Dennis Quaid has entered his empty-nester era after sending his youngest children off to college. The actor recently dropped 18-year-old twins, Thomas and Zoe, at their respective schools. The milestone comes months after Quaid moved to end the nearly $14,000 monthly child support he paid ex-wife Kimberly Buffington. Now, the proud dad is watching the twins begin life on their own.
Dennis Quaid opens up about sending his 18-year-old twins off to college
college
In a new People interview, Quaid revealed that the twins started college this month. “My twins, they just started college,” he said. Quaid added that he had dropped them off the previous week.
Zoe Quaid will study business at the University of Virginia. Meanwhile, Thomas Quaid is heading to the University of Colorado Boulder, where he will also study business. Quaid admitted the transition naturally brings questions for a parent. However, he sounded optimistic about watching his children find their own way.
“They’re out there on their own now,” he said.
The milestone follows another major family transition. In May, Quaid filed to end his $13,750 monthly child support payments to Kimberly Buffington as the twins prepared to finish high school.
Court documents obtained by People cited the former couple’s 2018 divorce agreement. Under its terms, the payments could end once each child completed 12th grade or reached another specified cutoff.
Zoe graduated May 23, while Thomas graduated June 3. Quaid and Buffington reunited for Thomas’ ceremony and posed for photos together.
The actor also has an older son, Jack Quaid, with ex-wife Meg Ryan. Jack followed his parents into acting and has built his own career with projects including The Boys. He recently joined the God of War universe in another major role.
For Dennis, sending Thomas and Zoe to college marks another shift in fatherhood. His advice to them remains simple: find something they love and figure out how to make a life from it.
