Actor Stephen Baldwin appeared destined for Hollywood stardom following his acclaimed performance in the 1995 thriller The Usual Suspects. However, he walked away from the limelight in 2001, choosing to trade his burgeoning acting career for a life of faith and ministry.”
Stephen, 60, became a born-again Christian in 2001, dedicating the following decades to ministry and youth outreach.
“Jesus and the Holy Spirit fascinated me,” Stephen, whose brothers are actors Alec Baldwin, 68, William Baldwin, 63, and Daniel Baldwin, 65, told People.
Prior to this, his standout role in The Usual Suspects had led to a string of projects, including Bio-Dome and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas.
Ultimately, after 16 years in the industry, he embraced his faith following a prophetic vision from his housekeeper, who predicted that both he and his wife, Kennya, would become born-again Christians.
“I probably could have pointed myself in the direction of becoming a big star,” said Stephen. “But that wasn’t me. I didn’t want to be Tom Cruise, and have to make $100 million at the box office.”
© GettyReferencing his Long Island upbringing, he quipped: “I’d rather be a schmuck from Massapequa! I’m good at that!”
While attending an evangelical festival in Fort Lauderdale, Stephen felt drawn to the skateboarding ministry there. “I felt a calling,” said the actor, who went on to star in the skateboarding film, Livin It, featuring videos of skateboarders speaking about their relationship with religion.
“Then one of the bigger churches called and asked what it would cost to bring the skaters from the video to their church for a live event,” he said, adding: “So that’s when I left Hollywood.”
Stephen’s family life
Stephen and his wife Kennya Baldwin, who wed in 1990, share two daughters: Hailey, 29, and Alaia.
© GettyHailey, a model, is married to singer Justin Bieber, with whom she shares two-year-old son Jack. Meanwhile, Alaia and her husband Andrew Aronow have a five-year-old daughter named Iris.
In July 2024, Hailey addressed her relationship with her family, telling W Magazine: “I’m not super close with my family at this point in my life because I feel like I’m very independent,” adding: “I’m my own individual now, and I’ve built my own family.”
© FilmMagic via Getty ImagesHer comments came after Stephen publicly called for his social media followers to pray for Hailey and Justin’s marriage. “Christians, please when you think of Justin & Hailey, take a moment to offer a little prayer for them to have wisdom, protection and to draw close to the Lord,” he wrote on Instagram.
That same month, Hailey’s sister Alaia was arrested for simple assault, simple battery, battery and criminal trespassing.
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