April 11th, 2011
09:30 AM ET
Dennis Quaid: Cocaine was my biggest mistake"Soul Surfer" star Dennis Quaid has done a little soul searching - the actor admits that his biggest mistake was trying cocaine in the 1970s. "I started after I left college and came to Los Angeles in 1974. It was very casual at first. That’s what people were doing when they were at parties," he tells Newsweek. "Cocaine was even in the budgets of movies, thinly disguised… It was supplied, basically, on movie sets because everyone was doing it. " As his career began to skyrocket, Quaid used coke as a coping mechanism but realized it only made matters worse. "Doing blow just contributed to me not being able to handle the fame, which, at the time, I guess I felt I didn’t deserve," he recalls. "By the time I was doing 'The Big Easy,' in the late 1980s, I was a mess. I was getting an hour of sleep a night. I had a reputation for being a 'bad boy,' which seemed like a good thing, but basically I just had my head stuck up my a—. I’d wake up, snort a line, and swear I wasn’t going to do it again that day. But then 4 o’clock rolled around, and I’d be right back down the same road like a little squirrel on one of those treadmills." Quaid says the lack of sleep left him unfocused and affected his acting, and he became aware that his addiction was keeping him from living. After a disastrous gig with his band at L.A.'s China Club, he decided he needed help. "I had one of those white-light experiences that night where I kind of realized I was going to be dead in five years if I didn’t change my ways," he says. "The next day I was in rehab." Though Quaid got clean, his career floundered throughout much of the '90s. He now views that difficult time as a learning experience. "It gave me the resolve and a resilience to persevere in life," he says. "If I hadn’t gone through that period, I don’t know if I’d still be acting. In the end, it taught me humility. I really learned to appreciate what I have in this life."
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vale la pena leer. Me pareció muy informativo marquee.blogs.cnn.com como he estado investigando mucho últimamente sobre cuestiones prácticas tales como hablar acerca de ┘
Buen reportaje, soy visitante habitual de marquee.blogs.cnn.com, mantener el funcionamiento agradable, y que va a ser un visitante regular durante mucho tiempo.
Tema sin igual, es muy interesante para mí)))) GRACIAS Grupo marquee.blogs.cnn.com
i got a squirrel that does coke hes on that wheel all nite
I feel you brother...w/o the success...but, still I feel you.
Whiny self indulgent ex-drug user celebrity geek. Yawn. ZZZZZZZ
Let's put alcoholics in jail too while we're at it.
K
Progression is key
No, "everyone" wasn't doing it. And in the 80's, not "everyone" thought it was OK, or even good for you. Some of us have always acted responsibly and avoided doing any kind of dope.
Reminds me of the saying, "Cocaine is God's way of telling you you have too damn much money".
Hay Geezer, we are not 100% but 99% sure you take the chubby pickle. Just sayin...
Me and my buddies did shots with him last year. I should have asked him for a rail.
That addiction probably helped mess up his marriage to Meg Ryan. She stood by him through a lot but it sounds like she got sick of being patient and sick of trying to be understanding. Glad he's got another chance at happiness. Hope his ex-wife gets to do the same.
Robin Meade looked good today.
Talk to me!
Hay!
Where is the imitation B lo me? He was on fire!
To quote Mr. Quaid from one of his finest performances, Doc Holliday, in Kevin Costners' "Wyatt Earp": "All of you can kiss my Rebel d!ck!"
Somethings should be kept personal. Seems like just another Hollywood phony jumping on the state sponsored just say no bandwagon. Should be good for some publicity anyway.
I love CNN.....and I love lamp.
You are a loser clarence
How come after I read the article I still think he is LOSING and Charlie Sheen is WINNING!
because you must be thinking along the same lines as Charlie Sheen
Hey Dennis, Nice to see that at least one of the residents of Tinsel Town has the kahoonas to man up and admit that what they did was a mistake. Been there and done that more than once with things a whole hell of a lot worse than just coke. Like most everyone else that has kicked this S^!T, you don't realize it's killing you until it's almost too late. Keep it together and good luck with the Soul Surfer movie.
I thought his biggest mistake was taking the role of Jerry Lee Lewis in Balls of Fire. God that was awful.
Hi Sunshine Girl
I have to wear tampons up my butt every 28 to 32 days.
Wow! I should try this then maybe I can lose weight!
How is Dennis different than 90% of Hollywood? Oh yeah! He had the courage to stand up and admit what he had done wrong, and then change it for the better. Congratulations. He found the strength he needed. How can any of that be bad?
Your comment is wayyyyyy off!!!!
Should be 99%!
i wonder if that wing was strategically placed
...it made myself and a co worker "lol"
He stays young looking.
He sure keeps fit.
He will be great in the role.
Yodude, good point. I think you need help !
wait a minute, he would do a line when he woke up in the morning and then go all the way until 4pm until he had to do another one??? Is it just me or is this not typical blow behavior? I know I need another line 30-45 minutes after doing one, an hour tops!!
Wow! You better be earning like DQ! Go find a decent rehab.
His mistake was making a wrong choice. I'm glad he has now made a right choice.
cocaine was a big mistake. duh!
2nd biggest mistake: The Day After Tomorrow
Dennis Quaid standing in the street with just a towel on
works for me.
You had a wife and child during those times. Can't imagine what they went through. Have you asked them for forgiveness? Praying your life is on track now. Love you anyway
Right after you learn how to write...sumyungai. You're a chubby pickle!
"Cocaine is a hell of a drug." -Rick James
He was excellent in Breaking Away, Enemy Mine and Gone with the Wind!
he never answered the question..talk about taking it to the next level he went upstairs and somewhere else, maybe
the store that's it the STORE.
Mine too, Dennis. Mine too.
Dennis is an immensely likable guy. One of my favorite films is "The Rookie". He'll get better and better as he ages, unlike like Charlie Sheen, who is beginning to look and sound like a toothless meth addict.
If Sheen is still around in five years, I'll be astonished.
Too bad he didn't OD.
To wish that a person OD'd is not only incredibly rude but really sick.
"It gave me the resolve and a resilience to persevere in life," he says. "If I hadn’t gone through that period, I don’t know if I’d still be acting. In the end, it taught me humility. I really learned to appreciate what I have in this life."
So much for his "biggest mistake"
Nyborg is the true loser...commenting on others comments
This is a site where people can leave comments no matter how stupid the comments are. Please respect that.
I bet you are all a bunch of Heteros
Dennis and his family live on our street now. He always says hello when he's out on his patio, and I'm walking my dog. They eat at Austin restaurants and promote local charities. His wife and kids seem sweet. I'm glad he got his life together. My daughter and her girlfriends all went to see Soul Surfer on Friday. The girls loved it. He seems a lot like the dad characters that he plays in films. He's a lot better of a neighbor than th that shirtless, naked bongo playing dude. Someone take his pot away!
I DO COCAINE!!!
But shhhhhh, don't tell nobody....k-k-k-k-k-k yeeeeaaaaaaahhhhhh!
I love Matt too
I never touched that crap. Everyone was doing it is no excuse
I think you should be beafied so you can be called Saint Clean and Sober.
He is my man...I want to smooch on his gooberhead!
I liked a lot of his movies and am very lucky I was not a "follower personality" because if you never try it, you never buy it. Admiting it was a mistake only helps discourage use of drugs.
LOL! You, know what is funny? It's listening to all the individuals posting about all of Dennis' flaws and innuendo hoping to make them feel a little better about themselves. Dennis is not gay and if he was would it really matter? The guy has what, millions of dollars, fame, a beautiful wife, a great family, loyal fans and you think he is the loser? LOL! Now that is funny.
listening??? come on chad!
holy smokes! dennis snorted so much cocaine...his eye brows fell off! 0_o
hahahahahahaha
What's funny about a person acknowledging a mistake that took his life in a direction that he did not want it to go? When people do this, it's a courageous effort to move forward as well as help someone else who may be lost. But for you people with perfect lives with no vices and no mistakes to account for, then I salute you! God Bless....oh wait! you don't need God's blessings, you're perfect , I almost forgot.
He always was a B actor, at best, which is why his career floundered. Drugs probably enhanced his acting! Apparently he was also a poor musician, since that career didn't go anywhere either. So the question remains, why interview him? I suppose this could be his best role yet but he's not even the lead! Why not interview AnnaSophia Robb, whose career might actually go somewhere?
Nonsense. Quaid has played the lead in many terrific films, such as "Traffic", "Flight of the Phoenix", and "Frequency" which was a terrific movie. One of my favorites is "The Rookie". He's not the classically handsome leading man like Pitt or Clooney, but he's a solid actor.
Dennis is awsome on the 2 1/2 men and a boy tv show.
I'd like to hear from Randy Quad. http://www.theruggedgent.com/2011/04/11/sartre-and-sheen-3/
Interestimg article here
Thanks for sharing, Dennis. But let's be honest. Jaws 3-D was your worst mistake.
Talk about a bunch of haters teeming with jealousy, my God, you are all so perfect. Don't be so bitter just because you don't have jobs and are on the dole for unemployment and food stamps.
Innerspace was yur best movie.
Instead of a war against Drug dealers. Why not chase Drug users?
oh! I forgot all of the sons and dauthers of white collar folks, would be in JAIL.
Offer and Demand hommie.
Absolutely, as long as users or as the poorer are called, junkies are considered victims instead of criminals, this is not going to change. Either drugs are illegal or not.
Uh, "Double Standard", what state do you live in where posession isn't considered a crime too? Possession's a crime, and so is dealing, but dealing will (rightly) get you a longer sentence. Go back and ponder your conspiracy theories and make sure they pass a basic logic test before you shoot off your mouth.
Double Standard- Where did you get your economics degree, LeDonta Shaniqua Washington's School of Pimps? OFFER AND DEMAND? Are you serious? Thanks for the biggest laugh I've gotten all year. "Offer and Demand, hommie." Excuse me, I have to get to the copyright office. THAT IS PRICELESS.
Used to arrest the users just as much. Seems I remember some guy getting 99 years in Texas for a joint.
Now our jails are full of pushers, no more room. Can you imagine how full they would be if they were arresting users all the time too?
soul surfer? give it up already.
Wow – look at all the morons posting insults. America is ALL JACKED UP with you people.
Cocaine is a hell of a drug!
Kind of seems like a "duh" statement, would doing cocaine ever be anything but a huge mistake?
Agreed...coke is a mistake when so much HEROIN is available...
Uhm, people, I think he pretty much explained it. If you go back and refer to the article, it was the thing to do in the 70s. EVERYONE was doing it. It was everywhere including the set. Hard to turn down, especially when yo don't know the ramifications until you're in to deep. I also thought Meg Ryan had something to do with his getting clean.
@"Clem"...
I'm pretty sure taking drugs didn't seem like a mistake at the time, but hindsight it 20/20. Obviously he realizes now that getting involved with cocaine was a mistake. Not sure what your whole "choice" thing was supposed to be about. Whatever it was, you failed miserably at communicating it.
Clem
That is YOUR mistake.
MISTAKE:
–noun
1.
an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge, etc.
Too bad brother Randy isn't as mentally stable.
Many of us did things in the 70's that hindered our growth. Nice to see someone admit and explain that.
Now if Sheen could only understand that,
Is he trying to be a warm-up act for Charlie Sheen? His stories sound just as boring. yawn.
A "mistake"? Hmmmmmm.. . . I always thought that a "mistake" was something you did unintentionally, such as locking your keys in your car.
It seems to me that he made a "choice" to do drugs. A CHOICE!
MY MISTAKE. Posted this a bit further down, should have been a reply to :
Clem,
That is YOUR mistake.
MISTAKE:
–noun
1.
an error in action, calculation, opinion, or judgment caused by poor reasoning, carelessness, insufficient knowledge, etc.
You have confused a MISTAKE with an ACCIDENT. We all make mistakes. The important thing is to learn from them and move on.
Clem, a mistake can be a choice, ding-dong. Just like when you "chose" to sleep with that trashy girl who gave
you cooties. It turned out to be a mistake. Mistakes are not accidents. That's what you're confusing.
Squeezy beat me to it. Thanks, Squeezy
Honestly, I think some of the posters on here should have there voting rights taken away... and possible be spayed/neutered. Think how much farther along humanity would be!
you sir are an idiot. truly are...haven't you ever heard that people learn from mistakes?
Change your alias if you're going to leave comments like that. I doubt that Red Skelton would want to be associated with you.
That's called an "ACCIDENT" moron.
He did make a choice. And he's manning up and saying that choice was a bad one and a mistake. He learned from it, cleaned up and didn't make (too many) excuses for his behavior.
Before you get a nosebleed up there on that pedestal, in the 80s everyone was convinced – even the medical community – that coke was harmless and nonaddictive. If it turned out tomorrow that caffeine was definitely proven to be addictive and toxic would you still be in here whining about how "you made a CHOICE to do drugs, maaaann!" for everyone who ever drank a cup of coffee? Times change, we learn new things, and you aren't *nearly* as flawless as you like to think.
Thanks mom. I mean JOregon.
And you are a GOD, a GOD!!!!! Let me touch your perfection! LOL
sorry you were never cool enough to be in the same room as cocaine. it's a good thing.
Where the hell is the impostor B lo me? This story is up his alley!
You're rude. He made something of himself and overcame a destructive lifestyle. If anything you should be proud of him not putting him down. Haven't you ever made a mistake? He had the guts to admit it!
Been there, done that! Thanx, for sharing Dennis.
I think the biggest mistake he made in his life was being related to Randy Quaid.
I think he meant "hamster"? Must've been the coke talking.
And how a coke- head like that ends up with Meg Ryan--only God knows!
Coke is the worst mistake I've made. I couldnt join the Air Force, Navy, local Fire or Police dept due to my history, my only options were school teacher or the Army. ( Being a teacher wasnt really an option cuz I only have a GED). If I had made better choices, I would not be in the Army. Dont do drugs.... they are very bad.
Whatever he is, it's better than acting like 3 year olds...
So is your wife ugly too?
Do you even have a wife?
Are you married to your palm?
Share!
Says the loser who spends his llife commenting on CNN stories. I'm sure Dennis Quaid is just dying to trade places with you.... idiot.
He would make an excellent Turian in a Mass Effect movie.
you just edfeatd your own reasoning. lets keep it civil from now on
spell check on myself: *defeated your own reasoning. I'm bored in a meeting