A lot goes around before, after and in between lights, camera and action. The world packed with all things glam and fame, though, looks tempting, but is often satiating enough for many. Therefore, a lot of the time, celebrities at the peak of their career leave their fame and position in Hollywood for good. One such celebrity, who bid adios to Hollywood for good at a point where his career brought him both fame and fortune, is Stephen Baldwin. Hollywood star and Alec Baldwin’s brother, Stephen, in a recent interview shared what prompted him to exit the industry.
Stephen Baldwin says he didn’t want to be Tom Cruise
Stephen Baldwin became a household name with his impressive work in the field. In 1995, his crime thriller ‘The Usual Suspects’ added to his Hollywood success. The actor was on the path to reach further heights. “I probably could have pointed myself in the direction of becoming a big star,” Baldwin told PEOPLE. The success of ‘The Usual Suspects’ opened doors for him, but Baldwin felt that wasn’t him. “I didn’t want to be Tom Cruise, and have to make $100 million at the box office. I’d rather be a schmuck from Massapequa!” he said, adding, “I’m good at that!”Baldwin did see his fair share of flops as well; however, according to him, his reason to drive away from mainstream Hollywood was not the debacle of projects, but something else entirely.
Stephen Baldwin reveals the real reason behind his Hollywood exit
In 2001, Stephen Baldwin embraced born-again Christianity and spent the following decades focused on ministry, particularly a skateboarding youth outreach. His faith carved a different path for him, and it all began after he welcomed home his daughter Alaia.Narrating how things changed, he shared, “After the birth of our daughter Alaia, my wife hired a woman named Augusta from Brazil to come over and live and work with us and help out.” Augusta only spoke to his wife Kennya, who is also Brazilian. One of the conversations that deepened Baldwin’s faith was when Augusta told Kennya, “I think it’s funny you believe I’m here to clean your house.”Stephen recalled, “My wife tells me, ‘I just spoke to Augusta, and she said the real reason she’s here is that God spoke to her, and she said in the future you and I will become born-again Christians and have our own ministry.’”Though Baldwin had his scepticism at first, things changed later. After their daughter Hailey was born, the family moved back to New York, and he attended an evangelical event in Syracuse with his sister Beth (a born-again Christian).Recalling the festival, he shared, “Down on the beach, they had built a skate park on the sand with plywood. And these funky, super committed, cool, tattooed, pierced skateboarders were there, and they’d skate, stop, pick up a microphone and start preaching evangelistically, and like 5,000 kids would be around watching because of their interest in the skateboarders.”“I felt a calling,” confessed Stephen. He soon started working in the new direction. “Jesus and the holy spirit fascinated me,” he added.
Stephen Baldwin says he has no regrets about leaving mainstream Hollywood
Now 60, Baldwin enjoys producing Christian films and working on his podcast One Bad Movie, centred around the guest’s (actor’s) worst movie or experience.“My commitment to the Lord now is simple. I said, ‘Lord, give me the platform and the resources to tell, to tell stories about you like John Hughes,’” he said, highlighting his producing goals.He says he no longer craves mainstream fame the way he once did. “I’ve done 100 movies, I’ve made more money than I could have wildly imagined, and I’m married to the hottest chick I’ve ever seen in my life,” he said before concluding. “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.”With this, Stephen Baldwin highlighted that he doesn’t regret his big movie of quitting mainstream movies.