Father Figure

At the age of 13, Bethany Hamilton, an up-and-coming surfer, lost her arm in a shark attack. But with the help and encouragement of friends and family, she was back on a board within a month, and went on to become a nationally ranked professional in the sport. In the new film adaptation of the her story, Dennis Quaid portrayed Hamilton’s enthusiastic and encouraging father, Tom Hamilton. Quaid spoke with America about his role as a father, the role of suffering and his new-found love of surfing.