Dennis Quaid Biography
Throughout his career, Dennis Quaid has managed to shake off the label of being "Harrison Ford's double" and become an independent actor with his own fan base. However, his life was not without weaknesses and addictions, which could have ended not only his work but also the actor's life.
Early Years
Dennis Quaid was born in the heart of Texas, in Houston, on April 9, 1954. He became the second son in his family – by the time of his arrival, his brother Randy was already 4 years old. Their father worked as an electrician, while their mother was a real estate agent, dealing in commercial property.Both sons developed an interest in the arts from an early age. Dennis recalled that when their parents went to work, his older brother would lock himself in a room and rehearse parody skits alone with a tape recorder. Randy later became an actor, was nominated for an Oscar, and won a Golden Globe.
Early Roles
The vibrant and noisy city was a charm for Dennis after the quiet Houston. He never gave up on his dream to become an actor, participating in various auditions, but there were no successful castings. Quaid lived on unemployment benefits and odd jobs, for instance, entertaining kids dressed as a clown in the local amusement park, and he also worked part-time as a waiter.Luck smiled at him in 1975 when he first appeared on a movie set. In the action comedy "Crazy Mama," Quaid had a small role lasting just a few minutes, and his name wasn't even credited. But the actor took it as a good sign.
The Rise of His Career
In 1981, he participated in the filming of the comedy "Caveman" with Ringo Starr and Barbara Bach. Two years later, he ventured into horror by starring in the movie "Jaws 3-D" as the lead character.
Ultimately, in 1988, Dennis entered a rehabilitation clinic and upon his return to freedom, he realized that no one wanted to offer him work.The actor slept one hour a day and 'was like a squirrel in a wheel': 'I woke up, snorted a line and swore that was it for the day. But by four o'clock, it would happen all over again...’.
Sunset and Return
By the early 1990s, Dennis Quaid's career had begun to decline. He occasionally appeared in movies, such as in 1994 when he played alongside Kevin Costner in the western "Wyatt Earp" and in 1995 starred in the romantic drama "Something to Talk About" with Julia Roberts. However, no more than one project a year was released with the actor.
The Personal Life of Dennis Quaid
Actor Dennis Quaid's family life was often shaken by scandals covered in the media. In 1978, he married actress P.J. Soles. They co-starred in several movies, but Quaid's participation in the thriller "Jaws 3-D" led to the end of their marriage. During filming, the actor fell for his colleague Lea Thompson, and in 1983, he left his wife for her.
In 2003, while visiting friends in Texas, Dennis met the young realtor Kimberly Buffington. The actor charmed his companion, who was 18 years his junior. They celebrated their wedding a year later. In November 2007, a surrogate mother gave birth to their twins, Thomas and Zoe.
Quaid and Buffington's relationship, meanwhile, was like a roller coaster. In 2012, Kimberly filed for divorce but withdrew the filing a month later. She attempted to separate again in November of the same year, but the couple reconciled. Finally, in 2016, Dennis and Kimberly announced their final divorce.Since then, Dennis has become an advocate for patient safety and has produced several documentaries about preventable medical errors.
The legal proceedings lasted two years, so the actor was only single in 2018. During this time, he was in a relationship with the young model and aspiring actress Santa Auzina.
