Dennis Quaid Jokes He Wants Son Jack to 'Reverse Nepo' Baby Him: 'How Bout a Little Help Over Here?'

The 'Reagan' star shares his actor son with ex Meg Ryan

Jack Quaid and Dennis Quaid attend the 2024 Golden Globe After-Party at La Dolce Vita on January 7, 2024 in Beverly Hills, California.
Jack (left) and Dennis Quaid. Photo:

Eric Charbonneau/Getty

Dennis Quaid is so proud of his son Jack Quaid's success — so much so that he wants a little bit of help from his son.

Speaking with ET at the premiere of his new film Reagan, The Parent Trap alum, 70, opened up about his actor son Jack, 32, whom he shares with ex Meg Ryan, 62.

"I mean he’s right on track. He’s way past me at that age,” Dennis said to the outlet. “I’m really so proud of him and he’s making great choices. He’s such a great person. Which is the most important thing of all. And that’s number one, and everything comes out of that."

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Jack Quaid (L) and Dennis Quaid attend the Armani and Cinema Society Screening of Sony Pictures Classics' "Truth" after party at Armani Ristorante on October 7, 2015 in New York City
Jack (left) and Dennis Quaid in 2015. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

"He’s done it his way and his own way," he continued. "I offered to help get him an agent at first and he said ‘No dad, I’m doing it on my own.’ "

"And then he got all these jobs from all these directors and I say, ‘How bout a little help over here?’ I don’t mind the nepo thing myself, okay? Reverse repo, I’ll take it!” 

Alongside Jack, Dennis is dad to twins Thomas and Zoe, 16, whom he shares with ex Kimberly Buffington.

In November, Ryan appeared on the cover of the December 2023 issue of Glamour, where she recalled the moment she knew her son Jack might follow in his parents' footsteps in the industry.

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"I remember seeing him in a middle school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He was playing Bottom. I was newly divorced from his dad, and he was seated at the other side of the gym," she said of ex Dennis.

Dennis Quaid attends "The Long Game" Nosotros community screening and reception
Dennis Quaid.

JC Olivera/Getty Images

"I had my head in my hands and was like, 'Oh, no. He’s good. He’s really good,’ " she recalled. “I leaned forward, and I see Dennis, and he’s also leaning forward with his head in his hands. I just knew.”

Ryan said that she often worried about the downsides of life in the public eye as she watched Jack follow his path — in part because of her own experiences and in part because he was going at it as the child of two notable actors.

"You don’t wish it [on anyone]. It’s too hard and it’s too weird," Ryan said. "Jack is really talented. He’s more of a natural than I’ll ever be. That nepo stuff is so dismissive of his work ethic, his gifts, and how sensitive he is to the idea of his privilege.”

Reagan is in theaters August 30.

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