Born and raised in Texas

Began career as an impressionist in Houston nightclubs at age 15

Moved to Los Angeles

First screen appearance in an uncredited bit part, "Crazy Mama"

Film acting debut in "9/30/55" directed by James Bridges

TV acting debut, "Are You in the House Alone?" (CBS)

Had breakthrough screen role as Mike, the high school jock, in "Breaking Away"

Co-starred with his brother Randy in Walter Hill's "The Long Riders"

Appeared in the CBS TV-movie "Bill" alongside Mickey Rooney

Wrote songs for and sang on screen in "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia"

Reprised his TV role in the sequel "Bill on His Own" (CBS)

Gained good notices for his turn as the cocky astronaut Gordon Cooper in "The Right Stuff"

Starred opposite brother Randy in the Off-Broadway production of Sam Shepard's "True West"

Won acclaim for his performance in "The Big Easy"; directed by Jim McBride

Portrayed singer Jerry Lee Lewis in the biopic "Great Balls of Fire", also directed by Jim McBride

Formed Summers/Quaid Productions with Cathleen Summers

Co-starred with then wife, Meg Ryan in "Flesh and Bone"

Earned praise for his performance as Doc Holliday in Lawrence Kasdan's epic "Wyatt Earp"

Starred as a medieval knight in "Dragonheart"

Made directorial debut with made-for-cable TV-movie "Everything That Rises" (TNT); also starred

Co-starred in the remake of Disney's "The Parent Trap"

Portrayed a past his prime football quarterback in Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday"

Cast as the long-dead firefighting father of a contemporary detective in the supernatural-themed "Frequency"

Had pivotal role as a lawyer in "Traffic"

Co-starred in the HBO adaptation of the Pulitzer-winning play "Dinner With Friends"

Portrayed a high school baseball coach in the fact-based feature "The Rookie"

Appeared with Julianne Moore in the drama "Far From Heaven"; received Golden Globe and SAG nominations for Best Supporting Actor

Played a climatologist who tries to find a way to save the world in Roland Emmerich's "The Day After Tomorrow"

Starred with Scarlett Johansson and Topher Grace in the comedy "In Good Company" directed by Paul Weitz

Starred in a remake of the 1965 film "The Flight of the Phoenix"

Co-starred with Rene Russo in the remake of "Yours, Mine and Ours, a comedy about a blended family

Received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (November)

Portrayed the US President in Paul Weitz' "American Dreamz"

Cast in the ensemble film, "Vantage Point" as a Secret Service agent

Joined Sarah Jessica Parker, Ellen Page and Thomas Haden Church in the indie feature, "Smart People"