{"id":89642,"date":"2024-04-13T00:00:20","date_gmt":"2024-04-13T00:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/13\/how-dennis-quaid-learned-to-shake-his-characters-off-at-home\/"},"modified":"2024-04-13T00:00:20","modified_gmt":"2024-04-13T00:00:20","slug":"how-dennis-quaid-learned-to-shake-his-characters-off-at-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/entertainment.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2024\/04\/13\/how-dennis-quaid-learned-to-shake-his-characters-off-at-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How Dennis Quaid Learned to Shake His Characters Off at Home"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Dennis Quaid<\/strong><\/a> has learned a lesson that it\u2019s best to leave your acting gigs on set.<\/p>\n

Before taking on the role of pianist Jerry Lee Lewis<\/strong> in the 1989 film Great Balls of Fire!<\/i>, Quaid, 70, exclusively recalled to Us Weekly<\/i> that he would spend days focused on his character.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a year to prepare for this role and so I sat at the piano for 12 hours a day for a year, which is easy if you\u2019re on cocaine,\u201d he shared with Us <\/i>on Friday, April 12, while supporting his new movie The Long Game<\/i>. \u201cThe piano is something else. And he is, he\u2019s one of the greatest piano players ever, ever. It\u2019s so athletic the way he plays. And what a guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lewis was open about his struggles with alcohol and cocaine before his death<\/a> at his Mississippi home in October 2022. He was 87.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>\u2018The Parent Trap\u2019 1998 Cast: Where Are They Now?<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tMore than three decades after Hayley Mills wooed fans in 1961\u2019s The Parent Trap, Disney rebooted the classic and produced an equally as big box office hit. The 1998 film, which starred Lindsay Lohan as identical twins, Annie James and Hallie Parker, followed the sisters after they are reunited while attending the same Camp Walden [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

After portraying the musician on the big screen, Quaid himself checked into rehab \u2013 or \u201ccocaine school\u201d as he\u2019s referred to it in past interviews \u2013 for cocaine addiction. During his initial recovery, the actor married Meg Ryan<\/strong> in 1991 and had their son<\/a>, Jack Quaid<\/strong>, 31. The pair divorced in 2001. (Quaid is also dad to twins Thomas and Zoe, 16, with ex-wife Kimberly Buffington<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

One thing he learned from treatment is you can\u2019t have work lead your full life.<\/p>\n

\u201cCan\u2019t bring it home,\u201d Quaid said. \u201cCocaine school taught me that. So you\u2019ve got to let go of stuff.\u201d<\/p>\n

There is one element of Lewis\u2019 character that Quaid can\u2019t seem to shake. \u201cThe good part of playing him is that I still play piano,\u201d he said, \u201cand continued.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n Dennis Quaid in \u2018Great Balls of Fire,\u2019 1989.<\/span> Cover Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

He\u2019s also been able to continue his successful career in Hollywood. A return to his Christian faith has been a crucial part of Quaid\u2019s sobriety.<\/p>\n

When given the opportunity to star in The Long Game<\/i> and focus on the true-life story of five Mexican-American youths who triumphed against all odds in their pursuit of a Texas State High School Golf Championship trophy, Quaid couldn\u2019t say no.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think people go to the movies to see things. They go to feel things and there is hope in this film,\u201d Quaid shared about the family-friendly flick. \u201cI want them to be entertained, number one. And I want them to see themselves when they were kids or whatever. Everybody has an experience that they can relate to in this movie.\u201d<\/p>\n

Days after celebrating his 70th birthday on April 9, Quaid remains excited about his future both at home and in Hollywood.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\tRelated: <\/span>Dennis Quaid and Wife Laura Savoie\u2019s Relationship Timeline<\/span><\/a>
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\n\t\t\tScott Moore\/Shutterstock Dennis Quaid and Laura Savoie\u2019s relationship has been met with adversity over the years, but they\u2019ve only come out stronger. Quaid had been married three times prior to meeting Savoie when she was a 26-year-old Ph.D. student at the University of Texas in 2019. The actor was married to P.J. Soles from 1978-1983 [\u2026]\t\t<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Married to Laura Savoie<\/strong> since 2020, The Parent Trap<\/i> actor looks around at his life and is filled with gratitude.<\/p>\n

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