---
name: "Dennis Quaid"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/dennis-quaid"
fi1m_id: "dennis-quaid"
imdb_id: "nm0000598"
tmdb_id: 6065
wikidata_id: "Q200768"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "9 April 1954"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 12
average_fi1m_score: 65
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 12
updated: "2026-10-23T21:11:40.582395+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Dennis Quaid

## Identity

Dennis Quaid

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/dennis-quaid
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** dennis-quaid
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000598
- **TMDB ID:** 6065
- **Wikidata ID:** Q200768
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Quaid, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200768, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000598/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6065

Actor. Born 9 April 1954 in Houston, Texas, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 9 April 1954, Houston, Texas, USA
- **Active:** 1979–present
- **Also known as:** Dennis William Quaid
- **Average Fi1m score:** 65, as actor, over 12 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1970s 86 (1), 1980s 64 (3), 2000s 75 (3), 2010s 41 (2), 2020s 66 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 68 to 66 across 11 titles
- **Score spread:** 4 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 5 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Comedy 4, Thriller 4, Science Fiction 3, Action 2, Adventure 2
- **Screen time:** 24 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,146m across 10 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis_Quaid, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q200768, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000598/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/6065

## Coming up

- *A Dog’s Perfect Christmas* (2026-11-04), as Sander Goss — [page](https://film.one/film/a-dogs-perfect-christmas.md)

## Streaming the US now

- **Netflix:** [*War Machine*](https://film.one/film/war-machine.md) (63), [*Jaws 3-D*](https://film.one/film/jaws-3-d.md) (36)
- **Apple TV:** [*The Substance*](https://film.one/film/the-substance.md) (74)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Special Relationship*](https://film.one/film/the-special-relationship.md) (58)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Movie 43*](https://film.one/film/movie-43.md) (24)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Dennis Quaid

> Dennis Quaid can make authority seem friendly or thoroughly repellent. We rate him most in *Far from Heaven*, where he lets us see how hard a man is working to keep himself together.

At lunch in *The Substance* (2024), Dennis Quaid’s Harvey eats prawns and talks about ratings. Cinematographer Kračun shoots from below, with the lens a few inches from his mouth. We laughed and felt sick because the shells were so close and so audible. Coralie Fargeat has given Quaid a producer with little to conceal, and he makes the man’s callousness revoltingly easy to understand. It is an effective, deliberately coarse use of an actor whose appeal has often depended on being agreeable.

The leading-man years help explain why that casting works. His breakthrough in *Breaking Away* (1979) was followed by Gordon Cooper in *The Right Stuff* (1983), then leading roles in *The Big Easy* (1986) and *Innerspace* (1987). The distinctive grin suited an actor who could combine friendliness with authority, qualities that also made sense in family films such as *The Parent Trap* (1998). Familiarity is useful, but it can leave an actor with too little to do. Quaid becomes more interesting when a director gives him reason to unsettle us.

*Far from Heaven* (2002) is where we would begin. As Frank Whitaker, Quaid makes repression seem exhausting to live with, rather than merely an issue the screenplay needs to address. With Todd Haynes directing, he never stands outside the period to invite our superior amusement. Beside Julianne Moore and Dennis Haysbert, he helps keep the film concerned with people even when its parallel stories seem too neatly arranged. His restraint allows us to understand Frank’s distress without asking us to find him charming.

The broader performance in *The Substance* has a limit. Fargeat gets an immediate response from his bluntness, but Harvey’s later scenes repeat the lunch, and the performance has little room to develop. That is partly the writing: once the producer has made his contempt clear, there is not much left for Quaid to reveal. We would rather see him given another part that needs the quiet concentration of Frank Whitaker, though there is pleasure in watching him behave so badly. Start with *Far from Heaven*, and save Harvey’s lunch until after your own.

## Biography

Dennis Quaid is an American actor. He was born Dennis William Quaid on 9 April 1954 in Houston, Texas, and began his career in the mid-1970s after studying drama at the University of Houston.

He gained prominence in the 1980s with roles in films including *Breaking Away* (1979) and *The Right Stuff* (1983). Later credits include *The Parent Trap* (1998), *The Day After Tomorrow* (2004) and *Reagan* (2024), in which he portrayed the former US president. In 2024 he appeared as Harvey in *The Substance*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (12)

- *War Machine* (2026), Fi1m 63, as Sheridan — [page](https://film.one/film/war-machine.md)
- *The Substance* (2024), Fi1m 74, as Harvey — [page](https://film.one/film/the-substance.md)
- *Strays* (2023), Fi1m 60, as Birdwatcher — [page](https://film.one/film/strays.md)
- *Movie 43* (2013), Fi1m 24, as Charlie Wessler (segment "The Pitch") — [page](https://film.one/film/movie-43.md)
- *The Special Relationship* (2010), Fi1m 58, as Bill Clinton — [page](https://film.one/film/the-special-relationship.md)
- *The Day After Tomorrow* (2004), Fi1m 57, as Jack Hall — [page](https://film.one/film/the-day-after-tomorrow.md)
- *Far from Heaven* (2002), Fi1m 87, as Frank Whitaker — [page](https://film.one/film/far-from-heaven.md)
- *Traffic* (2000), Fi1m 82, as Arnie Metzger — [page](https://film.one/film/traffic.md)
- *Jaws 3-D* (1983), Fi1m 36, as Mike Brody — [page](https://film.one/film/jaws-3-d.md)
- *The Right Stuff* (1983), Fi1m 86, as Gordon Cooper — [page](https://film.one/film/the-right-stuff.md)
- *Stripes* (1981), Fi1m 70, as Extra at Graduation Ceremony — [page](https://film.one/film/stripes.md)
- *Breaking Away* (1979), Fi1m 86, as Mike — [page](https://film.one/film/breaking-away.md)

## Complete filmography (128)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *A Dog’s Perfect Christmas* (2026), as Sander Goss — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/a-dogs-perfect-christmas.md)
- *The Florist* (2026), as Carl Rikker — coming soon, [page](https://film.one/film/the-florist.md)
- *Signal One* (2026), as Sam Houston
- *I Can Only Imagine 2* (2026), as Arthur
- *War Machine* (2026), as Sheridan — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/war-machine.md)
- *Twin Towers: Legacy* (2025), as Narrator (voice)
- *Sovereign* (2025), as John Bouchart
- *Broke* (2025), as George Brandywine
- *Saurus City* (2025), as Rind - Shrouded Knight (voice)
- *Happy Face* (2025), series, as Keith Jesperson aka 'Happy Face Killer'
- *The Substance* (2024), as Harvey — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-substance.md)
- *Reagan* (2024), as Ronald Reagan
- *The Long Game* (2024), as Frank Mitchell · Producer
- *Lawmen: Bass Reeves* (2023), series, as Marshal Sherrill Lynn
- *The Hill* (2023), as James Hill
- *Strays* (2023), as Birdwatcher — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/strays.md)
- *Full Circle* (2023), series, as Jeff McCusker
- *On a Wing and a Prayer* (2023), as Doug White
- *Strange World* (2022), as Jaeger Clade (voice)
- *Grid Down, Power Up* (2022), as Narrator
- *The Tiger Rising* (2022), as Beauchamp
- *American Underdog* (2021), as Dick Vermeil
- *Blue Miracle* (2021), as Wade
- *Born a Champion* (2021), as Mason
- *John Bronco* (2020), as Narrator
- *Merry Happy Whatever* (2019), series, as Don Quinn
- *Midway* (2019), as Vice Admiral William 'Bull' Halsey
- *Pretenders* (2019), as Joe
- *Secrets in the Sky: The Untold Story of Skunk Works* (2019), as Kelly Johnson
- *A Dog's Journey* (2019), as Ethan Montgomery
- *The Intruder* (2019), as Charlie Peck
- *Kin* (2018), as Hal Solinski
- *I Can Only Imagine* (2018), as Arthur
- *A Dog's Purpose* (2017), as Adult Ethan
- *Mad Families* (2017), as Head Ranger
- *Goliath* (2016), series, as Wade Blackwood
- *The Art of More* (2015), series, as Samuel Brukner
- *Truth* (2015), as Lt. Colonel Roger Charles
- *Miracles on the Plains* (2015), as Narrator (voice)
- *Fortitude* (2015), series, as Michael Lennox
- *Movie 43* (2013), as Charlie Wessler (segment "The Pitch") — Fi1m 24, [page](https://film.one/film/movie-43.md)
- *Playing for Keeps* (2012), as Carl
- *Vegas* (2012), series, as Sheriff Ralph Lamb · Co-Executive Producer
- *The Words* (2012), as Clay Hammond
- *At Any Price* (2012), as Henry Whipple
- *What to Expect When You're Expecting* (2012), as Ramsey
- *Beneath the Darkness* (2012), as Ely
- *Footloose* (2011), as Rev. Shaw Moore
- *Soul Surfer* (2011), as Tom Hamilton
- *Workaholics* (2011), series, as Ted Murphy
- *The Special Relationship* (2010), as Bill Clinton — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/the-special-relationship.md)
- *Legion* (2010), as Bob Hanson
- *Pandorum* (2009), as Payton
- *G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra* (2009), as General Hawk
- *Horsemen* (2009), as Aidan Breslin
- *The Express* (2008), as Ben Schwartzwalder
- *Smart People* (2008), as Lawrence Wetherhold
- *Vantage Point* (2008), as Thomas Barnes
- *Battle for Terra* (2007), as Roven (voice)
- *2005 Houston Astros: The Championship Season* (2006), as Voice
- *American Dreamz* (2006), as President Staton
- *One for the Money: The Birth of Rock & Roll* (2006), Actor
- *Yours, Mine & Ours* (2005), as Frank Beardsley
- *In Good Company* (2004), as Dan
- *Flight of the Phoenix* (2004), as Frank Towns
- *The Day After Tomorrow* (2004), as Jack Hall — Fi1m 57, [page](https://film.one/film/the-day-after-tomorrow.md)
- *The Alamo* (2004), as Sam Houston
- *Cold Creek Manor* (2003), as Cooper Tilson
- *Far from Heaven* (2002), as Frank Whitaker — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/far-from-heaven.md)
- *The Rookie* (2002), as Jimmy Morris
- *Dinner with Friends* (2001), as Gabe
- *Traffic* (2000), as Arnie Metzger — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/traffic.md)
- *Frequency* (2000), as Frank Sullivan
- *Any Given Sunday* (1999), as Jack 'Cap' Rooney
- *SpongeBob SquarePants* (1999), series, as Redbeard Krabs (voice)
- *Playing by Heart* (1998), as Hugh
- *The Parent Trap* (1998), as Nick Parker
- *Everything That Rises* (1998), as Jim Clay · Executive Producer, Director
- *Savior* (1998), as Joshua Rose
- *Switchback* (1997), as FBI Special Agent Frank LaCrosse
- *Gang Related* (1997), as Joe Doe / William
- *Sesame Street: Kids' Guide to Life: Telling the Truth* (1997), as Uncle Tommy
- *E! True Hollywood Story* (1996), series, Actor
- *DragonHeart* (1996), as Bowen
- *Something to Talk About* (1995), as Eddie Bichon
- *Wyatt Earp* (1994), as Doc Holliday
- *Blue Angels: Around the World at the Speed of Sound* (1994), as Narrator (voice) · Associate Producer
- *Flesh and Bone* (1993), as Arlis Sweeney
- *Undercover Blues* (1993), as Jeff Blue
- *Wilder Napalm* (1993), as Wallace
- *Postcards from the Edge* (1990), as Jack Faulkner
- *Come See the Paradise* (1990), as Jack McGurn
- *Great Balls of Fire!* (1989), as Jerry Lee Lewis
- *Everybody's All-American* (1988), as Gavin Grey
- *D.O.A.* (1988), as Dexter Cornell
- *Suspect* (1987), as Eddie Sanger
- *Innerspace* (1987), as Lt. Tuck Pendleton
- *The Big Easy* (1986), as Remy McSwain
- *Enemy Mine* (1985), as Willis Davidge
- *Dreamscape* (1984), as Alex Gardner
- *Bill: On His Own* (1983), as Barry Morrow
- *The Right Stuff* (1983), as Gordon Cooper — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-right-stuff.md)
- *Jaws 3-D* (1983), as Mike Brody — Fi1m 36, [page](https://film.one/film/jaws-3-d.md)
- *The Making of Jaws 3-D: Sharks Don't Die* (1983), Actor
- *Tough Enough* (1983), as Art Long
- *Johnny Belinda* (1982), as Kyle Hager
- *Bill* (1981), as Barry Morrow
- *Stripes* (1981), as Extra at Graduation Ceremony — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/stripes.md)
- *The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia* (1981), as Travis Child
- *Caveman* (1981), as Lar
- *All Night Long* (1981), as Freddie Dupler
- *The Hearse* (1980), as Repairman (uncredited)
- *The Long Riders* (1980), as Ed Miller
- *Gorp* (1980), as Mad Grossman
- *Breaking Away* (1979), as Mike — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/breaking-away.md)
- *Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill* (1979), as Roy
- *Are You in the House Alone?* (1978), as Phil Lawver
- *The Seniors* (1978), as Alan Darby
- *Our Winning Season* (1978), as Paul Morelli
- *September 30, 1955* (1977), as Frank
- *I Never Promised You a Rose Garden* (1977), as Shark, Baseball Pitcher
- *Crazy Mama* (1975), as Bellhop
- *Baretta* (1975), series, Actor
- *This Blue Is Mine*, Actor
- *Callback*, Actor
- *American Pride*, as “Cowboy” Jack Clement
- *Thunder Road*, series, as Duane 'The Wrecking Ball' Whitlock
- *America's Favorite*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Dennis Quaid](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-6f70cf7cde73.jpg) Dennis Quaid — Toglenn, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Dennis_Quaid_2020_by_Glenn_Francis.jpg/1280px-Dennis_Quaid_2020_by_Glenn_Francis.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Demi Moore in ‪Oscar de la renta‬ and Margaret Qualley on the red carpet showing theif fashion at the Hollywood premiere in Los Angeles Last night for the movie (2024)](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-ac01d02f69fd.jpg) Demi Moore in ‪Oscar de la renta‬ and Margaret Qualley on the red carpet showing theif fashion at the Hollywood premiere in Los Angeles Last night for the movie (2024) — Margaret Gardiner, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/61/Demi_Moore_and_Margaret_Qualley_The_Substance_premiere_02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Dennis QuAID (2006)](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-5b9dc1a3c077.jpg) Dennis QuAID (2006) — Angel Schatz, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e4/Dennis_QuAID_%28143465070%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Dennis Quaid and his wife, Laura Savoie, on the red carpet at the Big Screen Achievement Awards at the 2024 CinemaCon at The Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-41ed0862688a.jpg) Dennis Quaid and his wife, Laura Savoie, on the red carpet at the Big Screen Achievement Awards at the 2024 CinemaCon at The Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f8/Dennis_Quaid_%26_Laura_Savoie_%2853672032982%29.jpg/1280px-Dennis_Quaid_%26_Laura_Savoie_%2853672032982%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dennis Quaid](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-27321491db52.jpg) Dennis Quaid — Image via TMDB
- ![Dennis Quaid](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-12b7da07bf9a.jpg) Dennis Quaid — Image via TMDB
- ![Dennis Quaid](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-af4c7edf6460.jpg) Dennis Quaid — Image via TMDB
- ![Dennis Quaid and his wife, Laura Savoie, on the red carpet at the Big Screen Achievement Awards at the 2024 CinemaCon at The Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-98ba0404b41e.jpg) Dennis Quaid and his wife, Laura Savoie, on the red carpet at the Big Screen Achievement Awards at the 2024 CinemaCon at The Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8f/Dennis_Quaid_%26_Laura_Savoie_%2853672916376%29.jpg/1280px-Dennis_Quaid_%26_Laura_Savoie_%2853672916376%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dennis Quaid and his wife, Laura Savoie, on the red carpet at the Big Screen Achievement Awards at the 2024 CinemaCon at The Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-1f2a4f5667b4.jpg) Dennis Quaid and his wife, Laura Savoie, on the red carpet at the Big Screen Achievement Awards at the 2024 CinemaCon at The Colosseum Theater at Caesars Palace — Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/93/Dennis_Quaid_%26_Laura_Savoie_%2853673129963%29.jpg/1280px-Dennis_Quaid_%26_Laura_Savoie_%2853673129963%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Dennis Quaid](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-294c02cb5dbb.jpg) Dennis Quaid — Image via TMDB
- ![Dennis Quaid](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-058ea71d0eaa.jpg) Dennis Quaid — Image via TMDB
- ![Dennis Quaid](https://film.one/media/person/10923/gallery-9ed19fdb9ef7.jpg) Dennis Quaid — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/dennis-quaid