Stephen Baldwin on leaving Hollywood to focus on faith: ‘Jesus fascinated me’

By Carla Feric, Press Association Entertainment Reporter

US actor Stephen Baldwin said he “left Hollywood” at the height of his fame to focus on his faith as a born-again Christian, adding: “Jesus and the holy spirit fascinated me.”

Baldwin, 60, is the youngest member of the all-star Baldwin family and enjoyed massive success in the 1990s after starring in hit films such as Bio-Dome and The Usual Suspects.

Baldwin stepped away from the spotlight in the early 2000s as his priorities shifted and he wanted to focus on his religion.

“I probably could have pointed myself in the direction of becoming a big star, but that wasn’t me,” he told People magazine.

“I didn’t want to be Tom Cruise and have to make 100 million at the box office.”

He said that after the birth of his first daughter Alaia, his housekeeper prophesied that he and his wife Kennya would become born-again Christians.

He told the publication: “My wife tells me, ‘I just spoke to (the housekeeper), and she said the real reason she’s here is because God spoke to her.

“‘She said in the future you and I will become born-again Christians and have our own ministry’.”

Baldwin recalled thinking the idea was “so absurd” but admitted he later felt “a calling” towards a skateboarding youth outreach while attending an evangelical festival – inspiring his Christian film Livin’ It.

He said: “In the first six months we’d distributed 10,000 copies.

“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.

“So that’s when I left Hollywood.”

Baldwin said his evangelistic work led him to tour 125 churches over four years and added: “Jesus and the holy spirit fascinated me.”

I’ve done 100 movies, I’ve made more money that I could have wildly imagined, and I’m married to the hottest chick I’ve ever seen in my life. Jesus is my rock. My wife is my anchor. I’ve had the most amazing life and I’m only 60. I’m so blessedStephen Baldwin

He said he believed Hollywood “thought I act a little too weird” and was no longer interested in fame the way he once was.

He said: “I’ve done 100 movies, I’ve made more money that I could have wildly imagined, and I’m married to the hottest chick I’ve ever seen in my life.

“Jesus is my rock. My wife is my anchor. I’ve had the most amazing life and I’m only 60. I’m so blessed.

“I’m just waiting for more doors to open that I’m supposed to walk through.”

Baldwin is the brother of 30 Rock star Alec Baldwin, and actors Daniel and William.

He tied the knot with his wife Kennya in 1990, a year after he decided to get sober, and they have two children together.

Their youngest daughter, Hailey Bieber, is married to popstar Justin Bieber and they had their first child, Jack Blues Bieber, in 2024.