The Letter "Q" - Brothers Quaid

Welcome to "Q" week at Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday! I wanted to write about how I want to be "Queen of the World", but I figured that one was already being used somewhere! So I thought I would amuse you with one of my former crushes, Dennis Quaid! I also felt the need to give his sometimes-"q"uirky brother, Randy, equal time.





Dennis Quaid was born in Houston, Texas, when I was just one year old. His father was a second cousin (two generations removed) of performer Gene Autry. Dennis is the younger brother of actor Randy Quaid. The Quaid brothers grew up in Bellaire, Texas, which is a small city surrounded by Houston, and in southwest Houston.

Quaid has Irish (like moi) and Cajun (French) ancestry. He studied Mandarin and dance at Bellaire High School in Bellaire, Texas, and later in college, at the University of Houston. After his brother, Randy, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "The Last Detail"(1973), Quaid dropped out of college before graduating and moved to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career of his own. He initially had trouble finding work but began to gain notice when he appeared in "Breaking Away"(1979)(when I first fell in love with him) and earned good reviews for his role in The Right Stuff (1983). He went on to star in films such as "Innerspace", "Dreamscape", "Enemy Mine", "The Big Easy" (sizzle, sizzle), "Wyatt Earp," "Dragonheart" and one of my favorites, "Frequency". Known for his grin...need I say more?

Quaid was married twice before he met his current wife, Kimberly Buffington, an Austin, Texas, real-estate agent. His first wife was P.J. Soles ('78-'83)(whom I do not know, but envy) and his second wife was Meg Ryan, with whom he had a son ('91-'01)(to whom I wrote endless letters begging her to leave him so that I could fulfill my destiny). Dennis and Kimberly had twins in 2007 in Santa Monica, California. (Normally, when there are children involved, it sort of cinches it for me!)





Now, big brother Randy is another story. He is best known for his character of Cousin Eddie in the "Vacation" movies starring Chevy Chase. His first experience with motion pictures was a minor part in "The Last Picture Show." His second picture garnered him an Oscar nomination for his supporting role in "The Last Detail" with Jack Nicholson. He has since been involved with many movies, but in the last few years, he has sort of "changed." Randy and his current wife, Evi, have been in and out of court for "suspicious" behavior and are now on the lamb from California authorities and living in Canada.


Thank you for stopping by to peruse my "Q" assignment. Please visit the elite school which I attend, located at Jenny Matlock, Off On My Tangent, by clicking on the logo below! Some of my classmates have some outstanding reports to share!