o scrsen is like an old ffi t a benefit for Parkinson's dis- Quaid fired up. "Music #'& .rt. research in Phoenix on girlfriend that I fell in love with PEOPLE last May. ffiMarch 16, Dennis Quaid again," he told sipped water and rubbed tuxedoed Onstage, says Sharks guitarist Jamie shoulders with Arnold Schwarzeneg- James, "he is all Texas soul." ger, Bo Derek and Larry King. But Born in Houston, Quaid is the the highlight of the night, he says, younger son of William "Buddy". an electrical contractor who was introducing Jack, his 9-year-old Quaid, died of a son with ex-wife Meg Ryan, 40, to battled alcoholism and boxing great Muhammad Ali. Says 6 heart attack in'87, and Nita, a real "He is my all-time hero." estate agent who divorced Quaid's Quaid: : in high No surprise there. Like Ali, Quaid father while Dennis was knows a thing or two about fighting school. After his brother Randy, 51, landed a role in 197L's back. A former cocaine addict who "Meg and Dennis [in'991 both went now de- overcame his demons just before through hell," says pal Brett Cullen. Tbe Last Picture Sbora, Quaid marrying Ryan in 1,991,the 48-year- cided to follow him to Los Angeles. old actoi saw his marriage disintegrate nine years later (Quaid also has two half-siblings from his father's re- amid Ryan's very public romance with her Proof of Life marriage.) In 1.978 he married actress P.J. Soles and the costar Russell Crowe. Now, nearly a yeat aftet theit following year scored his star-making role as a spirited divorce became final, Quaid is charging back into the townie in Breaking Away. ring-with a new movie (the baseball drama The By '83 the marriage had fizzled. Five years later Quaid just . Rookie, which made $15 million its opening weekend), met Ryan on the set-of 1988's D.O.A. and, months himself into rehab for a new band (Dennis Quaid and the Sharks) and, yes, a before their'91. wedding, checked new love (Texas real estate designer Cynthia Garrett). cocaine addiction. Drug-free since then' he still loves to A new attitude too, say pals. "He's more laid-back now, cut loose-as photos of him dancing atop a bar in New more fun," says his friend Beau Holden. Adds director York City's Hogs & Heifers memorably proved last says Holden. Norman who worked with Quaid on the '01 year-but "without all the party supplies"' Jewison, joked HBO flick Dinner with Friends: "He seems to have come being single has its advantages. "'We always on to terms with his life." him-we had this song by the Doors, 'C'mon, c'mon, And with his ex-wife. After one of the most civilized now touch me, babe! Can't you see that I am Dennis divorces in recent Hollywood history, the couple-who Quaid!"' Rick Gonzalez, a Rookie costaq says of ladies. Months after his fling with agreed to joint custody of Jack and live in the same Los Quaid's luck with the '95 Miss USA Shanna Angeles neighborhood of q Brentwood-continue to Moakler, 27, ended in De- 5 wooing talk "almost every day," g cember, Quaid was Garrett, 37. "I've never Quaid told W'magazine in dated a movie star before"' August. Not that the split = 3 mother, was painless. "Dennis was says the divorced E who met at a Mon- devastated," says one Z Quaid tana air show last "I've friend. As Quaid acknowl- July. edged to V( "When you never been treated so well"' break up, your whole iden- Perhaps she should stick tity is shattered. I've been around. Friends say Quaid, just off looking for that new who wrapped the uP- identity, and I think Meg's coming drama Far from doing that too." Having Heauen, in which he plaYs a has helped. "Dennis is married gay man, is over Jack to like a kid when he's with Ryan but reluctant PlaY the field forever. "In the Jack," says Jewison. long run," says his friend Outdoorsman Quaid can "he like often be found fly-fishing Brett Cullen, would to settle down and have an- with Jack near his 100-acre property in Paradise Valley, other family." Mont., piloting business o Michelle Tauber jers and perfecting his six- o Ulrica Wihlborg and Vicki Sheff- handicap golf game. But it's Cahan in 1.A., Maureen West in belting out rock tunes-a Phoenix, Vickie Bane in Littleton, Ouaid is "spirited and vely deep-thinking and very kind," New York hobby he abandoned after Colo., Amy Bonawitz in says girlfriend Garrett (with him in Manhattan March 26)' city and Anne Lang in Austin Jack's birth-that gets #* 64 qnstoz PEoPLE.