1988)
D.O.A. (1988)
Suspect (1987)
Innerspace (1987)
The Big Easy (1987)
Enemy Mine (1985)
Dreamscape (1984)
The Right Stuff (1983)
Tough Enough (1983)
Jaws 3-D (1983)
The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
All Night Long (1981)
Caveman (1981)
Gorp (1980)
The Long Riders (1980)
Breaking Away (1979)
Our Winning Season (1978)
The Seniors (1978)
September 30, 1955 (1978)
I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977)
Crazy Mama (1975)
