Dennis William Quaid (born April 9, 1954) is an American actor. Raised in Texas, he became known during the 1980s after appearing in several successful films, and has since established a career as a Hollywood actor.

Dennis Quaid was born in Houston, Texas, the son of an electrician. He studied drama in high school and in college, but dropped out before completing his studies, moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career. His brother, Randy Quaid, had already began to build a successful career, but Dennis initially had trouble finding work. He began to gain notice when he appeared in Breaking Away (1979) and earned strong reviews for his role in Right Stuff, The (1983). Aside from acting, Quaid is also a musician, and plays with his band, the Sharks.