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Scott Bakula

 
Who2 Biography: Scott Bakula, Actor / TV Producer
 

  • Born: 9 October 1954
  • Birthplace: St. Louis, Missouri
  • Best Known As: Star of TV's Quantum Leap and Enterprise

Scott Bakula starred in the science fiction TV series Quantum Leap, which ran on NBC from 1989-93. Bakula played Dr. Sam Beckett, a scientist trapped in an experiment gone wrong which had him "leaping" from life to life across time. The show was a hit (despite frequent schedule changes) and developed a loyal following. Bakula is primarily known as a television actor, but he has also appeared on Broadway, produced several TV shows, and appeared in feature films including Lord of Illusions (1995), American Beauty (1999, with Kevin Spacey), and Life As a House (2001, with Kristin Scott Thomas). Bakula starred as Captain Jonathan Archer in TV's Enterprise, a spin-off prequel in the Star Trek series, from 2001-05.

Bakula's Broadway shows include the musical Romance / Romance (1988-89) and the short-lived Marilyn (1983, with Bakula as Joe DiMaggio).

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Actor: Scott Bakula
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  • Born: 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: '90s-2000s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Science Fiction
  • Career Highlights: Necessary Roughness, Quantum Leap: Pilot, The Trial of Old Drum
  • First Major Screen Credit: Quantum Leap: Pilot (1989)

Biography

Best known for portraying time traveler Dr. Sam Beckett in the popular sci-fi series Quantum Leap, Scott Bakula is also a noted Broadway actor and occasional movie star, though it is in the last venue that he has had the least amount of success. The son of a musician, Bakula is said to have started his own rock band when he was in the fourth grade. He also sang with the St. Louis Symphony before attending the University of Kansas. Bakula launched his acting career as a teen in regional theater and as a stage actor specializes in musical comedy. He made his Broadway debut in 1983 in Marilyn: An American Fable. He started showing up regularly on television as a guest star on such series as My Sister Sam and Designing Women during the 1980s. In 1986, Bakula starred in an unsuccessful television series, Gung Ho! Two years later he headlined another unsuccessful one, Eisenhower and Lutz. In 1988, Bakula was nominated for a Tony for his work in Romance, Romance. The following year, he was cast in Quantum Leap and has since gained a cult following; in 1992, he won a Golden Globe and was nominated four more times. Bakula was also nominated for a quartet of Emmys. Bakula made his feature-film debut starring opposite Kirstie Alley in Sibling Rivalry (1990). Other notable film appearances include L.A. Story (1991) and My Family/Mi Familia (1995). In 1993, Bakula had a recurring role on the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown as a love interest of Candice Bergen. He has also appeared in a number of television movies and in 1996, he had a stint in another short-lived series, Mr. and Mrs. Smith. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
 
Wikipedia: Scott Bakula
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Scott Bakula

Bakula stands at the Hamilton Benefit on May 10, 2005.
Born Scott Stewart Bakula
October 9, 1954 (1954-10-09) (age 54)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1983–present
Spouse(s) Krista Neumann (1981-1995)
Chelsea Field (1996-present)

Scott Stewart Bakula (born October 9, 1954) is a Golden Globe-award winning American actor. His most prominent roles have been as Sam Beckett in the science fiction television series Quantum Leap, and as Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise. He also co-starred with Maria Bello in the short-lived CBS television series Mr. & Mrs. Smith and had a recurring role in the sitcom Murphy Brown.

Contents

Biography

Early life

Bakula was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Sally and J. Stewart Bakula, a corporate lawyer.[1] He graduated from Kirkwood High School in Kirkwood, Missouri in 1973. During high school, he was active in soccer, tennis, and theatre. Also during high school, he had the lead roles in Godspell and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at First Presbyterian Church in Kirkwood. He also played Tevye in an Independent Theatre Production of Fiddler on the Roof at Kirkwood High. Bakula attended college at the University of Kansas until his sophomore year. He was a member of Phi Gamma Delta while attending the University.

Career

Bakula left college to pursue acting, having been cast in the leading role in a national tour of Godspell. The tour was canceled before it began and he soon moved to New York. Shortly after, he was cast in a dinner theater production of Shenandoah in North Carolina.

In 1983, Bakula, having previously appeared as a standby, made his Broadway debut playing Joe DiMaggio in Marilyn: An American Fable. His television debut came in commercials for Canada Dry and for de-caffeinated Folgers coffee. He also appeared in an off Broadway production of "Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down".[2]

His performance in the Broadway musical Romance/Romance and subsequent Tony Award nomination helped Bakula win the lead role opposite Dean Stockwell in the critically acclaimed television series Quantum Leap.[3] In this science fiction series, Bakula played the time traveler Dr. Sam Beckett who was trapped by a malfunction of his time machine to correct things gone wrong in the past. His performance in this program would earn him a Golden Globe award (along with three nominations) and four Emmy nominations for Best Actor as well as five (5) consecutive Viewer’s For Quality Television Awards for Best Actor in a Quality Drama Series.

In 1995, Bakula appeared on the cover of Playgirl. In 1997, Bakula voiced Danny Cat in Cats Don't Dance, a high-rated, but little-known, animated movie, singing in one number with Natalie Cole. In 1998, Bakula played the aging veteran pitcher Gus Cantrell in Major League: Back to the Minors, the final movie in the Major League (film) trilogy. He also played Jim Olmeyer, partner of Sam Robards' Jim Berkley, in the Academy Award-winning American Beauty in 1999.

Bakula, as Captain Jonathan Archer, meets U.S. Navy Sailors of the Year for the year 2001 on February 28, 2002, on the set of Star Trek: Enterprise.[4]

As Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise, Bakula played the captain of Earth's first long-range interstellar ship. In 2006, he reprised the role of Archer for the Star Trek Legacy PC and Xbox 360 video games as a voiceover. Bakula starred in the musical Shenandoah, a play which also provided his first professional theatrical role in 1976, at Ford's Theatre, in 2006.

Bakula is heard singing "Pig Island" on Sandra Boynton's children's CD Philadelphia Chickens, which is labeled as being "For all ages except 43." Some of Bakula's other musical appearances include the Hollywood Bowl in 1996 and 2004, Carnegie Hall, a benefit performance of Stephen Sondheim's Anyone Can Whistle in 1995, and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1993 and 2003, in honor of Sondheim and Carol Burnett, respectively.

Performances since 2008

Bakula performed various songs from his career for one night only performance entitled "An Evening with Scott Bakula" at Sydney Harman Hall on January 18, 2008, as a benefit for the restoration of the historic Ford's Theater.[5] Bakula had three appearances in 2008. He appeared as Atty. Jack Ross in an episode of Boston Legal, "Glow in the Dark", which aired on February 12, 2008 on the ABC network.[6] From March 4 - April 20 he starred as Tony Hunter in the world premiere of Dancing In The Dark at The Old Globe in San Diego, California. "Dancing in the Dark" is based on the 1950s movie "The Band Wagon" which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.[7] He will also appear as the character Chris Fulbright in the five episode run of the new Tracey Ullman sketch comedy series State of the Union on Showtime; it premieres March 30.

A March 31, 2008 article in Variety[8] announced that Bakula has been cast in the role of Brian Shepard in the upcoming movie The Informant, Steven Soderbergh's espionage dark comedy thriller for Warner Independent. The movie will also star Matt Damon. Shooting began in May, 2008 in Decatur, IL.[9]

On April 6 2009, Scott began a recurring role as "Chuck's" father (Stephen Bartowski) on the TV show Chuck.

Personal life

Bakula married Krista Neumann in 1981. The couple had two children, Chelsy (born 1984), Cody (born 1991 - adopted) and divorced in 1995. In 1996, he married actress Chelsea Field, with whom he has had two children, Wil and Owen.

Filmography

References

  1. ^ Scott Bakula Biography (1954?-)
  2. ^ castalbumdb.com
  3. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096684/
  4. ^ Chief Journalist Mark O. Piggott (2002-02-28). "http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/020228-N-3312P-001.jpg". Navy NewsStand - Eye on the Fleet. http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/020228-N-3312P-001.jpg. Retrieved on 2002-05-10. "http://www.news.navy.mil/management/photodb/photos/020228-N-3312P-001.jpgUSS Enterprise (CVN 65) Feb. 28, 2002 -- Sailors of the Year for the year 2001 meet castmembers of the latest ‘Star Trek’ television series entitled “Enterprise.” Pictured here on the set of the series are (from left) Conner Trinneer, who plays Chief Engineer Charles “Trip” Tucker, III; Aviation Electronics Technician 1st Class Robert S. Pickering, Sailor of the Year; Personnelman 3rd Class Sarah E. Pizzo, Blue Jacket of the Year; Aviation Electrician’s Mate 2nd Class Timothy J. Whittington, Junior Sailor of the Year; and Scott Bakula, who plays Capt. Jonathan Archer. The three Sailors were given the opportunity to appear in a scene during an episode which aired recently. U.S. Navy photo by Chief Journalist Mark O. Piggott. (RELEASED)" 
  5. ^ 'An Evening with Scott Bakula' at Ford's Theatre Jan.18 (DC.BroadwayWorld.com)
  6. ^ Daily News Releases
  7. ^ http://www.theoldglobe.org/_pdf/pr/2008/Dancing%20in%20the%20Dark%20Cast%20Announced.pdf
  8. ^ Bakula joins Soderbergh's 'Informant' - Entertainment News, Film News, Media - Variety
  9. ^ 'The Informant to open September 2009
  10. ^ Reuters - "Funny people to get serious for Informant" by Gregg Goldstein, 4/1/08

External links


 
 

 

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Who2 Biography. Copyright © 1998-2008 by Who2, LLC. All rights reserved. See the Scott Bakula biography from Who2.  Read more
Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Scott Bakula" Read more