The World Over August 29, 2024 | REAGAN MOVIE: Dennis Quaid with Raymond Arroyo

to it. He's played everyone from Jerry Lee Lewis to Doc Holliday to Bill Clinton, and now he's taking on what he's calling his favorite role. Golden Globe Award nominee and Hollywood legend Dennis Quaid talks about his new movie , Reagan. >> Mr. Gorbachev , tear down this wall. >> Dennis sat down with me at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California , for a candid and revealing interview . Dennis, you are the son of a Texas realtor and an electrician. How did you and your brother Randy become actors? Where did the acting thing come from? >> Well, we grew up in Houston. My third cousin is Gene Autry. >> I knew that. Yeah. >> So? >> So it was in the blood. >> I guess it's in the blood, I guess so, even though it's removed three times. Well, but take what you can get. My grandmother was like , played piano, and my dad was a frustrated actor as well. Introduced my brother and I to like Laurel and Hardy movies and , it just gravitated that way. Wow. >> These historic figures really have been a big part of your career, Sam Houston I mean, your big breakthrough was the right stuff, playing Gordon Cooper. >> Cooper. Yeah funding makes this bird go up. That's right . >> No bucks, no buck Rogers. And, guys, press over there. Hey, Chris. Hey >> Hey, Cooper. Cooper. >> Hey. I want to see Buck Rogers, and that's us. >> Tell me what lingers of that role. I mean, I know it's one of your favorites. >> That was a dream. I grew up in Houston, which was Space City, and Gordo Cooper was my favorite astronaut. And, the book came out. Of course, I wanted to play Gordo Cooper if they ever made a movie of it. And lo and behold, it was like one of those times in life where you have an impossible dream that actually kind of comes true. And then it turned out that Gordo Cooper lived three miles from me in LA, and we became great friends. >> I was going to ask you, did you meet him? >> Yeah, yeah. And he turned me on to a flight school, or van Nuys airport. And I learned to fly with Bud Wallin, who was at the time three years younger than aviation itself. Wow. And so, it was . And then Chuck Yeager was on the set every day and, incredible. Yeah. What a way to a pilot's license. >> And so that really, I mean, and that was really the beginning, that it was a bore, you know, other than that, it was boring and tiresome, but it was the big breakthrough for you. Yeah And 1994. I love your Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp, but I was stunned to read you developed anorexia during that. >> Well, is that about, let's say, a mild form of it? I think they called it Manorexia at the time. They really picked up on that story. >> What does that mean? Does that mean you skipped a few lunches? >> I got the I got the part and, you know, and, he had, you know, lung problems and stuff. He was a skinny little dude . All right. Tuberculosis. Yeah. Tuberculosis And, he was kind of like a walking corpse. I mean, I think that's what made him such a great gunman. Is because he knew he was going to die, and he had the wherewithal to just take out his pistol and calmly point it and shoot. Where everybody else is banging around and . But what a what a interesting, interesting character. But I lost 45 pounds for that role. And because I wanted to feel what he felt felt like I feel like I have a responsibility, when I play real people, you know, to tell the story from their point of view. And you know what they felt like inside you labor at that. How much research do you do, like Doc Holliday? How much research? I mean, I read the I read a really great biography of him, and I went to tombstone. And losing the weight like that and getting down there, you feel really weak. Yeah. Gives you the character. I was living on, like 300 calories a day, like a P.O.W. diet, basically, that I had to stay there for five months. And so, you get you. I understand how people with eating disorders do feel like. Yeah, because, you know, no matter what people tell you, you know, you don't believe. Yeah. And you don't really believe what you see in the mirror until you feel it. Yeah, but it took me about a year and a half to get over that. And I did get over that. >> Did you develop a jelly bean addiction in this movie or. No no, no, I never had I don't think Reagan actually had a jelly bean addiction. >> He used them to quit smoking. Yeah. >> I want to get into Reagan in a second, but I've got to touch this. Your career really has been marked. People know you as an actor. Of course . Historic comedies, you name it . The musical part of Dennis Quaid. I think people are less familiar with. But you've I mean, you did caveman with Ringo Starr, which my producer said I had to ask you about. What was it like hanging out with Ringo Starr? What did you get from that experience? >> Not only did I hang out with Ringo Starr, but the set from the hotel in in Durango, Mexico was two hours away, so it'd be two hours in the car there and two hours back, and Ringo and I were like , together for those two hours. And then on the set. So it was like 16, 18 hours a day, just Ringo, Ringo, Ringo , Ringo, Ringo. >> And did you play together? >> Yes. Of course he is. Just the sweetest man ever. I just he's got such a great spirit. And, such a kind person. And I just, I really cherish that. I mean, all these , I mean, musical legends that you've, you've encountered and been able to play Jerry Lee Lewis, of course, in Great Balls of Fire, one of your iconic roles. >> Did you know Jerry Lee, >> yeah, I got to know Jerry Lee pretty well. Really? Well, well, I'd say maybe a little too well. A little too well. What? What what did he teach you? >> Did you learn anything from him as a musician? >> I didn't really play the piano when I got the part. I played guitar, and. But. So I had a year to prepare for it. And, Jerry Lee was one of my piano teachers. I mean, how many people could say that, right? I thought it was funny. >> You come along and woo me , honey. Calm my mind. Love is fine. Goodness gracious. Great balls of fire. >> He was very generous , with all that. And then he was on the set every day, and, he was on the set going over my shoulder. You get it wrong, son. >> How hard is that? I mean, thank God you didn't have Ronald Reagan over. Well, Dennis, do this a little differently. I mean, he didn't. You don't have that. What was it like having the man himself there? That had to be. >> I really appreciate it. And say the truth. Really? Yeah. >> It wasn't intimidating. >> Oh , yes, of course it was intimidating. But then you're again , you're playing him. So, you know, you just kind of like , got to learn every aspect there was about Jerry Lee . Wow. And, he, you know, he'd be very generous at the same time. And, I mean, he's a giant and probably, legend, one of the greatest piano players of all time. He would say the greatest, but he is . Okay. >> Yeah, we'll leave it there. We won't quibble with him around this time. Dennis, your drug addiction starts coming into your life. Yeah. When did that begin, >> that probably they started in the 70s, you know, in the 70s. And the 60s. You know, there was a time of, like, drugs were came along as sort of a they were almost a spiritual thing, really. You know, they were going to like, expand your awareness. Yeah. Expand your mind, all of that. And you know, cocaine was just a party, actually. And cocaine came along in the 70s, really. And I remember like a big, huge article in people magazine about how it was completely harmless, not addictive. >> Have a good time, kids. >> And it was so pervasive in the culture. I know in the movie culture, it was it was, you know, even in office meetings and things like that, they'd put it in the budget, blah, blah, blah. But then, you know, so it was fun and then it was fun with problems and then it was just problems , which happens with any addiction. That's the way it is. How'd you dig out ? Because you're trying to fill up a hole inside yourself that's, you know, wanting and, that's funny. That just doesn't work anymore. And so it was about, I'd say within a year after, Jerry Lee Great Balls of Fire came out. I was I went to the CDC, the woods rehab. It was one of the first rehabs. It wasn't like one of those posh things where you have room service. It was like in a basement of a hospital. >> Okay. That's it. Just you're not doing any more of that, and you're going to be locked in, and you know, it's. >> I got 30 years that I have you know, threw away that. And, you know, and then you're still left with a hole , though. >> And you were raised Southern Baptist . >> Yeah. >> Did your faith have anything to do with your recovery? >> Oh, very much so. You know, first off, they you know, they tell you and, in the anonymous thing that, you know, it's a, it's a spiritual problem and it, it is a spiritual problem. It's that hole that you're trying to fill. We're all looking for answers. You know, and, but I, I would I'd read the Bible like, when I was 20. And I also kind of got disillusioned with churchianity. I was what I call well, there was one instance when you were a young man that something happened. >> What was that? Well, something about a tithe. >> Yeah. Bring the tithe or something. Yeah, yeah, but those things leave a mark. >> I really got. I really got, yelled at for not bringing my quarter. >> Just you evil thing. You Yeah, I know, but was that the beginning, though, of you kind of . >> Yeah, that was me. >> Kind of like turning off to God. I got baptized when I was nine. I think it was. Yeah And, so , you know, I turned to in high school, I read Sidhartha and that kind of turned me on to eastern religions, you know, to Hindu , Hindu, Hinduism and Buddhism and when I went around the world, it was like 24, 25 I was asking everybody in each category, what is your concept of God? Because, you know, around the world, you know, who is God to you? You know , and I read the Dhammapada and the Bhagavad Gita, and I read the Koran and I'd already read the Bible and, but then , you know, after rehab and everything, I started reading the Bible again. And it was the words of Jesus that really struck me, which one? This time there were the read words of Jesus in the New Testament are what Jesus said , you know, out of his mouth what he said, you know, you know, he also wrote the Lord's Prayer. Yeah. You know , Jesus, he was a songwriter. >> What do you feel he's given you in a way you didn't expect? >> By love, life, everything that you go out and search for, it's sometimes about . The reason you don't get things is lies inside. Not about on the outside. >> You're not ready for them. >> You're not ready for them or , your attention is not in the right place or you're an actor, but you're not really very good at that. You know? But let's let's take Ronald Reagan. >> You don't think you're not very good at what you do. >> I'm just talking generalities here. Yeah. There's like Reagan , Reagan and I have something in common in a way, because I've had this in my life, you know, I, I have a lucky life. And I've read that really kind of the success that I dreamed of is actually happening, happening in this part of my life, you know, so well, things just seem easy and now, and I'm doing all these great parts, really, that doing all these great parts that I'm because , I, I want to do them. I, I'm having a great time. I'm enjoying acting more now than I did in my 20s. Wow. And that's that is the joy of being, which I think that's what Jesus is talking about. And I think that's connected to God's purpose is that what you do in your life? You know, you have a career, you have love , you have, your relationships and as a community with the world and stuff, you know, if that's connected to God's purpose , then there's going to be joy in in your life. Yeah. You know what I mean ? >> And you feel that. I mean, I just saw you a palpable I just saw you in Bass Reeves. >> You feel things, which is a very different role when you're playing a kind of, you know, alcohol ridden, struggling , godless, godless guy. But but you do it with such elan and joy. >> Yeah , it comes out. I mean, you can't stop watching you when you're on screen and you feel acting for that reason because it's about what makes people tick. >> Who are they? You know, and , that's that's the joy that I get out of it. >> And you are not a stranger to playing presidents as anybody who's been alive will remember the special relationship you played Bill Clinton on HBO, but then there was American Dreams many years ago. He also played April Bush, a Bush like, yeah, Bush like figure. How is playing Ronald Reagan different from playing Bill Clinton or George Bush ? Like, yeah , >> or the preparation different . Reagan is such an icon of America that he almost represents the 20th century, the American century , he just stands to me like head and shoulders . He's my favorite president, you know, of the 20th century, I guess it would be, Reagan and Franklin Roosevelt, who really had the most affected the United States the most. And Clinton had a very casual style to him as well. You knew you knew Clinton hung out. Smartest man. You know, one of the smartest people I ever met. That's that's for sure. And I hung out in the white House with him for a weekend one time. Really had a fantastic time with him . But, you know, Reagan was he was like everybody's dad when he was in office, and he was everybody's dad , for the better or for the worse. According to , you know, where you stood in, I think in politics at the time. Yeah, or whatever. But everybody had a relationship with him in a way . >> You play Reagan over many decades. Yeah. Which is a hard task. Were you intimidated at all? Did you go, maybe we should get a younger actor to do the first part. >> Well, very much so. I didn't see myself being I didn't see myself as Reagan to begin with, you know, because it's there's this fear that went up my spine when I was offered the role. And then I so I didn't say yes, but I didn't say no. It took me a while because I he , I, you know, I did I idolized him , he in a way he was my favorite president and , you know, there's kind of a danger in that. I didn't want to do a love letter. I liked to get to play somebody to find out who they really are, what they what they feel . And it took me a while, but I went to the Reagan ranch. I was invited up there, and, you go up five miles of the worst road in California, and you get to the top of the mountain. I've been there covering the front gate, and I could feel him. Yeah And I realized he was a very humble man, actually. Yeah. And not a wealthy man. >> Which people? Not a wealthy man. >> People think. You know, the house is 1100 square feet. They had a king size bed, but it was two single bed zip tied together . Their clothes are in the closet. It was left just his, his library, his bookcase. With every book that he had ever read in his life , you could feel that he did all the work there . And simple. >> What did that teach you about the way to play him that you didn't imagine when you went there? >> It was just, it's hard to describe, but I, I could feel a at least I thought I could feel what he felt inside. I felt and I felt a connection to him in other words, that was very, very human. I saw him as a human being. Yeah That's what that's what it was. >> Unlike other presidents. And we did an interview a while back, and when I heard you were doing this role, the first thing I said to you was, Reagan is such an impenetrable character. I knew a lot of guys around him. Ed Meese and Pat Buchanan and Cap Weinberg, even. They couldn't really penetrate Reagan, the man that was said, I think by even Nancy, too, that there was there was a certain part of Reagan that was impenetrable. So how did you do it? How did you approach it as an actor? How do you work when you go after a role? I think part of that had to do with this relationship with God. >> I think another part of that may have had to do with, his life in general, you know, for one thing, Reagan has an actor . I don't think he reached the place that he wanted it to be as an actor . Yeah. What do you think? He was delegated to it like a B actor? Yeah. You know, John Wayne had his spot, or he had that spot, and, you know, Jack Warner just never let him never let him lose . You know, he was a really good actor, but he never got there. And this this gets around to purpose, in a way. Is that his career wasn't doing really all that well. He was married to Jane Wyman, who was getting an Academy Award over here as his career was, like, going down, you know , and he that led him to become first vice president and then president of the screen Actors Guild, which is where he found his purpose in politics , you know, because and he was fighting communism at the time, every step of the way , really, and in the Screen Actors Guild, because they were communists, they were trying to take over the union. All of the unions in Hollywood, in fact, that was supposedly some wives tale. But then when the Soviet Union fell, they found the files. >> Oops, there it is . >> Yeah. And, you know, he became that cold warrior that. How can I let him to. He won the Cold War. >> I'm listed as a signer on a letter of support for two communist sympathizers . But I never signed any such letter. There's another Nancy Davis. >> Oh, I see , well, the easiest thing to do is just change your name. And it happens all the time in Hollywood. >> Oh, no . No, I cannot do that. No, my name is very important to me. It's my family. Oh, of course, if family's important. >> Yes . >> Very important. >> Watching the movie that the idea of purpose. It's interesting you bring that up , that sometimes providence. God will use those your failings. The obstacles to lead you to where he really wants you . Yeah. And it's not always easy. It's painful. >> Look at the people that God has always chosen. You know, Moses had a stutter. Yeah and he's a murderer. You know that , David is just David just a kid, you know? And then, you know, he he really messed up even after the fact. I mean, he committed every sin there was, but, you know, he was still God's favored . Yeah. One. You know, there's it's always , the, you know, they're flawed people. That's who we are. We're flawed people. Tell me we need to recognize that in ourselves. >> The movie the movie gets at this, but but doesn't delve deeply into it . After the assassination attempt , Ronald Reagan felt and John Paul II, who was also shot at almost the same time. They both felt they had been spared and set apart for a reason. Tell me how the assassination attempt changed Ronald Reagan's approach to what he was already doing, the efforts he was already attempting toward the Soviet Union? >> Yeah, he was you know, he was very new in his presidency, actually, and he was getting pushback , very much it took it took a while for things to get rolling. But after the assassination , he was humbled by that experience . And he said his life really no longer belonged to him after that . It it was God's, you know, it was God's will. >> There's a big job left to be done in whatever time I have left it belongs to him . Yea. Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil. For thou art with me. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever. >> I love where we're sitting right now. Dennis, this is actually the pub that Ronald Reagan visited in Ireland when he went on his famous trip there in the 80s and the pub closed, the Reagan Library acquired it. So this is the actual pub that he stood in. It's the only actual historical spot that has been recreated here at the Reagan Library. Oh, really? Yeah. So I love that they ripped up the floors and everything and brought them here. That's the original bar. That's everything. Wow. They lift the walls. The whole place. Wow. Give me a sense of how he and Nancy Reagan stood in this pub all those years ago. Tell me about that relationship. I recently interviewed Penelope Ann Miller, who plays Nancy Reagan, who is almost as scary as you are in the role, because it's like, I mean, for me, it was really scary because she she was embodied her , she channeled her. >> It was , it's Nancy and Ron is so central to our film . It's really it's a love story. Yeah, it's a love story that there would not have been a president. Ronald Reagan if it weren't for Nancy. Yeah. And I'm not saying that she was the puppet master behind there. I'm just saying it was there. There. The strength of their relationship that I think gave him strength. And, was at the very center. It's a relationship, I believe, to be admired because it was such a love story. Yeah. I mean, he wrote her a love letter every day. Yeah I saw even in the hospital, even when he . In the assassination. Yeah and, it was genuine and, it was a source of strength. We are the greatest country in the world, and we have just forgotten it . >> Like, I didn't see this coming . It's okay to say it, Ronnie . >> Okay, I'll say it . I want to run again . >> Do you see historic ripples? I won't say mimicry, but do you see historic ripples between the election in 1979? And what we're living through today? >> It's incredible. It's like almost a complete repeat of in a way, you know, we have hostages over there in the Middle East right now, just like we did then. You know that . And that's kind of really, in the end, caused by Iran. Yeah Gas prices. You know, there's a feeling of what Jimmy Carter himself called malaise in this country. We were a country in decline, at least we believed we were. And Reagan came along and told us, hey, we're just getting started. And, you know , that's if anything, that's what a president can do as far as being a leader, you know, inspire us . And this nation came roaring back. It really did. >> I am about to start the biggest war of this century, and I'm not going to fire a single shot. You're gonna blow up eight years of diplomacy. >> Well, if you think that got their undies in a wad, you just wait. >> One of the locations used in the movie is here at the Reagan Library. The Boeing 707, Air Force One, used by Ronald Reagan himself. Did you shoot here? You shot on air Force One? >> Yeah. We did. We That's the real Air Force original one. Yeah. And you know , it was really eerie because here we are. We're doing scenes that happened on air Force One, you know, and we're. And you're dressed as Ronnie, and she's Nancy. And it was the strangest feeling I've turned over every document I have. >> What would you have me do? >> I want you to fight or. This is all over . >> Look at this. This is actually in his hand , right? Wow. >> Incredible . They put different things on here. I guess every day. >> Wow. >> Yeah, and the jelly beans . Yeah, but you shot in here, >> yeah. We shot in here. What was that? Did a scene. They were watching The Sound of Music. >> Oh, that's right , that's the second election. >> You know , what's the lesson from Reagan that we need to hear today as far as leadership , personal conviction and leading from principle? Yes. That's it . About from he led from principle, not from where the wind blows in the you know, the issue of the day or whatever. And leading from principles are eternal . They guide us no matter, you know , what century we're in . And, you know, he stayed the course with that . And America came back. It's about inspiring a feeling in all of us. And he united us, too . There were a lot of Reagan Democrats, by the way . >> My 18 year old, we took her to see the movie Your movie, when we were in in New Orleans. She knew of Reagan, but she didn't really know Reagan , it's very interesting to see the reaction of an 18 year old to this, because they don't realize the sweep of history, that one person. How they one person can alter that sweep of history. But you see this the moment we're in as a spiritual crisis. You were talking earlier. How so? >> Why? Well it's inside us, you know, it's about being filled with the spirit, you know, it's. And that fellowship is the unity is what ? And you need to be inspired. You know. You know, I'm not talking about, you know, we're all men and stuff like that , but we great leaders can bring people together. And, you know, God needs to be back. And in our everyday dealings with each other, you know, outside of politics or whatever. And, you know, it's part of those principles. Yeah >> Part of the movie is based on that book Crusader by Paul Kengor, which was really about principally about Reagan taking on the , the evil Empire. Did you read the book? Did you know that story? Yeah, I did. Did it help you or does it see , I mean, well, I lived through all of it as you remember. >> You know. Yes, the books helped and everything, you know, all the research that I. That I did really helped . But great leaders, they make decisions and you know, with those principles, sometimes they're not the most popular decisions. We as Americans, I think we're always because we live over here and separated from the rest of the world. We're very innocent, idealistic, in a sense as a young nation as well , you know, the good guys and the bad guys and all that. And it's needs to be you know, very black and white and there's we want to get along with everybody. We want to help everybody in the world . And, you know, since we've become the greatest , richest nation in the world, we've done that. And with the Soviets, it was about appeasement with them thinking that, okay, if we give them this, if we give them that, then we're going to, you know, they're going to respond in kind because they'll see that we are genuine. But really, all that made them think is that there was an opening there that we were weak. And, you know, I remember like, Jimmy Carter gave away the B-1 bomber , he gave away this and that, and they just kept building the military up. And Reagan came along and was the first one to say no to them. And because he was such a cold warrior , he won the Cold War . He ended the Cold War. He and the Pope and Lech Valenza and things that were happening around there. But it took a cold warrior for the Soviets to respect him. >> Mr. Gorbachev , open this gate . Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall . >> And part of that was acting. What a part of that was acting. >> That was acting . Star Wars. Star Wars was we didn't have Star Wars , but he thought that maybe Gorbachev , 10% believed that we did so. And it was that he played the scene that it was that including the poker game in in Iceland, where he walked away. Yep, yep. And you know, but, the Soviet Union fell because it was a paper tiger. >> What do you want , people, after seeing this movie to take away and take with them as they go to the ballot box this November? And number one, I want them to be entertained. >> That's what movies are about. Yeah, right. And then I think for a lot of people , so much interest in this movie for everybody that is born before 1990, they're there . They will go to the movie and they will remember what this country used to be like . And for those born after 1990, they'll be able to see and witness what this country could be. >> Still, what was it like doing that last ride at the Reagan Ranch ? The end of this movie? It that it's heartbreaking in a way . >> And, you know, he I think I think he took a lot of courage on his part. He wrote a letter to the American people telling he'd been diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and he did it very quickly after the diagnosis, just because he knew that he wasn't really going to be able to communicate, down the road . And I think he taught us all something with that, you know , the courage it took, it . That scene, it it says a lot about our all of our mortality , you know, that you you can have great gifts and great strength, but it's, it's not forever. It's temporary. Yeah. It's temporary. Yeah. >> Look, your performance is spectacular here. It's heartbreaking. It's funny and insightful to a man. That is very difficult to apprehend. You're really the first actor who's ever done this. Which I think you. You should know what you mean. >> To play Reagan or just to help an audience understand Ronald Reagan in this way. Well, it's funny because when you talk about that impenetrable place. Yeah that's what I was interested in , was I'm interested in what makes people tick. And one of the reasons I hesitated about playing Ronald Reagan was that he was getting into into the humanity of him, because I feel a responsibility to play people, real people, from their point of view . Yeah, and it took a while, but I, I felt like I got to that place. You did it in a small way that, you know, I think a lot of it had to do with his relationship with God. Yeah, yeah, that was what was down at the center of that. >> You feel that . You feel his purity of intention, and that's what I've never seen. Another actor who attempted to play him give you. And you almost. You can't fake that . You know, as a man, you can't fake that. That's either there or it's not. >> Well, you got to learn. I didn't want to do it. Impersonation, you know, and everybody knows he's like Muhammad Ali. Everybody knows what he sounds like. You know, the way he walks and all the rest . Well, and all that stuff. And, but you give us a touch of that, you give us a I mean, you really do. >> Yeah. You you you bring him to us . It's a full portrait of him. >> Yeah. So I wanted to learn all that stuff and then just forget it. And not just not play that stuff. You know? It comes from a certain place. Like little things like Reagan had, you know, he had a crooked smile and, you know, that was had to do with, you know, there was some damage to some nerves someplace from injury or whatever that, you know, and that says something about the inside . >> It informs everything. Dennis Quaid, what a joy. Thank you. Thank you, my friend. Thank you. I love being with you. >> Great fan buddy. >> Oh, please. Really, I'm honored to be with you. Reagan. Starring Dennis Quaid as President Ronald Reagan and Penelope Ann Miller as Nancy Reagan, hits theaters Friday, August 30th. Visit Reagan Dot movie for tickets and showtimes in your area