Dennis Quaid was born on April 9, 1954 in Houston, Texas. He studied drama at Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas and later in college.

His most prominent role early in his career was that of cocky astronaut Gordon Cooper in the 1983 film The Right Stuff.

He has appeared on screen as a stranded astronaut in Enemy Mine (1985); as Jerry Lee Lewis in Great Balls of Fire! (1989) starred alongside Winona Ryder; as Doc Holliday in the western feature Wyatt Earp (1994) starring Kevin Costner; as young Lindsay Lohan's befuddled dad in The Parent Trap (1998); as Jim Caviezel's time-warped dad in Frequency (2000); as a shady lawyer in Traffic (2000), directed by Stephen Soderbergh; as pitcher Jim Morris in the 2002 biopic The Rookie; as Julianne Moore's gay husband in Far From Heaven (2002); as Sam Houston in The Alamo (2004); as Jake Gyllenhaal's overprotective dad in The Day After Tomorrow (2004); and as the overwhelmed dad in Yours, Mine and Ours (2005).

Aside from acting, Quaid is also a musician, and plays with his band the Sharks. He also has a pilot's license.

Quaid married actress Meg Ryan in 1991; the pair divorced in 2001.

Filmography

• Shame on You (2008)
• The Express (2009)
• Terra (2008)
• The Horsemen (2007)
• Smart People (2007)
• Vantage Point (2007)
• American Dreamz (2006)
• TimeShift (2006)
• Yours, Mine and Ours (2005)
• Flight of the Phoenix (2004)
• In Good Company (2004)
• The Day After Tomorrow (2004)
• The Alamo (2004)
• Cold Creek Manor (2003)
• Far from Heaven (2002)
• The Rookie (2002)
• Dinner with Friends (2001)
• Traffic (2000)
• Frequency (2000)
• Any Given Sunday (1999)
• Playing by Heart (1998)
• The Parent Trap (1998)
• Everything That Rises (1998)
• Savior (1998)
• Switchback (1997)
• Gang Related (1997)
• Dragonheart (1996)
• Something to Talk About (1995)
• Wyatt Earp (1994)
• Flesh and Bone (1993)
• Undercover Blues (1993)
• Wilder Napalm (1993)
• "Saturday Night Live" (1 episode, 1990)
• 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)
• Bill: On His Own (1983)
• The Right Stuff (1983)
• Jaws 3-D (1983)
• Tough Enough (1983)
• Johnny Belinda (1982)
• Bill (1981)
• Stripes (1981)
• The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia (1981)
• Caveman (1981)
• All Night Long (1981)
• Gorp (1980)
• The Long Riders (1980)
• Breaking Away (1979)
• Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill (1979)
• Are You in the House Alone? (1978)
• The Seniors (1978)
• Our Winning Season (1978)
• "Baretta" (1 episode, 1977)
• September 30, 1955 (1977)
• I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977)
• Crazy Mama (1975)

Awards

• Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Male "Far From Heaven" 2003
• Chicago Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actor "Far From Heaven" 2002
• New York Film Critics Circle's Awards Best Supporting Actor "Far From Heaven" 2002
• Online Film Critics Society Award Best Supporting Actor "Far From Heaven" 2002
• The Actor Outstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion Picture "Traffic" 2000
• Independent Spirit Award Best Actor "The Big Easy" 1988