Dennis Quaid was born in Houston, Texas, the son of an electrician. He studied drama in high school and in college, but dropped out before completing his studies, moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career. His brother, Randy Quaid, had already began to build a successful career, but Dennis initially had trouble finding work. He began to gain notice when he appeared in Breaking Away and earned strong reviews for his role in The Right Stuff. Aside from acting, Quaid is also a musician, and plays with his band, the Sharks.


Playing by Heart (1998): $60,000

Younger brother of Randy Quaid. Is also a musician and occasionally performs with his band, "Dennis Quaid and the Sharks". His favorite director of all time is David Lean. When singing with his band, Dennis Quaid and the Sharks, he always plays with bare feet in order to feel comfortable as if playing in his living room. Was scheduled to appear in the David Lean-directed "Nostromo" in 1991, before Lean died, and the production came to a halt. His parents are William (Buddy Quaid) & Nita Quaid. Was asked to play the role of Bob in Halloween (1978) because his then- girlfriend P.J. Soles was in the film, but he was working on another project and had to decline. Became engaged to Kimberly Buffington in 2004. He is a licensed private pilot with single and multiengine instrument ratings. He also has a type rating for the Cessna Citation 500 series twin engine light jet. He regularly flies the jet to his property in Montana. His drama teacher at Bellaire High School and, then, the University of Houston was Cecil Pickett, father of Cindy Pickett. Tested for the part of Luke Duke on "The Dukes of Hazzard" (1979). Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. [November 16, 2005] He and his ex-wife, Meg Ryan, have both appeared in remakes of films starring James Stewart. Quaid played Stewart's part in the remake of The Flight of the Phoenix (1965). Meg Ryan appeared in You've Got Mail (1998), which was a remake of The Shop Around the Corner (1940). Dennis and his wife, Kimberly, became the parents of twins, a boy and a girl, on November 8, 2007 in Santa Monica, California. Thomas Boone weighed in at 6 lbs. 12 oz. and Zoe Grace weighed in at 5 lbs. 9 oz. His wife, Kimberly Buffington, is a real estate agent in Austin, Texas for Buffington Signature Homes. His father-in-law, Thomas B. Buffington, is the CEO of the company. Cousin of Corbett Tuck and Hillary Tuck. Was considered for the role of B.J. McKay in "B.J. and the Bear" (1979).