Dennis Quaid Passed on 'Big'; Talks Regrets, Kids and What Makes Him Cry

By Nicki Gostin Posted Apr 7th 2011 10:19PM

Dennis Quaid has a tender side, and that was in full display when he opened up this week on the 'TODAY' show while promoting his new movie, 'Soul Surfer,' about surfer Bethany Hamilton and her ordeal with losing an arm in a shark attack. "Like a little girl," he tells PopEater, describing the way he cried when he first heard about Bethany. "How she'd taken this horrific event that had happened to her, a shark attack, and turned it into a bump in the road in her life ... It really affected me."

What hasn't affected Quaid, 56, is the occasional bump in the road during his three-decade career. The hunky Texan reveals to us he turned down 'Big' (you're welcome, Hanks) and 'Peggy Sue Got Married,' but that his biggest regret is having never worked with iconic director David Lean. In our extended chat, Quaid talks about his hobbies, getting "verklempt," and the inspiring 'Soul Surfer,' co-starring AnnaSophia Robb and Helen Hunt.

Hi Dennis, please excuse my screaming children in the background.
Oh I know nothing about that, mine are little angels! Oh my God with twins one will melt down while the other watches and then the other one melts down. Why can't they just melt down at the same time? Get it over and done with.

There's a big age difference between your kids (Quaid has a son, Jack nearly 19 with ex-wife Meg Ryan). Do you remember anything?
I think nature blessedly does that for us. I think that's how we have more kids, we forget. When you have another you go, 'Oh right!' I would say kids are the greatest blessing you can have in life and also the greatest challenge you'll ever have in life.

AnnaSophia Robb on 'Soul Surfer'

Back to 'Soul Surfer.' Did you know who Bethany was before you were offered the film?
I do have a dim memory of hearing about it. But how I got involved, about two Christmases ago Bethany was on the Today show and I just happened to be watching it with my then one year old boy, while his sister was having a melt down upstairs, and she was promoting her book and telling her story and it hit me in such an emotional way. She was so optimistic and inspirational. I was a mess there on the couch.

You were crying?
Like a little girl. How she'd taken this horrific event that had happened to her, a shark attack, and turned it into a bump in the road in her life. She just seemed so normal, it really affected me. I was sitting there thinking, oh what problems could I possibly have when she has recovered from something like this. Then it just so happened three days later the producers called me and asked me to play her father in the movie. What a co-inky-dink!

Plus you got to shoot in Hawaii.
I would say that would be a big plus. Usually the locations I'm in, I'm in Eastern Europe up to my chest in mud and its three o'clock in the morning and I'm wearing summer clothes.

Are you a good surfer now?
I'm a good beginner and I'm almost intermediate. I can get up on a board and go down the wave with it.

You've done a million movies. Do you have a favorite?
'The Right Stuff' because I grew up in Houston which is space city. Gordo Cooper was my favorite astronaut as a kid, I liked his name, he was the youngest and I wound up getting to play him. It was a dream come true.

Is there a movie that you turned down that you regretted?
I turned down 'Big.'

Why??
I think I turned it down for something else.

Probably something completely forgettable.
Well I can't remember what it was. (Laughs). I also turned down 'Peggy Sue got Married,' but that turned out to be a good choice but it was turning down Coppola. The only regret I have in my career, it's not any of the movies I did even if they turned out not to be what I wanted them to be. The only regret was that I didn't get to work with director David Lean. He gave me a part in 'Nostromo' and I got to spend some time with him. That was really one of the great moments for me.

So 'Lawrence of Arabia' is your favorite movie.
Yes it is. Either you're a psychic or you have it right there in front of you.

Nooo, that's not very hard. That's Lean's masterpiece. I loved 'Breaking Away.' You've been working for a long time.
Exactly! I feel lucky to still be here. I look around and think about some of the other people I started out with and I wonder where they are now. I'm very grateful to still be here. I enjoy doing it now more than I did in my 20's and 30's. I have less angst about it.

What do you do in your time off?
I like gardening. I get excited about what flowers I'm going to put in my flowerbed. I get excited about a jacaranda tree.

Do you have those special knee pads?
No, I do it the old fashioned way.

I'm surprised to learn you're a bit of a softy; you talked about crying about Bethany while on the 'TODAY' show.
Well I get very emotional. I'm a sissy when it comes to that. I get all verklempt and emotional. Like every four years at the Olympics I always get choked up when the people are standing on the platform.

When was the last time you cried?
In this interview. (Laughs).

Hey, that was mean!
I just welled up a bit.

Oh because you're speaking to an adorable Aussie interviewer?
Yeah!

'Soul Surfer' (PG) hits theaters on Friday, April 8. Watch the trailer at Moviefone.

More Q&As From Nicki Gostin: Nikki Sixx, Sammy Hagar, Ralph Macchio, Ted Danson

Tags: Dennis Quaid, Soul Surfer

Comments

(19)

Thursday 07 April

By joe

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OK, I didn't even recognize Helen Hunt in that picture. Talk about a lot of plastic surgery...

By bigD

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I love how dumb people attribute every change in a person's face to plastic surgery. It's called aging- and I don't think she's had any surgery at all. Love Dennis Quaid. He is still sexy at 56.

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No it is not a normal aging process, and I am not "dumb" by any definition.

By stu

He is yummy @ 56! All these interviews for the movie..i noticed no 1 is asking him bout his crazy brother Randy.

Friday 08 April

By gailneuman

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agreed-she doesn't look like herself at all anymore and her face looks paralyzed from Botox in places

By SALGAL877

I AGREE, SHE DOSEN'T EVEN LOOK LIKE HERSELF, AS DID MEG RAYAN AND KENNY RODGERS, JUST SAW ROBERT REDFORD ON THE TODAY SHOW, ANOTHER ONE THAT WENT UNDER THE KNIFE, AT LEAST HE LIKE SOME WRINKLES!

By Aztrazolo

If that's plastic surgery it the worst plastic surgery in the world. Seriously. Just...no. That's not surgery.

By dave martin

ohhhhh you ARE freaking STUUUUUPID

By murray silver

...speaking of crying, i cry every time i see what a mess DQ made of the movie based on my book about jerry lee lewis...
murray silver, author, great balls of fire: the uncensored story of jerry lee lewis

By coursingthru

Dennis, please....just be normal and not pretend to this way during this interview. I was on the phone the night you were at a certain place in Austin AFTER your babies were born, so please, I am a mother and I hate it when men try to disguise outloud.

You just NEVER know who is standing next to you when you are a celeb.

You would've never filled Tom Hanks in Big - or even the child.

By Emme

Ummm......that made no sense & if he was pissed he had every right to be! A wrong dosage of meds almost killed his babies!

Sunday 17 April

By Sara

The poster didn't say how long after the twins were born or where he was. Nor did they say he was angry. Knowing Quaid's history he was probably doing something he didn't need to be doing. "coursingthru" could you give more details please?

Saturday 09 April

By moonmom

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He needs to stop coloring his hair. It looks awful.

Sunday 10 April

By majorangstgirl

LOL..I always love it how someone who probably uses lotions, face creams, sunscreen, foundation, eye shadow, mascara, blush, perfumes, haircolor, push-up bras and control-top panties (probably in a size 24) to make herself feel better about herself actally believes she's in a position to lecture others about their looks.

By bill

Dennis Quaid is cool. Lot of great roles over the years. Great smile and all that but PLEASE get rid of the bad rugs Dennis. Dennis Quaid with a wig is as bad as Opra with her absurd hair extensions.

By Jan

My favorite Dennis movie is "The Big Easy" and he sings real good too.

By Lea

I didn't know he turned down "Peggy Sue Got Married." To me, Nicolas Cage will always be "Crazy Charlie the Appliance King!"

By jennifer carlson

LOL..But I bet you enjoyed the money you got PAID for the screen rights. It was your choice to sell the screen rights to Hollywood. Look, dude -- Quaid didn't write the screen play. Your issues are with the producers, the studio, and guys who wrote the screenplay. IN short, it was 1989, get over it. It's more than just a little late to be whining about your own choices as this late date.

Saturday 16 April

no Sara, I won't. Sorry.

But that is one lesson I learned from a boss who did high price real estate - you never know who is sitting at the table behind you or who walks in the door that you don't know who may know you because of a third party.

You'd think that keeps one in check as a celeb, but in my case, I get the in's on alot but know the secret to keeping my lips sealed despite the ability to cash in lol. Why? I even know something bigger right now but will never ever share of someone major but because I am just a simple girl who respects the ranks despite, no one will ever know, at least from my words.

Celebs, please just keep a down low.

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