Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Scott Bakula
How Scott Bakula built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
Scott Bakula is a prominent American actor known for his leading roles in several successful television series. He gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap, earning multiple Emmy and Golden Globe nominations. Bakula further solidified his place in popular culture as Captain Jonathan Archer in Star Trek: Enterprise. More recently, he starred as Special Agent Dwayne Cassius "King" Pride in NCIS: New Orleans from 2014 to 2021, adding another significant role to his extensive television career.
1976: Moved to NYC
In 1976, Scott Bakula moved to New York City to pursue his acting career.
1977: Professional Debut in Shenandoah
In 1977, Scott Bakula made his professional debut in the national tour of the musical Shenandoah.
1982: Broadway Debut
In 1982, Scott Bakula made his Broadway debut as an understudy in the musical "Is There Life After High School?"
1985: Off-Broadway Performance
In 1985, Scott Bakula received a Drama Desk Award nomination for his performance in the Off-Broadway production of Three Guys Naked from the Waist Down.
1986: Move to Los Angeles
In 1986, Scott Bakula moved to Los Angeles and appeared in a Disney Sunday Night ABC movie. He then joined the TV sitcom Designing Women, marking a significant turn in his career.
May 1, 1988: Romance/Romance on Broadway
On May 1, 1988, Scott Bakula returned to New York to star in Romance/Romance on Broadway, which ran until January 15, 1989.
January 15, 1989: End of Romance/Romance
On January 15, 1989, Scott Bakula's show, Romance/Romance on Broadway ended its run.
1993: Quantum Leap Ended
In 1993, Quantum Leap, the science fiction television series starring Scott Bakula as Dr. Sam Beckett, concluded.
1993: Murphy Brown Role
In 1993, Scott Bakula began playing Peter Hunt, a reporter and love interest on the sitcom Murphy Brown.
1996: Mr. & Mrs. Smith
In 1996, Scott Bakula played the titular Mr. Smith in the TV show Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
1997: Cats Don't Dance
In 1997, Scott Bakula voiced Danny Cat in the animated film Cats Don't Dance.
1998: Major League: Back to the Minors
In 1998, Scott Bakula played Gus Cantrell in Major League: Back to the Minors.
1999: American Beauty Film Role
In 1999, Scott Bakula played Jim Olmeyer in the film American Beauty.
2000: Bakula Recalls
In 2000, Scott Bakula recalled the events of how his agent helped him move to California to pursue his career. This involved his show, Nightclub Confidential, moving to Los Angeles, and landing a role on Designing Women.
2005: End of Star Trek: Enterprise
In 2005, Scott Bakula concluded his role as Jonathan Archer on Star Trek: Enterprise.
2006: Shenandoah at Ford's Theatre
In 2006, Scott Bakula starred in the musical Shenandoah at Ford's Theatre, reprising a role he first played in 1976.
January 18, 2008: Evening with Scott Bakula
On January 18, 2008, Scott Bakula performed songs from his career in An Evening with Scott Bakula at Sidney Harman Hall as a benefit for Ford's Theater.
February 12, 2008: Boston Legal Appearance
On February 12, 2008, Scott Bakula appeared as Atty. Jack Ross in an episode of Boston Legal, "Glow in the Dark", on ABC.
April 2009: Chuck Recurring Role
In April 2009, Scott Bakula began a recurring role on the television series Chuck as Stephen J. Bartowski.
August 2, 2009: Guys and Dolls Performance
On August 2, 2009, Scott Bakula starred as Nathan Detroit in three performances of Guys and Dolls at the Hollywood Bowl.
December 2009: Men of a Certain Age
Beginning in December 2009, Scott Bakula began appearing as Terry in TNT's Men of a Certain Age.
2010: Quantum Leap Film Announced
At Comic Con 2010, Scott Bakula announced that a script for a Quantum Leap film was being worked on, and while he would be in the movie, he would not have the main role.
September 2011: Terrible Advice Performance
In September 2011, Scott Bakula starred in Terrible Advice by Saul Rubinek at the Menier Chocolate Factory.
2011: Source Code Cameo
In 2011, Scott Bakula performed a voice cameo in the film Source Code, using his catchphrase of "Oh, boy." as a nod to his Quantum Leap character.
May 2012: Desperate Housewives Guest Star
In May 2012, Scott Bakula guest-starred in the last five episodes of Desperate Housewives as Bree Van de Kamp's lawyer.
April 2013: Two and a Half Men Appearance
In April 2013, Scott Bakula made a guest appearance on Two and a Half Men.
August 2013: Looking Recurring Role
In August 2013, it was announced that Scott Bakula would have a recurring role in HBO's new series Looking.
February 2014: Cast in NCIS: New Orleans
In February 2014, Scott Bakula was cast as the lead in a backdoor pilot for the NCIS spin-off series, NCIS: New Orleans.
2014: Joined NCIS: New Orleans
In 2014, Scott Bakula began portraying Special Agent Dwayne Cassius "King" Pride on NCIS: New Orleans, a role he would continue until 2021.
2014: Starring in Looking
In 2014, Scott Bakula started playing the role of entrepreneur Lynn on the HBO show Looking.
2015: End of Looking Role
In 2015, Scott Bakula concluded his role as entrepreneur Lynn on the HBO show Looking.
2016: Brothers Take New Orleans Judge
In 2016, Scott Bakula appeared as a guest judge on the HGTV show Brothers Take New Orleans.
2021: Departure from NCIS: New Orleans
In 2021, Scott Bakula concluded his role as Special Agent Dwayne Cassius "King" Pride on NCIS: New Orleans.
October 2023: The Connector Announcement
In October 2023, it was announced that Scott Bakula would return to the New York stage in the world premiere of The Connector.
January 12, 2024: The Connector Performance
On January 12, 2024, The Connector, starring Scott Bakula, was performed at the MCC Theater.
August 2024: Man of La Mancha Role
In August 2024, Scott Bakula played the title role in a production of Man of La Mancha in Peterborough, New Hampshire.
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