Dennis William Quaid is an American actor, who for Disney, portrayed Nick Parker in the 1998 remake of The Parent Trap and Jim Morris in The Rookie. He also guest-starred in Episode 207 of Muppets Tonight. Additionally, he played Dexter Cornell in the 1988 Touchstone Pictures film D.O.A., Cooper Tilson in the 2003 thriller film Cold Creek Manor,Sam Houston in the 2004 war film The Alamo, and Lawrence Wetherhold in the 2008 Miramax Film Smart People. He also voiced Jaeger Clade in the 2022 Disney animated feature film Strange World.
Quaid was born in Houston, Texas, the son of Juanita Bonnie Dale "Nita" (née Jordan), a real estate agent, and William Rudy Quaid, a licensed electrician. He has English, Irish, Scots-Irish, and Cajun (French) ancestry. Through his father, he is a first cousin twice removed of famous cowboy performer Gene Autry. Quaid attended Paul W. Horn Elementary School in Bellaire and Pershing Middle School in Houston. He studied Mandarin and dance at Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas, and later in college at the University of Houston under drama coach Cecil Pickett, who had previously taught at Bellaire High and whose daughter is actress Cindy Pickett. Quaid was raised in the Baptist faith. He is the younger brother of actor Randy Quaid.
Known for his comedic and dramatic roles, Quaid appeared in various films outside of Disney, such as Breaking Away, The Right Stuff, Jaws 3-D, The Big Easy, Innerspace, Great Balls of Fire!, Wyatt Earp, Dragonheart, Frequency, Traffic, The Day After Tomorrow, Vantage Point, Yours, Mine & Ours, Footloose (2011), Soul Surfer, The Intruder, Far from Heaven, Legion, A Dog's Purpose, I Can Only Imagine, and A Dog's Journey.
He also appeared in several television shows, but his most notable role is as the voice of Grandpa Redbeard Krabs in the Nickelodeon animated series SpongeBob SquarePants. Additionally, he starred in a supporting role with Mickey Rooney in the 1981 television movie Bill, portraying Barry Morrow. He reprised this role in the 1983 sequel Bill: On His Own.
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Trivia[]
- He was considered for the role of Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars: The Phantom Menace. However, Ewan McGregor was cast in the end.[citation needed]
- He was considered for the role of Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story, but Tim Allen was cast in the end.
