Actor Dennis Quaid recently discussed how his faith saved him from his struggles with drug addiction. Quaid, who’s starred in movies like “The Day After Tomorrow” and “I Can Only Imagine,” sat down in an interview with People Magazine where he discussed his career, life, and new gospel album, “Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners.”
Quaid said he grew up in a Baptist church but fell into a cocaine addiction as he got older, as reported by GodTube. He told Women’s World that he got baptized at nine years old at the same time as his older brother, actor and comedian Randy Quaid, who starred in “Independence Day.” Quaid said of his brother, “He was 12; I remember Randy’s assistant baseball coach came over and talked to him about being baptized.”
Despite his addiction, the “Parent Trap” actor embarked on a spiritual journey where he read books from various religious backgrounds. He said, “I started reading the Bible again, but I also read the Bhagavad Gita. I read the Dhammapada. I read the Koran. And I went back, and I read the Bible again, for, like, the second or third time. And I was really struck by the red words of Jesus.” In response, Quaid started developing a personal relationship with Jesus.
In addition to his faith, Quaid discussed his three children and how much he loves being a father, adding that he comes off as a “dorky dad.” He also explained how his relationship with his wife, Laura, differs from previous relationships in his life. He said, “Laura’s the love of my life. We have a bond with one another that I never had with anybody else before. Yeah, God is in the relationship, for one thing, which I’ve never had a relationship like that before.”
During the interview with Women’s World, Quaid shared that his new album is about how he had lived a life apart from God. He said, “This album, Fallen, really is me. At least for 20 years of my life, [I was] living in the world and wrestling with God, and kind of sitting too close to the devil at times without even knowing it. I think I do have some guardian angels out there, though, looking after me because I made it through. I know some people who didn’t.”
While reflecting on how his addiction shaped him, Quaid noted that sobriety was returning to “the joy of life.” He said of his addiction recovery, “It’s a struggle. We’re all looking for the joy of life, and drugs give that to you and alcohol and whatever it is for anybody give that to you really quick. Then they’re fun, and then they’re fun with problems, and then they’re just problems after a while.”
“That’s really what we’re looking for, the joy of life, which is our gift, actually, the relationship with God that we all have. It’s at the bottom of it, the joy of being alive.” Quad’s new album, “Fallen: A Gospel Record for Sinners,” is now available via Gaither Music Group.
Quaid’s album recently debuted at number one on Top Christian/Gospel Albums chart and landed in the Top 15 on Billboard’s Top 200 Christian/Gospel chart. The album also ranked number one on Amazon’s Best Sellers in CDs & Vinyl, Hot New Releases in Christian & Gospel and Best Sellers in Country charts.