Dennis Quaid opens up about father's death ahead of new films
Dennis Quaid recently celebrated his 70th birthday. The actor spoke for the first time about the death of his father, who lived only to the age of 63.
8:41 AM EDT, August 22, 2024
This year, Dennis Quaid is extremely busy. You can soon watch him in two movies hitting theaters: "Reagan," where he portrays the former President of the United States, and "Substance," in which he stars alongside Demi Moore and Margaret Qualley. The actor has been promoting these films through interviews, where he touches on personal topics. In one such interview, he spoke about the death of his father, William, for the first time.
Dennis Quaid on the loss of his father
In an interview with Al Roker on the "3rd Hour of Today," Quaid opened up about the death of his father, William R. "Buddy" Quaid. His father died at the age of 63, which has significantly impacted Quaid's perspective on life and time. When asked how, as a 20-year-old, he had imagined being 70, Quaid responded emotionally, admitting that he didn't have his father as a role model.
When the actor reached the age of 63, he experienced a moment of realization one night. He suddenly woke up and began to calculate the time between his father's birth and death, comparing it to his own life span up to that point. It struck him that he had already lived longer than his father had. This realization brought a profound sense of connection to his father, something difficult for him to put into words.
The late William Quaid was an electrician, while his wife, Juanita Bonnie Dale, worked as a real estate agent. Their son debuted in the film world in the mid-70s, around 20. Dennis Quaid has been married four times and has three children. His first wife was actress P.J. Soles, from whom he separated in 1983.
Quaid's second wife was Meg Ryan. Together, they have a son, Jack Quaid, an actor known for his role in the series "The Boys." The parents separated when Jack was only eight years old. In one of his recent interviews, Jack commented on being regarded as a "nepo baby," a term used for children of famous parents who are believed to have careers primarily because of their family connections.
"No matter what I do, they will still call me a nepo baby. I’m inclined to agree. I am an immensely privileged person, was able to get representation pretty early on, and that’s more than half the battle. I knew the door was open for me in a lot of ways that it’s just not for a lot of actors, and I’ve just tried to work as hard as I possibly can to prove that I deserve to walk through that door," Jack said in an interview with "Daily Beast."
