Back in the fall of 1980, a 26-year-old Dennis Quaid returned home from voting to face his amused roommate.

“He asked who I voted for, and when I replied Ronald Reagan, he jokingly said, ‘That’s it, you’re no longer part of the hippie club,'” Quaid recalls, breaking into a joyful smile. “I handed in my hippie card right then.”

Now at 70 years old, Quaid, who identifies as an “independent” voter, is portraying the man he supported twice and considers “my favorite president.”

In the upcoming film “Reagan,” which opens in theaters this Friday, Quaid plays the former president, highlighting key moments in Reagan’s life, particularly his lasting marriage to Nancy Reagan and his pivotal discussions with Mikhail Gorbachev that helped conclude the Cold War.

The film prominently showcases Penelope Ann Miller’s portrayal of Nancy Reagan as a fierce supporter of her husband and Jon Voight’s role as Viktor Petrovich, a retired KGB agent who narrates the history of his nation’s adversary in retrospect.

While “Reagan” acknowledges the intense opposition his presidency faced from liberal groups, it largely focuses on his admirers, including select attendees at last month’s Republican National Convention who viewed an exclusive preview.

For Dennis Quaid, delving into Ronald Reagan meant exploring his more inaccessible aspects

Although Quaid has always been a supporter of this 40th U.S. president, he was somewhat reluctant to accept the role, especially since Reagan passed away in 2004 following a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

“My main concern was not wanting to just imitate him, given he is one of the most recognizable figures in history,” Quaid shares. “Moreover, I worried that my admiration for him might affect my performance. I aimed to understand the man behind the public image.”

Once Quaid felt confident that he could embody the role, he dedicated himself to exhaustive research, including lengthy discussions with individuals who had known Reagan and viewing numerous videos of him. “I had some luck with my hair, as I already had a similar style, along with a bit of dye,” he adds.

Despite Reagan’s notable acting background and public speaking abilities − the film recreates his famous 1984 debate moment, where he remarked he wouldn’t exploit challenger Walter Mondale’s “youth and inexperience” − Quaid feels that Reagan himself remained somewhat enigmatic.

“Everyone I interviewed mentioned that there was a certain impenetrability to him, something even Nancy might have encountered,” he reflects. “There seemed to be a barrier, possibly a result of having an alcoholic father, leading to difficulties with expressing deep emotions and intimacy.”

Quaid’s turning point came when he got a chance to visit Reagan’s iconic ranch, Rancho del Cielo, colloquially known as the Western White House, situated on a sprawling 688 acres near Santa Barbara. (The ranch was acquired in 1998 by the conservative group Young America’s Foundation.)

“It’s not accessible to the public, but I was fortunate enough to visit,” he explains. “You take the 101 Highway heading north, and then navigate about five miles down a rough road until you reach that gate. In that moment, I felt as if I began to truly understand who this man was.”

The man was a modest individual, evident from the efforts he poured into the ranch, and his simple clothes that still reside in the closet. This humility is reflected in their 1,100-square-foot home, where two twin beds are bound together with zip ties to form a single bed.

Dennis Quaid Reflects on Ronald Reagan as ‘Everybody’s Dad’

Quaid describes Reagan as “everybody’s dad, especially for those of us in the baby boomer generation, for better or worse. Like any father figure, some idolized him while others went against him. That’s how he resonates with many of us even today.”

When discussing the current political climate, Quaid expresses a cautious outlook.

“The situation surrounding the 1980 election, where Reagan triumphed over incumbent Democrat Jimmy Carter, seems reminiscent of present times. People were lamenting America’s decline back then, just as they do now, with skyrocketing interest rates and hostages in the Middle East. Reagan came in and confidently stated: ‘We’re moving forward. The best days for America are still to come.’”

When asked if the “Reagan” production team had a political bias, Quaid promptly disagrees. “No, I would say that at least half of our crew identified as Democrats. And let’s not forget, Reagan was a Democrat for a long time before he switched to being a Republican.”

While Quaid refrains from taking a position on today’s presidential candidates, Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, he remarks, “America gets the leadership it deserves. They mirror the prevailing circumstances and the sentiments of the people.”

However, Quaid expresses concern about the toxic and deep divisions in contemporary politics. “I sincerely miss the days when there were liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats,” he states. “I hope we can acknowledge that we need each other, helping to balance each other’s extremes.”

He recalls a moment from “Reagan” where the president meets guests shortly after an assassination attempt in 1981.

“Following Nancy, Tip O’Neill (the Democratic speaker of the House) was the first to see him. Reagan famously told him, ‘Tip, we may be political rivals during the day, but after 6 p.m., we’re just two Irishmen enjoying a beer together.’”