{"id":3498,"date":"2024-09-09T10:20:12","date_gmt":"2024-09-09T14:20:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/?p=3498"},"modified":"2024-11-19T16:37:12","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T21:37:12","slug":"scott-baio-on-faith-film-and-preserving-americas-happy-days","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/latestnews\/2024\/09\/09\/scott-baio-on-faith-film-and-preserving-americas-happy-days\/","title":{"rendered":"Scott Baio on Faith, Film, and Preserving America’s ‘Happy Days’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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s_bukley \/ Shutterstock.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Scott Baio may be best known for his iconic roles in “Happy Days” and \u201cCharles in Charge\u201d but these days, the actor is using his platform to champion faith-based films like the upcoming \u201cGod\u2019s Not Dead: In God We Trust\u201d and encourage Christian voters to get involved in the political process.<\/p>\n

“God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust,\u201d the latest in the movie series starring David A.R. White, hits theaters on September 12. \u00a0Baio plays a “bit of a creepy campaign manager” for a character portrayed by veteran actor Ray Wise.<\/p>\n

“People ask, \u2018Is it hard to play a creep or a bad guy?,\u201d Baio said. \u201cIf it\u2019s written well, you have a lot of freedom, and you can improvise.”<\/p>\n

Baio’s involvement in the franchise is an extension of his own faith journey. The actor, who was raised Catholic, was baptized a few years ago and connected with White, the founder of Pure Flix, the production company behind the films.<\/p>\n

“It seemed like the right move,\u201d he said. \u201cI was raised a Catholic and then baptized a couple of years ago, and then I met David A.R. White, at church in Los Angeles, and he presented me with some stuff to do. I was appreciative.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baio’s interest in the faith-based genre goes beyond just his personal beliefs. He sees it as an opportunity to reach an underserved audience and potentially make a difference in the country he loves.<\/p>\n

“It’s an audience that’s underserved,\u201d he explained. \u201cI think now people are starting to realize that. I have a daughter, 16, and I will do anything and everything I can to give her the opportunity to grow up in the country, kind of like the one I grew up in. So, if I by doing these movies, I can help pull that off in any small way. I will do it.”<\/p>\n

Baio’s concern for the future of the country is palpable, and he’s not afraid to use his platform to encourage others to get involved in the political process. He revealed that there are an estimated 40 million Christians who don’t vote, and he’s hoping the message of “In God We Trust\u201d can help change that.<\/p>\n

“I’m sure that a large percentage of those people (who don\u2019t vote) are complaining about something in the country,\u201d he said. \u201cI don’t know what principle they’re standing on, or if they think politics is a dirty, horrible business. I don’t know what it is they are waiting for or what they’re doing, because they’re going to wake up one day and they’re not going to recognize anything about America.\u201d<\/p>\n

To that end, the movie even features a QR code in the credits that directs viewers to voter registration.<\/p>\n

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Scan this QR code to check your voter registration at Vote.org.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cI think if we can get 10% of those 40 million people at the end of the movie, there’s a QR code that you can download, and it’ll register you to vote. So, vote and save your country.\u201d<\/p>\n

The actor fondly remembers what he calls \u201can amazing time in American history\u201d when shows such as \u201cHappy Days,\u201d which propelled him into superstardom, aired. To this day, he remembers the emotions as he joined the already-popular show a few years in.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was fear, tremendous fear,\u201d he remembered. \u201cThese people have been there for three or four years, and who am I? I was welcomed, and it was off to the races.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baio\u2019s rise to stardom put him on the map, but he thankfully avoided the pitfalls that besieged many other child stars, such as addiction. He credits his parents and a desire to stay healthy for his health and longevity.<\/p>\n

\u2018I never was intrigued by anything like that,\u201d he said. \u201cI was fortunate enough to be very athletic. I had the fear of my dad. And secondly, if I was, if I was given a healthy body and an athletic body, why would I damage it? And that was, and it wasn’t even really that conscious of a thought. It didn’t even click in my head to like, \u2018Oh, this guy is doing this or that. I want to try it.\u2019 It never entered my mind. So, I was and I was always a decent, fun guy to work with. And I guess maybe that goes a long way.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGod\u2019s Not Dead: In God We Trust,\u201d starring David A. R. White, Isaiah Washington, Dean Cain, Samaire Armstrong, Ray Wise, Scott Baio, and Charlene Tilton opens in theaters Sept. 12. Watch an expanded interview with Baio below:
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