Dennis Quaid has a long list of memorable film roles to his credit, including playing such larger-than-life historic figures as astronaut Gordon Cooper in 1983’s The Right Stuff, rock-n-roll icon Jerry Lee Lewis in 1989’s Great Balls of Fire!, legendary gambler and gunfighter Doc Holliday in 1994’s Wyatt Earp, and President Bill Clinton in 2010’s The Special Relationship. In Reagan, due in theaters on August 30, he adds the Gipper to his roster. Here Quaid offers his thoughts on America’s 40th president as well as the Christian faith he shares with him.
JWK: What drew you to the role of Ronald Reagan?
Dennis Quaid: When I was offered the role, I said, “Why are you coming to me?” A shiver of fear went down my spine. And that’s usually a sign to me that I should say yes. However, I thought about it for a couple of months. When I went out to the Reagan Ranch, that’s when I made up my mind that I was going to take the role. When I went through the gate, I realized that Reagan was not a rich man. He was a humble man. And that’s what made him even greater in my mind, and also human and somebody I thought I could portray. Plus, we’re both actors.
Did you vote for him?
Reagan came along with such optimism, so I went into the voting booth and I voted for him. I went home and I had a roommate in L.A. at that time, and we’d been friends for like 10 years … He said, “Who did you vote for?” and I said Reagan. And he said, “You are kicked out of the hippies!” So that was fine with me by that time, because the hippies weren’t exactly solving the problems. And then all the hippies went to Wall Street after Reagan got in office!
How would you describe his faith journey and how does it compare to yours?
We all go through peaks and valleys in life. Sometimes we’re closer than other times at learning our lessons. It’s a very personal relationship with God and with Jesus, and that’s what faith is to me: having a personal relationship with God. I can only answer on my own, but I do know that as time has gone by in my life, it’s become much deeper and much closer. Because the problem was me, I didn’t realize that this redemption thing was actually free. A lot of times I would hide from God in a sense, and that’s why we have to get out of our own way to really have a true personal relationship with God, because you have to show warts and all. And I think Reagan did that. I know he asked for prayer for just about every act as president. God’s a good person to have on your side, at least for consultation when you’re in that kind of situation.
What is it about Christianity that gives you peace and purpose?
I know that God is really active in my relationship with Laura, my wife. I find that, as time goes by, I feel more opening up, more trust, and letting go of things that you try to hide. And that’s what that relationship with God lets you do, because we all hide in shame about things, but the deal is the freedom comes from giving that all to him. That’s redemption, and that’s where freedom comes from.
Could we use a little more of Reagan’s optimism today?
It’s the 20th anniversary since Reagan passed, and I feel like it’s more important now than ever to show audiences what the world was like then. If you were born in 1983, you don’t really remember the Reagan presidency or what the world was like. Those who are older will remember how it felt to be an American during that time period. President Reagan embodied America. He shared principles and the values of America that were unparalleled—and we need to see that again. He took over our country at a time when circumstances were very much like today in fact, when there was kind of a malaise that came over the country. We were a nation in decline, and Reagan came along and told us that wasn’t the case—that we were a shining city on the hill and we should act as such. And we responded.
What do you hope people take from this movie?
I hope people, after they see Reagan, they’re entertained, because it’s a really interesting movie to begin with. The times that we went through and the man himself had such an amazing life. And I hope they relate to what they see in their own life. That’s what it’s all about, connecting with people. And hopefully feeling better going out of the theater than they felt coming in.
