New York [US], August 5: Stephen Baldwin was once expected to become a major Hollywood star after his impressive performance in the horror film The Usual Suspects (1995). However, in 2001, the actor unexpectedly stepped away from the spotlight to dedicate his life to religion and missionary work, Page Six reported on August 3.
Choose faith over Hollywood glamour.
Now 60 years old, Stephen Baldwin says he became a devout Christian in 2001. Since then, he has dedicated much of his time to missionary work and youth support programs. "Jesus and the Holy Spirit have captivated me immensely," Stephen Baldwin shared with People .
Before leaving Hollywood, Stephen Baldwin appeared in several projects such as Bio-Dome and The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas . However, after 16 years in the entertainment industry, he decided to completely change his life after his family's housekeeper told him about a premonition that both Stephen Baldwin and his wife, Kennya Baldwin, would become Christians.
Stephen Baldwin stated that he could absolutely continue his career to become a Hollywood A-list star: "I could absolutely aim to become a big star. But that's not who I am. I don't want to be Tom Cruise and have to make $100 million at the box office." Referring to his hometown of Massapequa on Long Island (New York, USA), he humorously shared: "I'd rather be a normal guy from Massapequa. That's enough for me."
During a missionary festival in Fort Lauderdale, Stephen Baldwin said he was particularly impressed by the missionary group for skateboarders. Later, he starred in the film * Livin It* , which depicted skateboarders sharing their faith and relationship with religion. He recounted that after the film's release, a major church contacted him to inquire about the cost of inviting the skateboarders from the film to meet with their parishioners. "That's when I left Hollywood," Stephen Baldwin shared.
Stephen Baldwin married Kennya Baldwin in 1990. They have two daughters, Hailey Bieber (29 years old) and Alaia Baldwin (33 years old).
In July 2024, Hailey Bieber spoke for the first time about her relationship with her family in an interview with W Magazine : "I'm not as close to my family at this stage of my life because I feel very independent. I'm now an individual and have built my own family."
Hailey Bieber's statement came shortly after Stephen Baldwin publicly urged his Instagram followers to pray for his daughter's marriage to Justin Bieber. "Christian believers, if you are thinking of Justin and Hailey, please take a moment to pray for them to have wisdom, protection, and grow closer to God," he wrote.
Also that month, Hailey Bieber's sister, Alaia Baldwin, was arrested on charges of assault, battery, and trespassing.
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper
