Dennis Quaid: Playing Ronald Reagan Was the Scariest Role of My Life | Ep 225 | The Glenn Beck Podcast

Aug 31, 2024

In this candid conversation, Dennis Quaid, the acclaimed actor known for his versatile roles, opens up about the daunting experience of portraying Ronald Reagan. He shares the profound impact of visiting Reagan's ranch and how it helped him embrace the role. Quaid reflects on his personal struggles with addiction and the transformative power of faith. The discussion touches on America's future, the importance of community, and the nostalgic legacy of Reagan, while Quaid reveals his musical talent in an impromptu piano performance.

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Intro

00:00 • 2min

Reflections on Reagan and Nostalgia

01:46 • 14min

The Complexity of Portraying a Real Icon

15:26 • 4min

Reflections on Reagan: Humility and Complexity

19:34 • 10min

Resilience Through Pain: Personal Struggles and Healing

30:01 • 3min

Journey to Recovery and Self-Discovery

33:07 • 12min

Exploring Self-Defense Options and Current Global Perspectives

45:16 • 4min

Reviving Individualism and Hope

49:05 • 8min

When actor Dennis Quaid was approached to play Ronald Reagan in the new movie "Reagan," he almost didn’t take the role. "Fear went up my spine," he tells Glenn on a special episode of "The Glenn Beck Podcast." "He’s probably my biggest hero, in a way." As the two sit surrounded by beautiful mountains at Glenn’s ranch in Idaho, Quaid explains how a visit to Reagan’s own ranch property was what finally convinced him to accept the part. "I GOT Reagan there. You can feel him." Quaid reveals what made Reagan such a formidable — yet loved — president and whether or not America will ever see a similar leader again. They dive into Quaid’s past struggles with addiction, the dangers of fame, and how he eventually developed a personal relationship with Jesus Christ that pulled him through it all. Plus, Quaid provides hope for our nation’s future, from the ability of RFK Jr. to bridge Democrat and Republican Party lines and signs the world is "turning right side up again" to his belief that mending America starts with one small step at a time: "I think it starts at home, in our relationships with our friend [and] local community." They discuss how COVID replicated a kind of "spiritual revolution," the spread of communism, and how Quaid learned piano from Jerry Lee Lewis himself — which Quaid then demonstrates in an impromptu performance. So is Quaid concerned for the nation’s future? Or is he steadfast — like Reagan — in his belief in the American people? He tells Glenn that he’s an optimist and that "people are yearning for a return to common sense and decency."

Special thank-you to the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library for helping to provide footage of the 40th president.

Note: The new movie "Reagan" is a sponsor of "The Glenn Beck Program."

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