Dennis Quaid returns home to raise his new family

In the latest movie role of his 30 year-plus career, Dennis Quaid finds himself playing the conservative preacher dad in the remake of the iconic 1980s hit “Footloose.” “I’d say I’m the opposite,” admits Quaid. “I’m not usually the party pooper.”

Of course, today, that party revolves around his soon-to-be 4-year-old twins, Zoe Grace and Thomas Boone and third wife Kimberly Quaid rather than any Hollywood hipster scene. The 57-year-old actor recently relocated from Los Angeles — also bringing his mom from Houston — to Austin for “the opportunity to have the whole family together” with Kimberly’s parents already there and Quaid’s brother Buddy.

And while he may be out of Hollywood, he’s clearly not out of the movie business, given the slate of films he has coming soon, including “Footloose” and “What to Expect When You’re Expecting.” That’s one of the blessings of aging, says Quaid, the perspective to appreciate good work but at the same time value family.

What else does Quaid appreciate these days? In this recent interview, he reveals more about his life with toddler twins and his secrets to aging so well.

Q. Does having little kids keep you young?

“I think it does keep you young because it always keeps you on the go.”

Q. Have you made any concessions to aging?

“I had Lasik [eye] surgery. I feel a little soreness that I didn’t have in my 30s. The yoga and Advil help.”

Q. Do your twins want to do yoga?

“They’re not quite into that yet. They can probably focus for about half a minute on it, then it turns into something else.”

Q. Do you see a lot of yourself or your wife in them?

T Boone [Thomas Boone] is actually a mini-me. He looks exactly how I looked.”

Q. Is that how Jack looked as well?

“Kind of. Jack looks a lot like his mom as well.”

Q. How about your Zoe?

“She looks exactly like Kimberly. She’s a little fashion maven. She’s been interested in clothes and girlie things. She’s such a girlie girl. It’s been that way since she was a baby. I don’t know how it comes out. She’s very much like her mom that way.”

Q. Do you have a bucket list? What’s on it?

“I want to go to Alaska, Antarctica and South America, Machu Picchu.”

Q. Was your childhood outdoorsy?

“I’ve always gravitated towards the country setting. I spend most of my day outdoors. You can tell by my red neck I spend a lot of time outdoors.”

Q. Is that how at age 57 you’ve managed to stay in great shape?

“Everything helps.”

Q. Is there someone you’d like to still work with that you?

“I’d like to do more comedies. I like stupid comedies, [like] ‘Talladega Nights.’”

Q. You are living in Austin now. Is there anything you will miss about Los Angeles?

“L.A. was a great place to live in so many ways. I was there for 35 years. But being here, this is where I’m from originally. It feels like home to me. It’s an opportunity to have the whole family together.”

Quaid on Quaid

Dennis picks his 5 favorite flicks

1. “The Right Stuff” (1983): “I was playing an astronaut; I got my pilot’s license to learn to fly; Chuck Yeager [the famous test pilot] was on the set every day. That was quite a time.”

2. “The Big Easy” (1986): Quaid and Kathleen Turner steam up this classic romantic thriller. “I have an affinity for [New Orleans].”

3. “The Rookie” (2002): Quaid drew raves for this feel-good baseball story.

4. “Everybody’s All-American” (1988): Another sports flick, another audience fave.

5. “The Parent Trap” (1998): “Believe it or not, because it made me king of the carpool line.”