Dennis Quaid has been acting since the early ‘80s and is known for films including The Parent Trap, The Day After Tomorrow, Far From Heaven, and Footloose. He recently appeared in the Amazon series Fortitude. He is also working on several films, including The Intruder, A Dog’s Journey, Midway, and 2019 movie Reagan, in which he’ll play the former American president.
While Quaid’s career has made him famous, many headlines about the star have centred on his numerous divorces. Quaid, 64, has been divorced three times. In a new interview with The Times, he opens up about how his multiple marriages have affected his life.
“I think what divorce does is, it takes away your identity,” the actor says. “It’s like death. Your identity is wrapped up in the relationship and if it’s not going to be there…who are you?”
Quaid was married to actress PJ Soles from 1978 to 1983. His next marriage to actress Meg Ryan lasted 10 years from 1991 to 2001. He recently split up with his third wife, Kimberly Buffington, whom he wed in 2004.
The actor added about divorce, “Aren’t the most stressful things in life meant to be the death of a family member and moving house? And then there’s divorce, which is death and moving.”
Another life event that Quaid has struggled with is having children. “The birth of a child is another stressful situation,” Dennis noted. “Not just because things could go wrong, but also because you have to redefine who you are.”
Quaid has three kids—Jack, 26, with Ryan, and twins Zoe and Thomas, 11, with Buffington. He says his life changed forever when his first son came into his life.
“I was 38 when he was born,” Dennis said. “And I realized my life was over. I could no longer have any guilt-free experiences. I’m exaggerating a bit, but I am responsible for someone else in the world, and that’s never going to go away. My mother still worries about me.”
While he has struggled with his relationships in the past, Quaid isn’t giving up. He’s currently dating model Santa Auzina, 32. It’s unclear whether she will become his fourth wife or whether they will have a child together. But she recently posted a photo of herself and Quaid on Instagram with the caption: “To Love is nothing. To be loved is something. But to love and be loved, that’s everything. #blessed #soulmate #love #happiness #nyc.”
While Quaid has certainly tried to find his one and only, he isn’t the only actor who’s been married multiple times. Mickey Rooney was married eight times, and Larry King has had seven wives (one he married twice). Richard Pryor married seven times (he wed two of his wives twice), and Gregg Allman and Jerry Lee Lewis were both married seven times.
