- Jack Quaid is one of Hollywood’s brightest young stars
- But did you know he is the son of acting royalty?
- Here’s where you have seen his parents, Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid, onscreen before
Jack Quaid has won over fans with his versatility in acting roles – as well as his sense of humor and reputation for being one of the industry’s ‘nice guys’.
The Novocaine star, 32, made a name for himself as Hughie Campbell in the satirical superhero series The Boys, in which he has starred in for six years.
Quaid has also starred in Blockbusters such as Scream, Oppenheimer and Companion.
But did you know that the actor is actually the son of Hollywood royalty? Here’s the lowdown on Jack Quaid’s parents…
Meg Ryan
Known as the Queen of Rom-Coms, Quaid’s mother Meg Ryan was once dubbed “America’s Sweetheart” – and became one of the most bankable stars of the ‘90s.
The actor, 63, made her debut 1981 in the drama film Rich and Famous, and later joined the CBS soap opera As the World Turns in 1982.
Hollywood then beckoned, and Ryan had parts in 1986’s Top Gun, and the 1987 movie, Promised Land.
But it was the part of Sally Albright in the romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally… that rocketed Ryan to stardom.
Written by Nora Ephron and directed by Rob Reiner, Ryan earned her first Golden Globe nomination for her role, in which she starred opposite Billy Crystal as Harry. The movie also features Carrie Fisher and Bruno Kirby.
From there, Ryan starred in a slew of movies, including: Joe Versus the Volcano (1990), The Doors (1991), When a Man Loves a Woman (1994), French Kiss (1995), Courage Under Fire (1996), Anastasia (1997), Addicted to Love (1997), City of Angels (1998), Proof of Life (2000), Kate & Leopold (2001), and The Women (2008).
Ryan also picked up two more Golden Globe nominations for her roles in Sleepless in Seattle (1993) and You’ve Got Mail (1998).
In 2015, she made her directorial debut with Ithaca, in which she also starred. And after an eight year hiatus, Ryan returned to her rom-com roots for What Happens Later, which she also directed. Phew!
Dennis Quaid
Like his ex-wife (more on that later), Dennis Quaid is also an accomplished actor.
He gained attention in the 1979 movie Breaking Away, but it was his role as astronaut Gordon Cooper in the 1983 critically acclaimed movie The Right Stuff which shot him to stardom.
Critical acclaim continued for his roles in The Big Easy (1986) and Great Balls of Fire! (1989), and no movie fan can resist him as divorced father Nick Parker in 1998 remake of The Parent Trap (which, of course, also stars Lindsay Lohan as both his twin daughters!).
Quaid, 70, received a Golden Globe Award nomination for 2002’s Far from Heaven; and in 2009, The Guardian named him one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination.
More recently, Quaid has starred in 2022’s Strange World; and, like his son, he seems to have a horror bug – as he also played misogynistic TV boss Harvey in 2024 movie, The Substance.
In 2010, Quaid portrayed President Bill Clinton in the HBO film The Special Relationship, earning nominations for a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
He also portrayed Deputy U.S. Marshal Sherrill Lynn in the Paramount+ Western series Lawmen: Bass Reeves (2023), and President Ronald Reagan in the biopic, Reagan (2024).
Does Jack Quaid have any other siblings?
Yes – Jack Quaid has three other siblings from his parents’ relationships.
Ryan and Quaid married on February 14, 1991, after falling in love on-set of their second film together, D.O.A. They welcomed Jack on April 24 the following year.
The couple announced their separation in June 2000, and their divorce was finalized in July 2001. While there were reportedly allegations of infidelity on both sides of the ten-year marriage, Quaid added that Ryan’s fame was a factor in the divorce.
In January 2006, Ryan adopted a 14-month-old girl from China, whom she named Daisy True.
Quaid went on to marry Texas real estate agent Kimberly Buffington on July 4, 2004, at his ranch in Paradise Valley, Montana. They have fraternal twins who were born via a surrogate on November 8, 2007.
