Scott Bakula Net Worth

What is Scott Bakula's Net Worth and Salary?

Scott Bakula is an accomplished American actor with a net worth of $16 million. He is best known for his prominent roles in the science-fiction TV series 'Quantum Leap' and 'Star Trek: Enterprise.' Bakula also starred in TNT's 'Men of a Certain Age' and had recurring roles in NBC's 'Chuck' and HBO's 'Looking.' He has been playing the leading special agent in CBS's 'NCIS: New Orleans' since 2014.

Early Life and Career Beginnings

Born in 1954 in St. Louis, Missouri, Scott Bakula is the son of Sally and Joseph Bakula. With partial Czech ancestry, Scott has two younger siblings. He attended Jefferson College and later the University of Kansas but left to join the national tour of the musical 'Godspell.'

In 1976, Bakula moved to New York City, debuting on Broadway in 'Marilyn: An American Fable,' where he portrayed baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. He gained significant attention in the off-Broadway production 'Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down.' After participating in 'Nightclub Confidential,' the production moved to Los Angeles, and Bakula relocated there with his wife.

Television Career and Quantum Leap

Upon moving to LA, Bakula was cast in two short-lived sitcoms: ABC's 'Gung Ho' and CBS's 'Eisenhower & Lutz.' He also made appearances in 'Designing Women' and 'Matlock.' Bakula's significant breakthrough came in 1989 with 'Quantum Leap' on NBC, where he portrayed Dr. Sam Beckett. The role earned him four Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe Award, solidifying his position in television history.

Continued Success on TV

Bakula continued to shine in various TV series and movies. In 1993, he starred in 'Mercy Mission: The Rescue of Flight 771' and appeared in 13 episodes of 'Murphy Brown.' He also starred in 'Nowhere to Hide' with Rosanna Arquette and featured in 'The Invaders,' 'Mr. & Mrs. Smith,' and 'NetForce.' In the early 2000s, he took the lead role of Captain Jonathan Archer in 'Star Trek: Enterprise.'

Bakula's versatile acting led him to projects like 'The New Adventures of Old Christine,' 'Boston Legal,' 'Chuck,' 'Desperate Housewives,' and Steven Soderbergh's 'Behind the Candelabra.' He starred in 'Men of a Certain Age' alongside Ray Romano and had a recurring role in the LGBT-themed 'Looking' on HBO. In 2014, he was cast as Special Agent Dwayne Pride in 'NCIS: New Orleans.'

Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Film Career

Bakula debuted on the big screen in Carl Reiner's 1990 black comedy 'Sibling Rivalry.' He went on to star in 'Necessary Roughness,' 'A Passion to Kill,' 'Lord of Illusions,' and 'Major League: Back to the Minors.' In 1999, he played a minor part in the Oscar-winning 'American Beauty.' His film career spanned into the 2000s and 2010s, featuring in 'Life as a House,' 'The Informant!,' 'Enter the Dangerous Mind,' 'Elsa & Fred,' and 'Basmati Blues.'

Further Stage Roles

Despite his success in film and TV, Bakula continued his passion for theater. He starred in the original off-Broadway production 'Romance/Romance,' earning a Tony Award nomination. In 2006, he starred in 'Shenandoah' and performed a special one-night show at Ford's Theater in 2008. His other notable stage credits include 'Dancing in the Dark' and 'No Strings.'

Personal Life

Bakula married Krista Neumann in 1981, and the couple had two children before divorcing in 1995. He later married actress Chelsea Field in 1999, with whom he has two children. To prioritize his family, Bakula had specific clauses added to his contracts during 'Star Trek: Enterprise' and ensured he returned home every weekend during 'NCIS: New Orleans.'