Scott Baio
Baio in 1985
Born	Scott Vincent James Baio (1960-09-22) September 22, 1960[lower-alpha 1] Bay Ridge, Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, television director
Years active	1976–present
Known for	Bugsy Malone Happy Days Joanie Loves Chachi Diagnosis: Murder Charles in Charge See Dad Run Arrested Development
Spouse	Renée Sloan-Baio ​ (m. 2007)​
Children	2[lower-alpha 2]
Relatives	Jimmy Baio (cousin)

Scott Vincent James Baio (/ˈbeɪ.oʊ/; born September 22, 1960^{[lower-alpha 1]}) 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

Baio was born in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of the Brooklyn borough of New York City in 1960^{[lower-alpha 1]}, 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

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 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

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, whom 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 Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader, and Vampire Weekend bassist Chris Baio.^[22]

Filmography

Notes

Awards and nominations

References

Further reading

• 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.

External links

• Official website
• Scott Baio at IMDb
• Scott Baio at the TCM Movie Database
• Scott Baio at AllMovie