Stephen Baldwin

Infobox Actor
caption = Baldwin at the 16th Annual Movie Guide Faith and Values Awards Gala, February 2008


imagesize = 150px
birthname = Stephen Andrew Baldwin
birthdate = birth date and age|1966|5|12
birthplace = Massapequa, New York
occupation = Film actor
spouse = Kennya Baldwin (1990-)
yearsactive = 1986 - present
awards = NBR Award for Best Cast
1995 "The Usual Suspects"

Stephen Andrew Baldwin (born May 12 1966) is an American actor best known for his role in the 1995 ensemble film "The Usual Suspects". Since 2001, he has become an outspoken Christian conservative, with a Christian ministry and book to his name.

Biography

Early life

Baldwin was born in Massapequa, New York, the son of Carol Newcomb (née Martineau)), a breast cancer survivor who founded the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Care Center of the University Hospital and Medical Center at Stony Brook, and Alexander Rae Baldwin, Jr., a high school history and social studies teacher and a football coach. [ [http://www.filmreference.com/film/97/Alec-Baldwin.html Alec Baldwin Biography (1958-) ] ] He is the brother of notable actors Alec, Daniel and William, sometimes collectively known as the "Baldwin brothers." Baldwin was raised in a Roman Catholic family and is of Irish, English and French descent. [ [http://www.helenheart.com/alec/article/interview89.html Helen's Alec Baldwin site-Interview, 1989 ] ] [ [http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-hometown_alec,0,6869261.story?coll=ny-lihistory-navigation Alec Baldwin - Juvenile Delinquency, The White House, Newsday - Newsday.com ] ]

Career

During his time at Berner High School, Baldwin was a successful opera singer. [ [http://www.globalbtm.com/about/troops.htm The Breakthrough Ministry - GlobalBTM.com ] ] After high school, he attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts for one year, but was not invited back. [Baldwin, "The Unusual Suspect" (2006), p.9-10] He played small roles in shows like "Kate and Allie" and "Family Ties" before landing his first feature film role, in the 1988 film "The Beast". That role led to other parts, in the 1989 films "Last Exit to Brooklyn" and "Born on the Fourth of July", as well as the television series "The Young Riders". In 1995, he landed a breakthrough role in "The Usual Suspects". Baldwin's next role was in 1996's "Bio-Dome".

In 2002, Baldwin participated in "Celebrity Mole Hawaii", the first celebrity edition of "The Mole". ABC broadcast the reality show in early 2003. Later that year he returned for "Celebrity Mole Yucatan", which ABC aired in early 2004. In 2004, he became the host of another reality show "Scare Tactics", which was broadcast on The Sci Fi Channel.

In 2004, Baldwin directed and produced "Livin' It", a film that focused on Christian athletes involved in extreme sports and evangelism, with Luis Palau's son, Kevin Palau.

In September 2006, Baldwin released a book titled "The Unusual Suspect", which details his conversion to Evangelical Christianity. In the same year he, Mario D'Ortenzio, and Bobby Brewer founded Breakthrough Ministry (see below).

In August 2007, Baldwin was back on television when CMT cast him in "Ty Murray's Celebrity Bull Riding Challenge", one of nine celebrities cast.cite web | url = http://www.registerbee.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=DRB/MGArticle/DRB_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173352327754 | title = Reality TV vet tries his hand at rodeo | author = Susan Elzey | accessdate = 2007-08-10| date = August 10 2007] In the first episode, Baldwin was injured in a bad fall from a bull, breaking his shoulder blade and cracking a rib. Under doctor's orders, he left the show in the second episode. He returned for the last episode to support the other riders.

From January-March 2008, Baldwin appeared on Donald Trump's "Celebrity Apprentice", Season 7, on NBC. He was "fired" from advancing beyond the final five out of 14 celebrities who began the season together.

Personal life

Baldwin became a born-again Christian shortly after the September 11 attacks. [ [http://www.showbuzz.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/09/05/books/main1969482.shtml Stephen Baldwin: Born Again, In His New Book, The Actor Talks About His Conversion To Christianity - The ShowBuzz ] ] [cite news | url=http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=18925 | title=Baptist Press - Actor Stephen Baldwin focused on doing 'God's will' | work=The Baptist Press | publisher=The Baptist Press | date=August 24 2004 | accessdate=2007-09-18 | quote=Baldwin said he made a covenant with God and was baptized at the evangelical church he and his wife attend in upstate New York.] Since converting, he has sought to evangelize young people through projects such as "The Breakthrough Ministry", [http://www.globalbtm.com The Breakthrough Ministry] which involves skateboarding and extreme sports, Christian rock concerts, laser light shows, and fireworks. He talks frequently about his conversion experience, and he is a conservative.

He currently resides in the village of Nyack, New York, with his wife, Kennya, and their family. In 2006, he launched a campaign to prevent an adult bookstore from opening on the outskirts of the village. [cite web | url=http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,430094,00.html| title=God Doesn't Like Pornography: Stephen Baldwin and America's Culture War | publisher=der Spiegel | date=August 4 2006 | first=Alexander | last=Osang | accessdate=2007-08-23]

" [He also made Shark in Venice (TV), a "gena" film.

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0000286|name=Stephen Baldwin
*amg name|2:3534
* [http://www.stephenbaldwin.com Stephen Baldwin's official website]
* [http://www.myspace.com/stephenbaldwin3 Stephen Baldwin @ MySpace]
* [http://www.globalbtm.com The Breakthrough Ministry - GLOBALBTM.com]
* [http://www.livinit.com Livin' It (Action Sports Ministry that Baldwin co-founded)]
* [http://www.print2webcorp.com/news/whiteplains/InTownRocklandMagazine/20060621/p91.asp Article about Baldwin's quest to close a porn store in Nyack] , from Rockland Magazine.
* [http://www.thelordslounge.com The Lord's Lounge]
* [http://www.bmxradionow.com Baldwin McCullough Radio]
* [http://www.spiegel.de/international/spiegel/0,1518,430094,00.html Stephen Baldwin and America's Culture War] An article by Alexander Osang featured in "Der Spiegel", August 4, 2006
*AOL Books [http://books.aol.com/feature/_a/interview-the-unusual-suspect/20060606175509990001 interview] on his book "The Unusual Suspect" (2006)