Dennis Quaid's Challenging Role
For actor Dennis Quaid, 2002 was a very good year.
This past spring, his "sleeper" family film, "The Rookie," became a critical and commercial hit. Now, he is gaining recognition and Oscar buzz for his portrayal of a 1950s family man with a seemingly perfect life in "Far From Heaven."
Quaid visited The Early Show to discuss the film which touches on homosexuality and interracial relationships.
In "Far from Heaven," Frank, played by Quaid, has a wife, two kids and a job as a top sales executive for a television station. But he's very troubled and shamed by his secret life. He is forced to finally admit to his homosexuality when his wife discovers his feelings.
Quaid says he had never taken a role as challenging as the one he plays in "Far From Heaven."
Some Facts About Dennis Quaid
- Dennis William Quaid was born in Houston, Texas, on April 9, 1954
- His brother is actor Randy Quaid
- Quaid shares custody of his son with his ex-wife, Meg Ryan
- Quaid began his career as an impressionist, appearing in nightclubs in the Houston area at age 15
- In 1974, Quaid moved to Los Angeles
- Quaid made his first screen appearance in a bit part in "Crazy Mama" (1975)
- Quaid made his film acting debut in "9/30/55" (1977), directed by James Bridges
- In 1978, Quaid made his televison acting debut, "Are You in the House Alone?"
- In 1979, he had a breakthrough screen role as Mike, the high school jock, in "Breaking Away"
- In 1983, Quaid gained notice for his turn as the cocky astronaut Gordon Cooper in "The Right Stuff"
- In, 1987, Quaid won acclaim for his performance in "The Big Easy"
- Quaid portrayed singer Jerry Lee Lewis in the biopic "Great Balls of Fire" in 1987
- In 1993, Quaid returned to film acting with three features, "Wilder Napalm", "Undercover Blues" and "Flesh and Bone" after a three-year hiatus
- The actor earned praise for his performance as Doc Holliday in Lawrence Kasdan's epic "Wyatt Earp" in 1994.
- Quaid starred as a medieval knight in the 1996 "Dragonheart"
- 1998 was a busy year for Quaid as he made his directorial debut with TNT's television movie "Everything That Rises," co-starred in the remake of Disney's "The Parent Trap" and played a mercenary soldier in war-torn Bosnia in the drama "Savior"
- In 1999, Quaid portrayed a past-his-prime football quarterback in Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday"
- In 2000, Quaid was cast as the long-dead firefighting father in the supernatural-themed "Frequency"
- Quaid co-starred in the 2001 HBO adaptation of the Pulitzer-winning play "Dinner With Friends"