Meg Ryan Appears on Red Carpet with Son Jack Quaid Amid 'Nepo Baby' Discussion

Meg Ryan made a rare public appearance alongside her son, actor Jack Quaid, at the Narrative Art Museum's opening night gala on Saturday. Ryan, 64, beamed as she posed with Quaid, 34, whom she shares with ex-husband Dennis Quaid.

Ryan wore a sleeveless black dress with a monochrome floral pattern, accessorized with dark sunglasses and her signature blonde bob. Quaid opted for a double-breasted grey suit, a white shirt, and a patterned black and grey tie.

Ryan is also mother to 22-year-old daughter Daisy, whom she adopted from China in 2006.

The appearance comes as Quaid has publicly addressed his status as a "nepo baby," a term for individuals with a perceived advantage due to their famous parents. In July 2024, Quaid told the Daily Beast, "I am an extremely privileged person, was able to get representation pretty early on, and that's more than half the battle." He acknowledged that "the door was open for me in a lot of ways that it's just not for a lot of actors," but stated his intention to "work as hard as I possibly can to prove that I deserve to walk through that door."

Ryan has previously defended her son against the nepotism label. In a December 2023 interview with Glamour magazine, she said, "Jack is really talented. He's more of a natural than I'll ever be." She added that the "nepo stuff is so dismissive of his work ethic, his gifts, and how sensitive he is to the idea of his privilege."

Responding to his mother's comments, Quaid explained to the Daily Beast that he believed she was being a "loving mom" but did not think she was denying his "nepo baby" status. He clarified that while he doesn't believe it undermines his talent, he recognizes the advantages he had in entering the industry. "I know that I work hard, and I know I've heard 'no' way more than I've heard 'yes,'" he said. "But I also know that this industry is insanely hard to break into, and I had an easier time doing that than most. Both things can be true."

Quaid's career began with a film debut in 2012's The Hunger Games. He has since appeared in the Scream reboot (2022), Oppenheimer (2023), and the series The Boys. His upcoming project is the comedy Close Personal Friends, alongside Henry Golding, Brie Larson, and Lily Collins.

Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid were married in 1991 and welcomed Jack the following year. Their divorce in 2001 followed Ryan's affair with actor Russell Crowe. Despite an initially acrimonious split, the couple has since become amicable, reportedly reuniting for Quaid's wedding to actress Claudia Doumit earlier this year.