Scott Stewart Bakula was born on October 9, 1954, in St. Louis, Missouri, to Sally (Zumwinkel) and J. Stewart Bakula, a lawyer. He is of mixed ancestry, boasting German, Czech, Austrian, Scottish, and English heritage.
Growing up in a musical family, Bakula began his musical pursuits in the fourth grade, when he formed a rock band and wrote songs for them. Later, he even sang with the renowned St. Louis Symphony.
Initially, Bakula pursued a career in law, studying at the University of Kansas until his sophomore year, when he decided to leave and focus on acting instead.
In 1976, he landed his first professional role as Sam in the musical "Shenandoah," which led him to relocate to New York. Following several small television roles, he gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Dr. Sam Beckett in the science fiction series "Quantum Leap" (1989).
Throughout his career, Bakula has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series - Drama in 1992 for "Quantum Leap" (1989). He was also nominated for a Tony Award in 1988.
In addition to his work on "Quantum Leap," Bakula starred in the prequel series "Star Trek: Enterprise" (2001),playing the role of Captain Jonathan Archer, the commander of Earth's first long-range starship.
Today, Bakula resides in Los Angeles, California, and maintains a farm in upstate New York.
