Stephen Baldwin, an American actor, director, producer, and author, currently has an estimated net worth of $1 million. Baldwin’s career has been notably unpredictable. Initially, his rise seemed imminent as he followed in the footsteps of his famous actor brothers, Alec, Daniel, and William. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, Baldwin appeared in a variety of guest roles on popular sitcoms like Kate and Allie and Family Ties, before transitioning into film.
He landed several early film roles, including Born on the Fourth of July, Posse, 8 Seconds, and Threesome, and his most acclaimed role came in the 1995 film The Usual Suspects, where he played McManus. Despite this success, Baldwin’s career took a downturn, with his later projects often being low-budget or poorly reviewed. In 2006, Baldwin and his family were forced to sell their home, and by 2009, they faced foreclosure and bankruptcy.
In the mid-2000s, Baldwin shifted his focus to reality television, a genre he had already dabbled in. He appeared in several reality shows, including Celebrity Mole Hawaii, Celebrity Mole Yucatan, Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge, Celebrity Apprentice, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, and Celebrity Big Brother (UK). These appearances marked a significant shift in Baldwin’s career as he began to focus on television work rather than film.
Early Life
Stephen Baldwin was born on May 12, 1966, in Massapequa, New York, as Stephen Andrew Baldwin. He grew up in a Catholic household with his mother, Carol, and father, Alexander, a teacher and football coach. Baldwin’s siblings included his famous actor brothers Alec, William, and Daniel, as well as his sisters Jane and Elizabeth. Baldwin was active in sports during his high school years and was a member of the varsity wrestling team.
After graduating high school, Baldwin pursued a career in acting by enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he began to train in the performing arts. This educational background laid the foundation for his future career in Hollywood, where he would later make his mark as an actor.
Career Beginnings
Baldwin made his acting debut in 1987 with an appearance on the PBS anthology series American Playhouse. Following that, he made guest appearances on the popular television sitcom Family Ties and appeared in films such as Homeboy and The Beast. Baldwin’s breakout role came in 1989 when he starred in the western TV series The Young Riders. The show ran for three seasons, and Baldwin became a recognizable face on television.
That same year, Baldwin also appeared in the films Last Exit to Brooklyn and Born on the Fourth of July, both of which helped establish his early acting credentials. Baldwin’s acting career expanded further in the 1990s as he appeared in 20 films, including Crossing the Bridge (1992), A Simple Twist of Fate (1994), Half Baked (1998), and Friends & Lovers (1999).
Baldwin’s most notable role came in 1995 when he co-starred in the Oscar-winning film The Usual Suspects. Alongside Kevin Spacey, Gabriel Byrne, and Benicio del Toro, Baldwin delivered a memorable performance that cemented his place in Hollywood. His career continued with roles in films like The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas (2000), but Baldwin began to focus more on reality television by the mid-2000s, marking the next phase of his career.
Transition to Reality TV
In 2004, Baldwin began hosting the Syfy channel’s hidden camera show Syfy. During this time, he also directed and co-produced a documentary short called Livin’ It. By 2007, Baldwin’s focus shifted to reality television, where he appeared on Ty Murray’s Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge. However, Baldwin’s time on the show was cut short when he fell from a wooden pontoon and suffered a broken shoulder blade and a cracked rib.
In 2008, Baldwin joined Celebrity Apprentice, where he came in fifth place. He would return to All-Star Celebrity Apprentice in 2013. Baldwin also produced and directed the documentary The Will to Drill in 2012. Over the next few years, Baldwin appeared in numerous religious-themed films, including I’m in Love with a Church Girl (2013), Faith of Our Fathers (2015), and The Apostle Peter: Redemption (2016).
Baldwin’s later career saw him take on roles in various made-for-television movies such as Cutaway (2000), Jesse Stone: Night Passage (2006), and Harpies (2007). He also portrayed missionary Graham Staines in the 2019 film The Least of These: The Graham Staines Story.
Financial Struggles
Despite his early success in Hollywood, Baldwin faced significant financial issues. In 2009, Baldwin’s home in Rockland County, New York, was foreclosed after he failed to pay more than $800,000 in mortgage payments. Additionally, Baldwin owed tens of thousands in state and federal taxes. Baldwin filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in July 2009, revealing that he had millions of dollars in debt.
In 2013, Baldwin was ordered to pay $300,000 in back taxes and penalties after pleading guilty to failing to file New York state income taxes for three consecutive years (2008, 2009, and 2010). This legal and financial turmoil greatly impacted Baldwin’s personal and professional life.
Religious Activism
Following the September 11th attacks in 2001, Baldwin became a born-again Christian. This spiritual transformation led him to become involved in religious activism. In 2006, Baldwin founded Breakthrough Ministry, alongside Bobby Brewer and Mario D’Ortenzio. The organization aimed to reach people through extreme sports, staging arena tours known as AsSalt Tours.
Baldwin also launched Antioch Ministry, a for-profit organization designed to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ in a culturally relevant way. The ministry aimed to reach young people and share the message of faith. In 2009, Baldwin launched Now More Than Ever, an initiative dedicated to reaching military personnel around the world.
Personal Life
Stephen Baldwin married Brazilian graphic designer Kennya Deodato on June 10, 1990. The couple had two daughters, Alaia, born in 1993, and Hailey, born in 1996. Hailey Baldwin later married pop star Justin Bieber in 2018, making Baldwin the father-in-law of the famous musician.
Baldwin’s connection to pop culture extended beyond his family, as he once got a tattoo after being dared by Miley Cyrus. The tattoo, which read “HM” for Hannah Montana, was a result of a challenge from Cyrus, who claimed that Baldwin would appear on her show if he followed through. Although Baldwin displayed the tattoo at a 2008 book signing, he never appeared on Hannah Montana.
Legal Battle with Kevin Costner
In 2010, Baldwin filed a lawsuit against actor Kevin Costner for $3.8 million over an oil-separating technology developed by Costner’s company, Costner in Nevada Corporation (CINC). Baldwin claimed that he and his business partner, Spyridon Contogouris, had an agreement with Costner to market the technology to BP following the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
According to Baldwin, Costner met with BP without him and used an $18 million down payment from BP to buy Baldwin and Contogouris out of the deal. Baldwin alleged that he and Contogouris were forced to give up $2 million of their shares just before BP paid $52 million for the technology. The case went to trial, and in June 2012, a jury ruled in favor of Kevin Costner.
Awards and Nominations
Stephen Baldwin’s acting career has earned him several awards and nominations. In 1995, Baldwin shared an Awards Circuit Community Award and a National Board of Review award with his The Usual Suspects castmates. However, Baldwin’s career also saw some humorous moments, such as receiving a Stinker Award for Worst On-Screen Hairstyle for his role in Biodome (1996).
In 2003, Baldwin received a nomination for a DVD Exclusive Award for Best Actor for his role in Slap Shot 2: Breaking the Ice. His performance in The Flyboys (2008) earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the Hoboken International Film Festival, adding to his list of career recognitions.
