Preview:
Dennis Quaid: It was … Really what it was about was a personal relationship with God, with Jesus Christ, uh, in, in particular. And, uh, that is the thing that started to really nurture inside me, that relationship, and it’s grown, and, you know, spurted, uh, growth spurts, and stumbles, and falls, but, you know, it’s still, it’s always there, and it’s, it is my rock.
End of Preview
John Fuller: Hm. That’s actor Dennis Quaid starring in the new movie, Reagan, uh, talking about God began to speak to him through his scriptures years ago when Dennis was in drug rehabilitation. Uh, today on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, you’ll hear a conversation that Dennis had with Jim. And I think you’re gonna find it really enjoyable and interesting. Welcome to the show. I’m John Fuller.
Jim Daly: John, it was fun talking to Dennis Quaid this week about the Reagan movie coming out this Friday, and it should be in a theater near everyone. They’re gonna release on thousands of screens.
John: Hm.
Jim: Uh, we also discussed his personal faith in Christ and what he’s observing in Hollywood regarding spiritual things. And, you know, d- It’s really interesting to talk to these folks who have, you know, kinda gotten to their top of their game, in his case, acting, and he’s been in some great films over the years.
John: Mm-hmm.
Jim: He’s doing a lot more Christian films now, and I think that’s an outcome of his Christian faith.
John: Mm-hmm.
Jim: It’s more serious today than perhaps in years past. But, uh, I enjoy talking to people that are in that space and trying to do the Lord’s work in the arts. And I was able to screen the Reagan film, and I enjoyed it, uh, and I’m looking forward to seeing it again with the family.
John: Mm-hmm.
Jim: I think it highlighted a lot of the good things that Reagan stood for, not so much politically, but integrity and honesty in-
John: Mm-hmm.
Jim: … so many ways. And the people around him, they do a good job developing the support cast that was in the White House at the time. But more importantly is, is really the spiritual element of what was going on.
John: Yeah, and Dennis has been in, uh, so many movies, Jim, uh, The Parent Trap, The Rookie, Soul Surfer, I Can Only Imagine, uh, lots of accolades in the industry, the film and television industry. He’s a musician. Uh, he recorded a gospel album called Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners, and, uh, he was in Los Angeles promoting the film, and took some time to speak with you-
Jim: Hm.
John: … via video call. And in fact, the full conversation’s heard on your podcast, uh, ReFOCUS with Jim Daly. And as a listener, you can find that link at focusonthefamily.com/broadcast. Well, let’s go ahead and hear the discussion. Here’s Jim with Dennis Quaid on today’s episode of Focus on the Family with Jim Daly.
Jim: Dennis, I wanna welcome you to Focus on the Family.
Dennis: Ah, it’s great to be here. Thanks, Jim. Thanks for having me.
Jim: Yeah. You have been promoting this movie. I know that takes a lot of energy. You know, one thing, I saw it last night, I watched the screener, it’s really so, so good. But I guess the first question is the obvious one, what attracted you to do this? I mean, you got different scripts coming your way, what was the draw?
Dennis: I was offered this movie in 2018.
Jim: (laughs)
Dennis: I met with Mark Joseph, uh, I was doing it. And, uh, it was a … I’d done a movie, um, uh, Soul Surfer-
Jim: Right.
Dennis: … the ab- about Bethany Hamilton. Uh, which, you know, was labeled a faith movie.
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: I call them good movies. But-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: … you know-
Jim: It’s a great story.
Dennis: Great story. Anyway, her brother, Noah, called me up and said, “Hey, these guys are … want you to do Reagan.” I said, “Reagan?”
Jim: (laughs)
Dennis: “You want me, me to do Reagan? Why, why anybody want me to do Reagan?” So I went and met with them. And they offered me the part. And it was like, I have had this fear go up my spine. You know? ‘Cause I didn’t think I looked like Reagan. You know? Uh, granted, we’re both actors. We both have so many dispositions, I think. He was also, uh, my favorite president. And everybody in the world knows what he looks like. He’s like Muhammad Ali, you know?
Jim: (laughs)
Dennis: Everybody in the world has an opinion, knows what he looks like. And, uh, so, uh, usually when I had that, that fear, it’s usually a sign that I should do that, ’cause it gets me outta my … gets me outta my comfort zone. You know what I mean? But I didn’t say yes.
Jim: Do you like getting outta your comfort zone? Most people don’t like getting outta their-
Dennis: Y- Yeah. (laughs) I-
Jim: … comfort zone.
Dennis: Well … well, we’re all dragged kicking and screaming-
Jim: (laughs)
Dennis: … out of our comfort zones. But then we go, “Oh, well, that was … I’m so glad I did that.”
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: (laughs) But, yeah. That’s, I mean, that’s way it is, uh, when you walk the walk as a Christian, too, and it, getting dragged outta your comfort zone-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: … that, too. Yeah. But, uh, anyway, so I, um, I didn’t say yes, I didn’t say no. And I had to sit with it and really think about it. My mother definitely wanted me to do it.
Jim: (laughs)
Dennis: And, uh, you know, and, uh, I f- I sat with it. But I went up. I got invited to the Reagan Ranch, which is not open to the public. It was the Western White House.
Jim: Right.
Dennis: And I went up there. You go up five miles of the worst road in California. And you get to the top and come up to the front gate. And I could feel Reagan in that place.
Jim: Mm-hmm.
Dennis: I could feel who he was, his spirit, his … who he was.
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: Or fir- first I … It’s obvious to me he was a humble man. And it was … He was not a rich man.
Jim: Right.
Dennis: Uh, which, uh, kinda took me aback, ’cause I always thought of it in that way, you know, ’cause he was president. But, you know, the, the r- Western White House, that, that house there is 1,100 square feet.
Jim: (laughs) Yeah.
Dennis: That, you know, he bought that like, right after, uh, um, governorship. They had a king-sized bed, but it was two single beds that were zip tied together.
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: Some friends bought that place. They left it exactly as it was. You feel like Ron and Nancy left, and they’re coming back, any moment.
Jim: Hm.
Dennis: Their clothes are in the closet. But anyway, that’s when I, uh, I said yes, ’cause I could f- I could feel him as a person and then I felt like I could get there.
Jim: Let me ask you, uh, you know, for our audience, our listeners and viewers, the faith component, uh, has always been intriguing with President Reagan, sometimes on full display, sometimes very quiet. Of course, Nancy’s role in some of that, uh, you know, it was not always clear where she was. But, uh, it certainly comes through in the movie. You did, uh, the writers, and you, in that acting role did a wonderful job pulling that out. How did you feel about it, now, as a Christian yourself, uh, you know, accentuating those aspects of who he was?
Dennis: Well, that definitely wasn’t something that was manufactured by Reagan, or anything, or any kind of just public image to put up, there. It was, you know, from the time he was a boy. You know? And, uh, he was in the church. And that’s where he learned public speaking, was, you know, in the church.
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: His mother was, uh, like, like my mother, too, was, you know, a devout Christian as well. And, um, so there was … That was, like I said, nothing manufactured by him. And I think after his assassination attempt, you know, he even said to Tip O’Neill, this, you know, “My life is no longer mine. It belongs to the man upstairs. And there’s a lot to do.”
Jim: Let’s move to you for a minute. You grew up in the Baptist church. You mentioned, uh-
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: … your mom and Reagan’s mom being very similar. Uh, okay. So, so many parents in this community, in our listenership, you know, they’re taking their kids to church. There might be a five, seven, nine year old Dennis Quaid amongst them. Um, you didn’t stick with it, per se, but now you’ve made the full turn. Uh, just describe, you know, kinda your hopes that your mom had for you, the disappointments that may have occurred, your journey there, a little bit, and, and what brought you back to faith in God?
Dennis: Well, I have always had faith in God. It’s, it’s about, uh, I think we would go church, uh, Sunday school, like e- every Sunday, basically, up until I was about 12. And, uh, but then I, I, I got disillusioned with what I think I call churchianity.
Jim: Mm-hmm.
Dennis: You know? Uh, which may, may be a perceived thing, too, you know, as a, as a young man. Uh, but that was just the way I, I, I perceived it and I saw it. And, uh, so I gotta give … This was in the ’60s. And I got into, uh, I read the Siddhartha, uh, in high school, which kind of opened me up to, uh, reading about other religions, too, and e- you know, around the world, like, “What happens to those billion Chinese? Are, are they going to hell?” You know? And just-
Jim: Oh, yeah.
Dennis: … those, those kinds of questions really just-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: … uh, didn’t seem like, uh, you know, “How can God be this way and not … and, uh, and not the other?” And, uh, but anyway, I, I read the Dhammapada, I read the Bhagavad Gita, I read the Quran. I went around the-
Jim: Wow.
Dennis: … world, asking every, everyone around the world about, you know, “Who’s God to you?” And, uh, ’cause I gue- I guess I’m a seeker. And, um, and then I also, you know, ex- tried to fill that hole that was there, you know, that can’t be filled, through other things like, uh, drugs and alcohol, or achievements, or whatever, uh, there is in, uh, a life that has to offer, you know, that you think is gonna finally … or a relationship that you think is finally going to fill that hole for you. And you know, and, uh, wound up in rehab. And, uh, in, uh, 1990. And I had read the Bible already, I think, you know, twice, by that time, I was in my 40s. But I read the … I read the Bible again. And especially this time, the … I read the New Testament. And it was the red words of Jesus that really kind of brought me back. It was … Really what it was about was a personal relationship-
Jim: Hm.
Dennis: … with God, with Jesus Christ, it, uh, in particular. And, uh, that is the thing that started to really nurture inside me, that relationship, and it’s grown, and you know, spurted, the growth spurts, and stumbles, and falls, but you know, it’s still, it’s always there. And it’s, it is my rock.
Jim: Yeah. I was thinking, uh, you know, when you look at other religions, I studied in Japan for some of my college time, and, you know, I had the similar experience of looking at other things, Buddhism, Shintoism, but you know-
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: … the … I think it was Josh McDowell or one of those leading evangelists back here in the US who always said, you know, “The difference with Christianity is Christianity is the only religion where God is reaching us. All the others are built on works, us trying to reach Him. Praying- ”
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: ” … so many times a day, you know, doing good works.” Which are, you know, important-
Dennis: Meditating-
Jim: … to do.
Dennis: … for, for, uh, meditating for-
Jim: Right.
Dennis: … how many years until you become enlightened or whatever. Uh, that, that I d- I do believe in meditation. I think, you know, ma- uh, I think when Christ, oh, when Jesus talked about prayer, it’s-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: … prayer in meditation, you know? It’s meditating on God, which is all great. But as far as like just calling out His name, and He, b- He’s here, right now-
Jim: Yeah. (laughs)
Dennis: … in this moment.
Jim: Well, it’s just like the God way to do it. You know? “You don’t have to- ”
Dennis: Yes.
Jim: ” … build it to me. I will make a way for you.” It’s just, if you’re gonna believe in a god, wouldn’t that be the God you’d wanna believe in? So, a God that-
Dennis: Right.
Jim: … prepared the way for you, that made the-
Dennis: Just as I am.
Jim: … sacrifice. All of that.
Dennis: Just as I am, right?
Jim: (laughs) Just as I am, right.
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: That’s kinda what led me to the Lord in my 20s, too. I mean, I-
Dennis: Hm.
Jim: … made a commitment to Christ at 15, but then wobbled, as I like to say, until I-
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: … really made that harder commitment at about 22, and realized, “Okay, this has to be more serious.” And I was certainly lacking that. Uh, y- You know, for yourself, e- oftentimes for me, it was a football coach that got me pointed in the right direction. When you look back on your own life, are there two or three people that really made that difference for you? Uh-
Dennis: Oh, yeah. For sure.
Jim: Who were they and what were they?
Dennis: Yeah. Well, my mother, who was my rock-
Jim: (laughs) That’s-
Dennis: … really-
Jim: … all good ol’ Mom.
Dennis: … in my life. Yeah. I mean, she was always there, I mean, even when (laughs) nobody else was, or when I felt like I didn’t deserve it. You know?
Jim: Right.
Dennis: Uh, that’s, uh … She was really that. And, um, you know, in … far as my early years, my dad. I, uh, really had a great relationship with my dad. You know, it was, uh, a, um, a complicated relationship, uh, you know, very much like Reagan, i- in a sense. His dad was alcoholic, but at the same time, the life of, of the party or whatever. And, uh-
Jim: Hm.
Dennis: … very kind of outgoing. He was, he was a really good man, my dad. But, uh, there was a teacher in, uh, college, uh, uh, a acting teacher who really had a l- big effect in my life as far as, uh, as where I was gonna go. And he really made acting seem interesting. You know? It was like psychology, about what makes people tick.
Jim: Right.
Dennis: And, and, uh, Billy Graham had a, uh … had a huge effect on my life. Still, I mean, he still does, really. Um, he was like the real deal. And, you know, um, uh, he was, uh, I almost felt like he was, uh, like my, my father.
Jim: Hm.
Dennis: … uh, i- in a sense, my, you know, my spiritual, uh, father here on on earth, uh, just growing up. You know? I’d never met him or anything. And, uh, but, uh, he was just an a- an amazing person.
Jim: Let’s, uh, you know, again, the movie’s coming out this weekend. You can find where to see that. It’s gonna be a-
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: … great show. I do notice the guitars. Everybody that’s visually watching this is gonna-
Dennis: (laughs)
Jim: “Ask him about the guitars, Jim.” But you’ve also done a number of albums, and you’re musically gifted-
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: … which is funny. It’s like y- the right side of your brain is working, huh?
Dennis: Well, right or left side.
Jim: (laughs)
Dennis: Yeah. One handles the business, the other one’s, uh, like, uh, dreaming.
Jim: But anyway, talk-
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: … about your music.
Dennis: Uh, well, I had a go- I did a gospel record, uh, last year, that came out. And, uh, uh, called Fallen. I call it Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners.
Jim: (laughs) That’s good.
Dennis: Because I wanted of the biggest audience possible, I could get.
Jim: Well, I think-
Dennis: And-
Jim: We all qualify for that.
Dennis: Yeah. And it’s, uh, uh, half of it is songs that I grew up with in the Baptist church that I love so much. And then the other half were songs that I wrote, uh, before a- and during the making, uh, of the record. And then it all adds up basically to my spiritual journey, I think.
Jim: Now, that’s really cool. When- y- You know, looking at Christianity in Hollywood, I know Mark Burnett, and Roma Downey, and a handful of other people that-
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: … you know, do such a good job representing the Lord as they’re working professionally, and kinda top of their game, and doing the right things, and … But that’s gotta be kind of a difficult environment. You’ve moved outta California, now, but, uh, describe for us just that world, living in that world, that bubble, and trying to be a person of faith. Uh, uh, you know, we all have probably ideas of what that looks like, but, uh, is it difficult or is it okay if you’re living to d- who you are and being true, you generally get-
Dennis: Well-
Jim: … a herring, and-
Dennis: It can be, you know, I, I think Hollywood gets that. But I think there’s, uh, a really quite a lot of, uh, people of faith out here. They, they may not speak publicly about it, you know, maybe, you know, because they feel like, “Ooh, gonna get canceled, or- ”
Jim: Yeah, I’ve heard that.
Dennis: You know, it’s always been like that.
Jim: There are a lotta Christians.
Dennis: But again, it was, there was, uh, ver- some very vibrant churches out here. I was … Really, when I first got out here, Jess Moody, I don’t know if you’re familiar with, um, Jess Moody he was in Florida, and he was, he was, he was quite, uh, an amazing, uh, preacher, Baptist preacher at First Baptist Church of Van Nuys, over there. And then, d- uh, Greg Laurie, uh, actually, you know-
Jim: Yeah, Greg.
Dennis: … uh, today. I mean, he’s doing great things. I was just, uh, at his crusade at, uh, Angel Stadium, and-
Jim: Oh, yeah.
Dennis: … 45 … 45,000 people. They filled the place to the rafters.
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: And they had, they had 6,000 people. That’s what, one in every eight people came down?
Jim: He’s like the modern version of Billy Graham, I think. I mean, he-
Dennis: I really do-
Jim: … he’s the guy that has stepped-
Dennis: … believe that, too.
Jim: … into the role. He’s got such a great demeanor, such a great delivery. It’s inviting.
Dennis: He’s authentic.
Jim: You’re attracted to what he’s having to say, and yeah, he really has filled that, that role, I think.
Dennis: He’s authentic and he, and he says it for, uh, another generation coming, you know?
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: T- It’s like the same thing. And it’s … Well, it’s authentic. It’s-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: He, he doesn’t try to manufacture it.
Jim: You know, as a-
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: … funny story, Mark Burnett was telling me when he was doing The Bible, along with Roma Downey, but they were doing those features, A.D., and The Bible, and they did really well. I think it was on History Channel.
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: But he was talking to the executives at the different production houses, mostly Jewish leadership, and he said, uh, as he was pitching it, they were saying, “Yeah, just do the Old Testament. We’ll cover the costs of doing the Old Testament.” He goes, “Well, that’s not really the whole Bible.” And he said they would say, “Yeah, well, okay. Throw in the New Testament but leave out the Jesus parts.” (laughs)
Dennis: (laughs)
Jim: I thought, “That is such a funny story.” And he, he took it in stride. And he was able to do it the way he needed to do it, which represented the true scriptures, both Old and New-
Dennis: Right.
Jim: … Testament.
Dennis: (laughs)
Jim: But I thought it was so funny. “Yeah, do the Bible without the Jesus parts.” (laughs)
Dennis: “Without the Jesus thing.” Yeah. That’s … Okay. (laughs)
Jim: It’s just a … It’s a great illumination into how people think.
Dennis: Yeah. That-
Jim: You know?
Dennis: That’s the, that’s the thinking out here, in a way. You know? And-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: And Hollywood still hasn’t gotten it yet, uh, tell you the truth. You know, that’s like they had it back in the ’50s. Remember, you know, like Charlton Heston, and, uh, you know, they used to t- you know, how many, uh, movies, uh, Zeffirelli, and, and then, then there was a lotta those about Jesus, uh, you know, Ben Hur, there was all, you know, all kinds of, uh, uh, The Ten Commandments, but Hollywood just, uh, they felt like they were too cool for school or something, I guess. But faith movies, they … You know, when they started out, they were very basic and it took ’em a while. But then, you know, along came The Shack. And then I got involved in I Can Only Imagine, and of course, uh, Soul Surfer, which is a faith aspirational film, I think.
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: And they never know how, uh, they have these predictors, these trackers that, you know, about what the box office is gonna do. And, and I Can Only Imagine, you know, and they’re usually really right.
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: It’s spooky. But they said, uh, “I Can Only Imagine t- Oh, it’s maybe make $2 million for the weekend.” We made $17 million for-
Jim: Yeah. Yeah.
Dennis: … the weekend, and at opening. And they scratched their heads, and they … Now they have these advisors in the agencies and the studios that are their faith people, that are-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: … going out to look for material or whatever. But they-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: … really still don’t get it.
Jim: Well, I think, you know, the, the wonder of our faith is that I think we can remain calm. (laughs) You know, I’ve been telling this.
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: My wife and I have been doing this devotion. And we’re, we’re just talking about the fact that, you know, it says in the word that, “Every knee shall bow and every tongue confess.” So I believe that will be true. Now it’s a matter of how do we persuade others to look at Jesus and his claims, and try to help people see the light, literally? And we don’t need to have, uh, anger, or negative energy toward people. We need to love them, and show them, and talk with them, what it is we believe. And I do think if we did that successfully, the country would have a hunger for more of the good stuff that you’ve done here with the Reagan movie, and the other movies-
Dennis: I think-
Jim: … you’ve been in.
Dennis: … the hun- country does have a hunger-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: … for, for that stuff. There’s a lot more of it now than there was, uh, even-
Jim: That’s true.
Dennis: … four years ago.
Jim: Yeah, that’s true.
Dennis: You know? And, uh, I said this when COVID came along, and it’s hit, in a sense is that I, I feel that there is a spiritual awakening going on in this country right now.
Jim: Hm.
Dennis: Uh, that, you know, uh, spiritual awakenings don’t actually feel that, that warm and fuzzy. (laughs) You know? And that’s, uh, that’s what they’re all about. You know? D- It’s like a spiritual revolution. But it’s happening. And-
Jim: Yeah
Dennis: Uh, I think it’s a wonderful thing.
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: … that, uh, p- ‘Cause people are, are really starting to wake up, because they’ve been out there and they’ve tried. They’re like me and they’ve tried, they’ve tried a lot of other stuff that doesn’t work.
Jim: Well, that’s the whole-
Dennis: And-
Jim: … point. Filling that-
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: … hole that you talked about, whether it’s drug abuse, alcoholism, relationships, I mean, i- e- That’s what’s so tough when you talk to people, to say, “This will fill that void.”
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: And, and you know, we haven’t … It feels like, Dennis, we haven’t progressed far from the garden. We’re still saying, “No.”
Dennis: No.
Jim: “We, we know best. We know the, the- ”
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: ” … knowledge of life. We will pursue it.”
Dennis: Right.
Jim: And then, in the end, God just lets you run to the end of that road, and then you look off that cliff, and go, “Okay, maybe I wasn’t right.”
Dennis: Yeah, God doesn’t want you to eat that, because you, you’ll be immortal like Him.
Jim: Yeah. (laughs)
Dennis: (laughs) So think-
Jim: So-
Dennis: That’s what we’re all looking for, but it’s like, uh … And, you know, nations are like people. You know?
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: You have to find out for yourself. You, you go out there, and that’s why we have free will. And, uh, you try things, but, uh, hopefully you come back to that which actually works.
Jim: Without a doubt.
Dennis: Which-
Jim: You know-
Dennis: … is that personal relationship.
Jim: The, uh, I’m an old football playing guy, but the movie, I cried in two or three points, but probably the tears that fell the hardest were at the end of the movie, where, uh, Reagan’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s came into full bloom, and him riding the horse with the Secret Service at the very end. And, you know, Reagan asking, “Can we- ”
Dennis: Hm.
Jim: ” … just have one more ride?” I mean, I was-
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: … like choked up as could be. And, uh, it was-
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: … moving. And of course, then, the portra- the real footage of his funeral, I mean, the-
Dennis: Uh-
Jim: … there were things in there that are-
Dennis: … Nancy.
Jim: Yeah. I mean, just her at the casket.
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: Kind of stroking the casket, saying-
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: … her goodbyes. Whoo.
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: That is … You know, those are meaningful moments in life that define what’s important. It’s why we fight the way we fight here, at Focus on the Family, because in the end, as you know, that’s what’s-
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: … gonna matter the most, who’s around your-
Dennis: Exactly.
Jim: … deathbed. Who is it that’s-
Dennis: Right.
Jim: … gonna stand there at your funeral and say, “This was a- ”
Dennis: Right.
Jim: ” … good man?” And, uh, man, that’s where I choked up. I was like, “Yes, that’s what to live for.”
Dennis: Yeah. In the end, uh, you know, I won’t be on my deathbed going, “Gosh, I wish I’d done that movie. Or, I woulda did this, that i- ” You know, it’s, uh, anything, it was … It would be about I wished I’d attended, you know, with my family, my kids, my mom, and my dad. I-
Jim: Hm.
Dennis: I wish I coulda said this. I wish I … You know? I try, uh, I really try to remember that in raising my kids, and also try to remember that in being a son.
Jim: Hm.
Dennis: Um, that, uh, you know, our time out here is precious. And we need to enjoy our life. We need to enjoy each other.
Jim: It, it’s so good. I mean, that’s what it’s about, and we try to convince people every day of that. What do you think, looking back, all the great movies you’ve done. What do you want your legacy to be?
Dennis: Oh, I, I, I really have … You know, I, I hope that, uh, my kids say I was a good dad. That would be, you know, that, uh, that would be a great legacy. And to be a really good, uh, husband to my, uh, wife, uh who-
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: I just adore with everything in my life. And, uh, God is in our relationship. And, yeah, that’s what, uh, one of the big reasons for its strength. But just that, it’s the simple things that, what it comes down to. Because I, I like to say to, you know, people when you start thinkin’ about, “Oh, you know, the doing big deals, being an actor, or movie stars, or this.” I say, “Hey, uh, who here, uh, knows who Tyrone Power was?”
Jim: Hm.
Dennis: And they go, they get a b- lot of blank stares. I said, “He was the Tom Cruise of the late ’40s.”
Jim: (laughs)
Dennis: And, uh, you know, “Who remembers what?”
Jim: Yeah.
Dennis: “Except that which is eternal?”
Jim: That sounds like Ecclesiastes or Proverbs, right?
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: “These things are fleeting.”
Dennis: Mm-hmm.
Jim: “They’re gonna pass.” But-
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: You know, that’s what we build into our kids, hopefully, this idea of character-
Dennis: Yeah.
Jim: … meaning-
Dennis: About what’s important.
Jim: Yeah, about what is important in this life. Well, Dennis, this has been great. I so appreciate it. Uh, God bless you in your quest. Both, uh, you know, just personally, with your family, and your career, and what God has left for you to do, and also, uh, for this movie, the Reagan movie, again, which opens this weekend. People can look for it locally, it’s gonna be on, I’m sure hundreds if not thousands of screens. So go out-
Dennis: Yes.
Jim: … and see it.
Dennis: Gonna be (laughs) thousands, uh, yeah.
Jim: Yeah. I mean-
Dennis: From what I hear, uh, l- over 3,000, uh, theaters. Uh, and you know, message to the baby boomers, man, we were the one-
Jim: (laughs)
Dennis: … that … We were the ones that really created the movie business. I need you to get out there again.
Jim: (laughs)
Dennis: And go see-
Jim: Well, it’s a great-
Dennis: … this movie.
Jim: … message.
Dennis: And lead the charge, and take your kids.
Jim: Yeah. Yeah.
Dennis: (laughs)
Jim: Kids’ll need to see it. I’m gonna take my boys, for sure. Thank you again for that, Dennis. God bless you.
Dennis: Thank you, Jim. I had a really great time talking with you. Thanks for having me.
Jim: Likewise. Take care.
Dennis: God bless.
John: Actor Dennis Quaid on today’s episode of Focus on the Family with Jim Daly, and it was really great of him to take time to speak with you, Jim. And you’ve really, I think motivated me to see the film.
Jim: That’s great. I mean, that’s the idea. It is a good film. I’ve already seen it. And it will be worth your time and a few dollars. Uh, the thing I love about it, we as Christians particularly, uh, we should enjoy films that accentuate faith, and talk about integrity, and goodness, and kindness, and all the good things in this life. And this film really captures so much-
John: Hm.
Jim: … of that. Obviously, it’s in the context of policy and all that, but there’s, yeah, it’s so many more transcendent things that are going on in the film. So take the whole family. I think it’ll be really enjoyable.
John: And it comes out this Friday. And we’ve got a link to the Reagan movie trailer, uh, at our website. That’s focusonthefamily.com/broadcast.
Jim: You know, John, I don’t want this to pass without giving an invitation to people. Dennis talked about his faith and how he kinda stumbled along. I could relate to that when I was 15, I, you know, I wasn’t fully mature, and I still did things I shouldn’t do, just like Paul writes about. But I wanna make sure. Uh, if you do not know the Lord, that you contact us and get ahold of us. We’ve got a great PDF file we could send, a booklet, an e-booklet that can explain what it means to become a Christian. It’s called Coming Home. And I don’t want this moment to pass, that if you’re sitting there, going, “Wow, Dennis Quaid became a Christian. Maybe I should think about that.” Do it. Get ahold of us. It’ll be the most important decision you ever make in your life.
John: Hm.
Jim: And it’s one we believe as Christians will give you eternal life. So don’t let that pass. If the Lord is nudging you, call us.
John: Yeah. Our number is 800, the letter A, and the word FAMILY, and you can download that free Coming Home booklet at focusonthefamily.com/broadcast. Well, thanks for listening to Focus on the Family with Jim Daly. I’m John Fuller inviting you back next time as we once again help you and your family thrive in Christ.
