Born Randall Rudy Quaid in Houston, TX; educated at the University of Houston (drama). Older brother of actor Dennis Quaid (b. 1954). Heavyset, earnest-faced actor, discovered by Peter Bogdanovich while still a drama student, who made his screen debut in the director's superbly acted ensemble piece, THE LAST PICTURE SHOW (1971). He went on to establish himself as a versatile, talented character player of stage, screen and TV, winning an Oscar® nomination for his role opposite Jack Nicholson in THE LAST DETAIL (1973). Quaid earned a Golden Globe award for his portrayal of Lyndon Johnson on TV's LBJ: THE EARLY YEARS (1987) and turned in a wonderfully sly performance as a cannibalistic suburban father in Bob Balaban's underrated black comedy, PARENTS (1989). More recent credits include DAYS OF THUNDER and TEXASVILLE (1990), FREAKED (1993), THE PAPER and CURSE OF THE STARVING CLASS (both 1994), BYE BYE LOVE (1995), INDEPENDENCE DAY and KINGPIN (both 1996), VEGAS VACATION (1997), HARD RAIN (1998), P.U.N.K.S. and THE DEBTORS (both 1999), THE ADVENTURES OF ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE (2000), NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE (2001), THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH (2002), MILWAUKEE, MINNESOTA, CAROLINA, GRIND and BLACK CADILLAC (all 2003), BROKEBACK MOUNTAIN and THE ICE HARVEST (both 2005), GOYA'S GHOSTS (2006), and GARY THE TENNIS COACH and REAL TIME (both 2007). He appears frequently in made-for-TV movies and mini-series.  Nominated for Supporting Actor 1973: THE LAST DETAIL 1 nomination