Dennis Quaid Tackles His Toughest Role Yet ​

At age 70, actor Dennis Quaid says he’s taken on the most challenging role of his career — playing President Ronald Reagan in the movie Reagan, in theaters August 30. A self-proclaimed history buff, he was also eager to sign on as host, narrator and executive producer of the History Channel’s Holy Marvels With Dennis Quaid. The series launches June 3 and features historians, authors and professors of archaeology and religious studies explaining the significance of some of the world’s most sacred relics. In our interview, Quaid shares the challenges of playing the former president, how he celebrated turning 70 and why he has no regrets in life.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Was it difficult to portray an iconic real-life figure like Ronald Reagan?

Yes. This was probably the most difficult role I’ve ever had, because I didn’t want to do an impersonation — just talk like him and use a bunch of makeup to look like him. What I love about acting is finding out what makes people tick. And he is one of the most known, iconic figures in the world, even still. It was a great challenge for me.

What made you want to host Holy Marvels?

I’ve always been a history buff, all my life, and I’m also a Christian … and so this sounded like a very interesting show to do. It was a very easy yes. We go through not just Christianity but Judaism and Islam, Buddhism — all religions around the world — and these sacred objects and investigate them and bring to light things that are very similar to all of us.

As a religious person, do you feel connected to the objects featured on the show?

Well, I went around the world way back when — I got one of those Pan Am tickets they used to sell where you could buy a ticket around the world.… It was a couple of months back during the late ’70s. I had a question for every place that I went: “Who is God to you?” And basically, everyone around the world has pretty much the same concept. Religions at their base are not very different at all. People feel a spiritual connection, even societies that were separated by geography for thousands of years [are] sometimes very similar.

You turned 70 recently. Did you have a big party?

I laid low this year. We [Quaid and his wife, Laura Savoie Quaid] were on spring break with the kids [his twins, Thomas and Zoe, 16, with his third wife Kimberly Buffington. Quaid also has a son Jack, 32, with his second wife, Meg Ryan]. We took them down to Mexico. That was great.

What’s one important life lesson you tell your kids?

I tell them to find something that you love to do and then figure out a way to get paid for it. Then you will have at least a third of your life figured out.