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Scott Baio

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Scott Baio
Baio in 1982
Born
Scott Vincent James Baio

(1960-09-22) September 22, 1960 (age 64)[a]
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, television director
Years active1976–present
Known for
Spouse
Renée Sloan-Baio
​
(m. 2007)​
Children2[b]
RelativesJimmy Baio (cousin)

Scott Vincent Baio (/ˈbeɪ.oʊ/; born September 22, 1960) is an American actor. He is known for playing Chachi Arcola on the sitcom Happy Days (1977–1984) and its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi (1982–1983), the title character on the sitcom Charles in Charge (1984–1990), Dr. Jack Stewart in the medical-mystery-drama series Diagnosis: Murder (1993–1995), and the title role of the musical film Bugsy Malone (1976), his onscreen debut. Baio has guest-starred on various television programs, appeared in several independent films, and starred on the Nickelodeon sitcom See Dad Run (2012–2015).

Early life

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Baio was born in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City in 1960[a], the son of Italian immigrants Rose, a homemaker, and Mario Baio, who worked as his manager.[5] He and his siblings were raised in Bensonhurst. He went to Xaverian High School.[6]

Career

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In 1976, Baio played the title character Bugsy Malone in the children's gangster musical directed by Alan Parker, which also co-starred Jodie Foster. Baio and Foster later worked together again in the teen girl drama Foxes (1980), helmed by Adrian Lyne.

When he was 16, Baio was cast as The Fonz's cousin Chachi Arcola on Happy Days. During his time on Happy Days, Baio earned two Daytime Emmy Award nominations, for his lead performances in the television movies Stoned (1981) and All the Kids Do It (1985). He won two Young Artist Awards during the Third Annual Youth in Film Awards (1980–1982) as Best Young Actor in a Television Special for Stoned and Best Young Comedian in Television or Motion Pictures for Happy Days. He also starred in the made-for-television youth drama specials The Boy Who Drank Too Much and Senior Trip.

From March 1982 to May 1983, Baio starred with his Happy Days co-star Erin Moran in the show's spin-off, Joanie Loves Chachi. The show was canceled after 17 episodes and Baio (and Moran) returned to Happy Days. During this period, Baio, who played an aspiring singer on Joanie Loves Chachi, was signed to a record contract with RCA Victor, who used his TV role to push his music career. He released two albums and three singles, and his self-titled album peaked at number 181 on the Billboard 200, but his recording career never took off.[1][7]

In 1982, he appeared in the film Zapped! and starred as Francis Geminiani in the special HBO presentation of Gemini, an adaptation of the Broadway comedy-drama Happy Birthday, Gemini. From 1979 to 1984, Baio made seven appearances on Battle of the Network Stars; six as a competitor for the ABC team (once as team captain) and one as co-host. From 1984 until 1990, Baio starred in the syndicated comedy series Charles in Charge. In 1985, he was part of an ensemble cast for Alice in Wonderland, where he portrayed Pat the Pig. From 1987 through 1991, he was a director of the children's comedy series Out of This World.

During the 1990s, Baio appeared in various television programs, including the short-lived Look Who's Talking small screen spin-off Baby Talk. In 1991, he appeared in the NBC Monday Night Movie Perry Mason and the Case of the Fatal Fashion, as a young prosecutor. Between 1993 and 1995, he portrayed Dr. Jack Stewart in the medical mystery series Diagnosis: Murder. Baio was a guest-star on a variety of series, including Full House, Touched by an Angel, Veronica's Closet and The Nanny. He also starred in several films on television and video releases such as Detonator, Bar-Hopping, Dumb Luck, Face Value and Mixed Blessings.

Baio was in the independent films Very Mean Men (2000), Face to Face (2001), and The Bread, My Sweet (2001). In 2004, Baio starred in Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 with Bob Clark. The film was widely panned by critics[8] and nominated for four Razzie Awards.[9] Baio played himself in the 2005 Wes Craven film Cursed. In 2005, Baio appeared in four episodes of Arrested Development as the Bluth family's lawyer, Bob Loblaw, taking over the role from his former Happy Days co-star Henry Winkler; the Online Film and Television Association nominated him as Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for the role.[10] In 2007, Baio starred in the VH1 celebrity reality series Scott Baio Is 45...and Single and its successor the following year, Scott Baio Is 46...and Pregnant. Baio was also the co-host of the VH1 reality show Confessions of a Teen Idol, in which former teen idols attempt to resurrect their careers.[11]

Baio starred in and produced the Nick at Nite situation comedy See Dad Run, which ran from 2012 to 2015. Baio guest starred in a 2014 episode of Sam & Cat as a police officer who arrests the title characters.[12][13]

Personal life

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In 2001, Baio got engaged to his girlfriend Jeanette Jonsson.[14]

In 2007, shortly before[15] the birth of their daughter, Baio married Renée Sloan, who he met in the 1990s at the Playboy Mansion.[16] Renée was carrying twins, but lost one of the babies in the 11th week of her pregnancy.[17] Their daughter, Bailey, was born in 2007, five weeks premature. After Bailey tested positive for a rare metabolic disorder,[18] the family started the Bailey Baio Angel Foundation to provide financial support to other families who are dealing with metabolic disorders.[19] Renée Baio was diagnosed with a meningioma brain tumor in June 2015,[20] with a second tumor discovered later. In 2017 she was also diagnosed with cerebral microvascular disease.[21] Baio is also the stepfather to Renée's daughter Kalyn, born in 1989.

He is a cousin of former actor Jimmy Baio, New York Mets outfielder Harrison Bader, and Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio.[22]

Political views

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Baio is a registered Republican and has described his politics as conservative.[23] He campaigned for Ronald Reagan in his youth and attended Reagan's state funeral.[24] Upon Reagan's death in 2004, he was quoted by the New York Daily News as saying, "President Reagan made me feel proud to be an American. Today, I feel sadness."[25]

Baio endorsed Republican presidential candidates Mitt Romney in 2012[26] and Donald Trump in 2016, and he spoke at the opening night of the 2016 Republican National Convention.[27] He also supported Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election.[28]

On December 15, 2016, Baio accused Nancy Mack, wife of Chad Smith, drummer for Red Hot Chili Peppers, of physically assaulting him at their children's elementary school function. Baio claims Mack began berating and cursing him over his support of Trump and at one point attacked him, grabbing him under his arms and then shaking and pushing him. Mack claimed she was trying to show Baio how Trump hugs women and denied any intentional physical aggression.[29]

On August 26, 2017, Baio re-tweeted a Sandy Hook conspiracy theory meme, insinuating that the 2017 killing of Heather Heyer in Charlottesville and the Sandy Hook shooting of 2012 were linked hoaxes.[30][31]

Allegations of abuse

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On January 29, 2018, sexual misconduct allegations made by Nicole Eggert against Baio surfaced. In 2013, Eggert stated on the Nik Richie Radio show that she and Baio had a one-time encounter "years" after Charles in Charge ended, which would have been after 1990. In the more elaborated account, discussed on The Dr. Oz Show and Megyn Kelly Today, Eggert claimed that Baio molested her beginning in 1986 when she was 14, and that when she was 17, she had intercourse with him. Baio contends that he had sexual relations with Eggert only once, and that the encounter occurred after she had turned 18. Baio explained that Eggert's own words to Richie proved he did not have intercourse with Eggert while she was a minor, since the final episode of Charles in Charge aired in November 1990, ten months after Eggert turned 18.[32][33][34]

Several months later, Alexander Polinsky, another co-star in Charles in Charge, accused Baio of verbally abusing and physically assaulting him while on set.[33]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 Bugsy Malone Bugsy Malone
1979 Skatetown, U.S.A. Richie
1980 Foxes Brad
1982 Zapped! Barney Springboro
1987 I Love N.Y. Mario Cotone
1998 Detonator Zack Ramses
2000 Very Mean Men Paulie Minetti Also associate producer
2001 A Wedding for Bella Dominic Formerly titled The Bread, My Sweet
2001 Italian Ties Richie Also writer; formerly titled Face to Face
2002 Face Value Barry Rengler
2003 Dumb Luck Steve Hitchcock
2004 Superbabies: Baby Geniuses 2 Stan Bobbins
2005 Cursed Himself
2021 Courting Mom and Dad Brent Lambert
2024 God's Not Dead: In God We Trust John Wesley

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 NBC Special Treat Julius Episode: "Luke Was There"
1977 Blansky's Beauties Anthony DeLuca Main cast (13 episodes)
1977–1984 Happy Days Chachi Arcola Main cast (130 episodes)
1977 The Love Boat Graham D. Pickrel II Episode: "Ex Plus Y/Golden Agers/Graham and Kelly"
1978 The Runaways Tommy Episode: "No Prince for My Cinderella"
1978–1979 Who's Watching the Kids? Frankie 'the Fox' Vitola Main cast (11 episodes)
1979 Fantasy Island Rob 'Robbie' Collins Episode: "Amusement Park/Rock Stars"
1980 The Boy Who Drank Too Much Buff Saunders Movie
1980 Goodtime Girls Tommy Episode: "Growing Pains"
1980 Here's Boomer Ronald Episode: "Overboard"
1980 ABC Afterschool Special Jack Melon Episode: "Stoned"
1981 Senior Trip Roger Ellis Movie
1982 Gemini Francis Geminiani Movie
1982–1983 Joanie Loves Chachi Chachi Arcola Lead role (17 episodes)
1983 Hotel Nick Tomasino Episode: "Faith, Hope & Charity"
1984 CBS Schoolbreak Special Buddy Elder Episode: "All the Kids Do It"
1984–1990 Charles in Charge Charles Lead role (126 episodes); also director, 36 episodes, writer, 1 episode
1985 The Fall Guy Merrick Thorson Episode: "Femme Fatale"
1985 Alice in Wonderland Pat the Pig Movie
1986 The Truth About Alex Brad Stevens Movie
1987 Kids in Motion Himself Host
1988 My Two Dads Scott Cameo Episode: "She'll Get Over It"
1988–1989 Out of This World Scott Gold / Prince Cornelius 3 episodes; also director, 11 episodes
1989 Full House Pete Bianco Episode: "Dr. Dare Rides Again"
1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Fatal Fashion Asst. D.A. Peter Whelan Movie
1991–1992 Baby Talk James Halbrook Main cast (23 episodes); also director, 1 episode
1993 Jack's Place Woody B. King Episode: "The Hands of Time"
1993–1995 Diagnosis: Murder Dr. Jack Stewart Main cast (41 episodes)
1995 Mixed Blessings Charlie Winwood Movie
1996 Can't Hurry Love Matt 2 episodes
1997 Rewind Rob DiPaulo Unaired series, 2 episodes
1998 The Nanny Dr. Frankie Cresitelli Episode: "Rash to Judgment"
2000 Veronica's Closet Kevin 2 episodes
2000 Bar Hopping Damian Movie
2001 Touched by an Angel Frank McCovey Episode: "A Death in the Family"
2005–2013 Arrested Development Bob Loblaw 5 episodes
2006 Van Stone: Tour of Duty Lt. Perry Movie
2008 Scott Baio Is 45...and Single Himself Reality (8 episodes)
2008 Finish Line Frank Chase Movie
2009 Confessions of a Teen Idol Himself (host) 8 episodes
2012–2015 See Dad Run David Hobbs Lead role (55 episodes); also executive Producer, 45 episodes
2014 Sam & Cat Officer Kelvin Episode: "#MagicATM"
2014 A Fairly Odd Summer Foop (Human Form) Movie

Director

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Year Series Episode(s)
1987–90 Charles in Charge 36 episodes
1989–91 Out of This World 11 episodes
1989 The New Lassie "Dangerous Party"
1992 Baby Talk "Warren Piece"
1991 The Family Man "A Tiny Advantage"
1991 Harry and the Hendersons "Halloween"
1992 Baby Talk "Warren Piece"
1993 Shaky Ground "Pet Sematary", "The Scarlett Letter", "Sudden Impact"
1995 First Time Out "Psyched Out"
1996 Kirk "Strangers in the Night", "Hire Learning"
1996 The Wayans Bros. 4 episodes
1996–97 The Jamie Foxx Show 5 episodes
1997 Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher "Pain in the Schneck"
1998 Guys Like Us "Maestro's Big Break"
1998 Malcolm & Eddie "Silenced Partner"
1998 Unhappily Ever After "I Know What You Did in the Closet"
1998 The Parkers "Three's a Shag"

Notes

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  1. ^ a b Baio was born in 1960,[1][2] though earlier sources state 1961.[3][4]
  2. ^ One with Renée Sloan, the other is Renée Sloan's older daughter whom Baio adopted.

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1981 Daytime Emmy Awards Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming Jack Melon in Stoned ABC Afterschool Special Nominated
1985 Daytime Emmy Awards Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming All the Kids Do It CBS Schoolbreak Special Nominated
1981 Young Artist Award Best Young Comedian Happy Days Nominated
1982 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor in a Television Series Happy Days Nominated
Young Artist Award Best Young Comedian - Motion Picture or Television Happy Days Won
Young Artist Award Best Young Actor in a Television special Jack Melon in Stoned ABC Afterschool Special Won
1983 Young Artist Award Best Young Actor in a New Television Series Joanie Loves Chachi Nominated
2002 San Diego International Film Festival Festival Award Best Actor The Bread, My Sweet Won
2004 TV Land Award Favorite Teen Dream - Male Joanie Loves Chachi Won
2006 TV Land Award Most Wonderful Wedding Chachi Arcola in Happy Days shared with Erin Moran Won

References

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  1. ^ a b Leszczak, Bob (2015). From Small Screen to Vinyl: A Guide to Television Stars Who Made Records, 1950-2000. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 15. ISBN 978-1442242746. Retrieved March 15, 2022. Scott Vincent James Baio was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 22, 1960
  2. ^ Walters, John (July 18, 2016). "Donnie Loves Chachi: Who Is Scott Baio, and Why Is He Speaking at the Republican National Convention?". Newsweek. Retrieved March 13, 2022.
  3. ^ "'Happy Days' Scott Baio To Turn 40". Associated Press. March 20, 2001. Retrieved March 16, 2022.
  4. ^ Jerome, Jim (October 11, 1982). "Teen Heartthrob: Scott Baio". People.
  5. ^ Jones, Oliver (July 23, 2007). "Scott Baio the Man Who Can't Commit". People. 68 (4). Archived from the original on February 22, 2011. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  6. ^ "Baio: Square, and proud of it". The Telegraph-Herald. UPI. September 7, 1984. Retrieved December 4, 2013.
  7. ^ "Scott Baio's Musical Past: 'Happy Days,' 'Joanie Loves Chachi,' 'Merv Griffin Show' & More". Billboard. November 17, 2016. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  8. ^ "SuperBabies: Baby Geniuses 2 (2004)" – via www.rottentomatoes.com.
  9. ^ "Nominees for 25th Razzie Awards announced". UPI. January 24, 2005. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  10. ^ "9th Annual TV Awards". Online Film & Television Association. Retrieved November 19, 2022.
  11. ^ "Confessions of a Teen Idol". vh1.com. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009.
  12. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (November 9, 2013). "'Happy Days' Reunion: Scott Baio, Garry Marshall on Getting Back Together for 'See Dad Run'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  13. ^ O'Sullivan, Erin (November 8, 2013). "Ariana Grande: 'So Much Fun' Filming Sam & Cat With Scott Baio". Yahoo! News. Yahoo – ABC News Network. Archived from the original on November 12, 2013. Retrieved November 10, 2013.
  14. ^ "Baio's Fiancee Mistook Him For A Waiter". Contactmusic.com. WENN. August 25, 2004. Retrieved August 25, 2004.
  15. ^ Bio - Scott Baio Official Website
  16. ^ Jones, Oliver (December 8, 2007). "Scott Baio Marries Longtime Girlfriend – Weddings, Scott Baio". People.com. Retrieved June 1, 2012.
  17. ^ "Introducing Bailey DeLuca Baio – Showbiz News & Celebrity Gossip". Showbiznews.info. Archived from the original on January 6, 2009. Retrieved April 13, 2022.
  18. ^ Cooper, Chet (August–September 2013). "Scott Baio — Interview". ABILITY Magazine.
  19. ^ "Scott Baio on His Delicious Daughter". Celebrity Baby Blog, January 29, 2009. Archived from the original on May 3, 2009.
  20. ^ Lawler, Kelly (June 19, 2015). "Scott Baio's wife diagnosed with brain tumor". USA Today. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
  21. ^ Delzo, Janissa (March 10, 2018). "Who Is Renee Sloan? Scott Baio's Wife Diagnosed With Microvascular Brain Disease". Newsweek. Retrieved August 27, 2019.
  22. ^ Vilensky, Mike (June 18, 2012). "Vampire Weekend's Scott Baio Connection Revealed". wsj.com. Retrieved August 6, 2016.
  23. ^ Andrews-Dyer, Helena (March 11, 2015). "Scott Baio supports Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker for president".
  24. ^ "Scott Baio attended Ronald Reagan's funeral". Hollywood.com. Baseline. WENN. November 2012. Retrieved July 10, 2015.
  25. ^ Caruso, Michelle (June 12, 2004). "A Goodbye As Sun Sets In West Children fondly recall his kindness & quirks". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on October 12, 2014.
  26. ^ Atkins, Larry (October 3, 2012). "Newspaper Endorsements Should Stick to Local Races and Stop Endorsing Presidential Candidates". Huffington Post.
  27. ^ Li, David K. (June 18, 2016). "Scott Baio gets last-minute prime-time role at Trump's RNC". New York Post.
  28. ^ Nolan, Emma (October 27, 2020). "From Scott Baio to Dennis Quaid, These Celebrities Are Voting For Trump". Newsweek. Retrieved November 26, 2021.
  29. ^ "Scott Baio Claims Physical Attack by Chili Pepper's Wife Over Trump". TMZ. December 15, 2016.
  30. ^ "Scott Baio slammed for 'truther' tweet". news.com.au. August 27, 2017.
  31. ^ Ross, Martha (August 28, 2017). "Scott Baio and his wife blasted after she attacked mother of young Sandy Hook victim". The Mercury News. San Jose, CA.
  32. ^ Romano, Nick (January 31, 2018). "Scott Baio denies Nicole Eggert's molestation claims: 'Absolutely nothing' happened". Entertainment Weekly.
  33. ^ a b Fernandez, Alexia (February 7, 2018). "Charles in Charge's Alexander Polinsky Accuses Scott Baio of Physical Assault & Mental Abuse". People.
  34. ^ Singh, Olivia (February 15, 2018). "Here's everything you need to know about the sexual misconduct allegations against Scott Baio". Insider.

Further reading

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  • Dye, David. Child and Youth Actors: Filmography of Their Entire Careers, 1914–1985. Jefferson, NC: McFarland & Co., 1988, p. 10.
  • Holmstrom, John. The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich, Michael Russell, 1996, p. 336.
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