Everything Jack Quaid Has Shared About His Parents, Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan
Jack Quaid has expressed his gratitude for being the son of renowned actors Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan.
The Boys star remarked in July 2024 that he feels he is an “immensely privileged person” who “was able to secure representation early in his career” which helped him launch his acting journey.
“I understand that many actors do not have the same advantages, and I recognize the doors that were open to me,” he shared during a Daily Beast interview. “I’ve dedicated myself to working as hard as I can to validate my opportunity.”
Jack mentioned that his privilege becomes even more apparent when he considers roles in romantic comedies, given that he is the offspring of the “undisputed queen of rom-coms.”
“If the role falls in the romantic comedy genre, it has to be distinct enough, and I have to work exceptionally hard,” he noted during the interview.
Dennis and Meg married in 1991, welcoming Jack in 1992. They separated in 2000, finalizing their divorce in 2001. Dennis later married Kimberly Buffington, with whom he shares twins Thomas and Zoe, born in 2007. Meg, on the other hand, adopted daughter Daisy in 2004.
Scroll down to discover more about Jack’s insights on being Dennis and Meg’s son:
Acknowledging His Privilege
After Meg attempted to defend Jack from the “nepo baby” label, Jack clarified that she wasn’t dismissing the privileges he has in his career.
“I initially thought, like, ‘She’s exhibiting a mother’s love,’” he told the Daily Beast in July 2024. “But I don’t think she’s suggesting that I’m not a nepo baby. I believe she’s expressing that it undermines my talent from her perspective. I don’t think it undermines my talent. I know the dedication I put into my work, and I have been rejected more than accepted. Nonetheless, I recognize that breaking into this industry is incredibly challenging, and I had a somewhat easier time than many. Both aspects can coexist. Regardless of my efforts, attention will always be drawn to my background.”
He Didn’t Realize His Parents Were Famous Until Their Divorce
“It didn’t fully register for me, honestly,” Jack recounted during the TCA Winter Press Tour in February 2019, explaining that it was only when he saw media coverage of his parents’ divorce that he grasped their fame. “I thought, ‘Oh, so everyone knows.’ Then, yes, I recognized [they were famous], but it just felt normal. They were simply my parents.”
He Enjoyed Spending Time on Set with His Parents
During the same TCA Winter Press Tour, Jack reminisced about spending time on set with his parents, particularly enjoying the craft service area.
“I would indulge in as much candy as I wanted,” he shared. “That was the real perk for me. I didn’t really learn anything [on set]. You truly understand the craft only once you’re on a set yourself.”
They ‘Supported’ His Acting Aspirations
“Most parents would likely say, ‘You want to be an actor? What are you thinking? That’s not a practical career,’” Jack told Us Weekly in an exclusive interview in April 2018. “But my parents are two individuals who have succeeded in that field, so they encouraged my pursuit. When I expressed, ‘I want to do what you both do,’ their response was, ‘Go for it.’”
Jack also mentioned that he could always rely on his parents for guidance whenever he has questions regarding acting or the industry.
“If I ever wonder, ‘What does this mean?’ they’re always there to help me out,” he explained to Us. “It was comforting to have role models who excelled in their careers while I was growing up.”
Their Divorce Was ‘Difficult’ for Him
“I fully acknowledge that my upbringing was not typical,” Jack shared on the “Allegedly” podcast in March 2016. “Yet, despite their careers, at the end of the day, they are just my mom and dad. They don’t play characters at the dinner table. My dad has never been Jerry Lee Lewis at my graduation; nothing of that sort has occurred. I maintain perspective on it, especially considering that none of my peers had celebrity or actor parents. In that case, I would think, ‘This is what the world is like!’”
Jack shared that his parents’ divorce happened when he was 8, which he regarded as a “complicated age.”
“You’re old enough to comprehend what’s happening, yet young enough to be somewhat naïve about it,” he reflected. “It’s challenging to overlook [the divorce]. If they hadn’t informed me, I would’ve been like, ‘What’s that?’ as a child. But, it is just as challenging as any other divorce, really.”
