Stephen Baldwin ditched Hollywood at the start of his success after becoming a born-again Christian in the early 2000s.
The actor reflected on stepping out of the spotlight shortly after starring in the Oscar-winning 1995 thriller, “The Usual Suspects,” despite heading in the “direction of becoming a big star.”
“But that wasn’t me,” he told People in an interview published Sunday. “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, [New York].”
Stephen, 60, explained how he shifted his focus on religion after his and his wife Kennya Baldwin’s housekeeper prophesied that they would “become born-again Christians and have [their] own ministry.”
The “Bio-Dome” star admitted he was initially skeptical, saying it wasn’t until the early 2000s when he attended several church events, including a skateboarding ministry event in Florida, with his sister Beth Baldwin, who was a “born-again Christian,” that his perspective changed.
“Down on the beach, they had built a skate park on the sand with plywood,” he told the outlet. “And these funky, super committed, cool, tattooed, pierced skateboarders were there.”
“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,” Stephen continued,
It was then that the “Threesome” star “felt a calling” to work on a skateboarding video featuring punk-rock Christian music and an evangelical message now known as “Livin It.”
The actor immediately found success, distributing 10,000 copies within six months.
“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,” Stephen recalled.
The “Threesome” star shared how he toured with the skate group and “went to 125 churches over four years,” saying, “Jesus and the holy spirit fascinated me.”
Stephen has starred and produced several Christian-themed projects throughout the years, telling the outlet, “My commitment to the Lord now is simple.”
“I said, ‘Lord, give me the platform and, and the resources to tell, to tell stories about you like John Hughes,’” he continued, referring to the filmmaker responsible for “The Breakfast Club,” “Sixteen Candles” and “Pretty in Pink.”
He’s also the host of the “One Bad Movie” podcast, where he invites fellow actors to chat about the worst movies they’ve been a part of.
“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,” Stephen gushed. “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 open that I’m supposed to walk through.”
Stephen and Kennya tied the knot in 1990 and later welcomed daughters, Alaia Baldwin, now 33, and Hailey Bieber, now 30.
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