Scott Baio Reveals How Life Became ‘Trickier’ After His Life-Changing Role on ‘Happy Days’

Scott Baio, who joined the cast of Happy Days as Chachi in 1977, has been famous since he was 16. But unlike a lot of actors who taste success early, Scott has kept working. In addition to the spinoff Joanie Loves Chachi, he’s starred on Charles in Charge and Diagnosis: Murder, appeared as a guest star on The Nanny and Arrested Development, and was a director on the TV series Out of This World.

His latest project is the film God’s Not Dead: In God We Trust, bowing in theaters September 12 in association with Great American Pure Flix and Fathom. In it, this longtime TV sweetheart plays a not-so-nice guy.

“I had some pretty good banter with Samaire [Armstrong], kind of making fun of her and teasing her,” Scott, 63, tells Closer. “If the dialogue is good and if you can cop a little bit of an attitude, then you can play a creep pretty easily.”

Tell us about the movie.

SB: It’s part of the God’s Not Dead series of films. It’s about a pastor who runs for Congress and another politician who doesn’t believe in religion. It talks about how a lot of Christians don’t vote and they should.

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That sounds very topical right now!

SB: I agree. It’s an important movie for the country. Hopefully a lot of people will enjoy it.

You’ve been acting for practically your whole life. How did you get started?

SB: I started in commercials when I was 9, then I went to read for a movie called Bugsy Malone when I was about 13. I was cast in that, and that was pretty much it. The great [Happy Days creator] Garry Marshall saw me and brought me to Hollywood.

You were 16 when you started on Happy Days. How did that change your life?

SB: It changed everything. It made me very, very, very famous. I was seen weekly by 35 to 40 million people. It was a time in this country where there were just three networks. There were times when I couldn’t leave my house or people followed me. Going places became trickier. People were always wonderful to me though.

Can you share a favorite Happy Days memory?

SB: During a show in front of an audience, I would go offstage, just far enough to where the cameras couldn’t see me, and I would shoot spitballs at Henry [Winkler]. Once, I covered the back of his leather jacket with spitballs. But in the next scene that he wasn’t in but I was, he was whacking me in the back with a piece of wood. There was a curtain between me and backstage. He destroyed me!

Sounds like a very silly set.

SB: It was great! Ron [Howard] was great, Erin [Moran] and I were very close — God rest her soul. Happy Days was an amazing experience, Charles in Charge — great experience, Diagnosis: Murder — great experience. Everything I have worked on has been nothing but fun.

You and Erin, who played Joanie, worked together a lot. Can you share a favorite memory?

SB: My favorite memory is the first episode where we go on a date. I go to her house because she was babysitting. The whole thing became a disaster because the children were sick upstairs and I sat on the box of candy I was going to give her. It was just one of those episodes where every single thing worked. She and I just had fantastic chemistry. Offstage she and I hung out a lot, we went to movies, we dated, and she drove me around because she got her license before me. She was just a sweet, sweet lady.

Why do you think your career has thrived while so many people who found early success haven’t continued at that level? 

SB: I don’t know. Maybe one of the reasons is that I was always easy to work with. There was no drama. I just went to work, had fun, made jokes and had a good time. I never did drugs, I never drank, I never got in trouble, I never did anything that would be a problem for anybody.

What is your proudest career achievement so far?

SB: I’m proudest that I have worked a long time. Lasting this long has been an achievement.

You’ve been married to your wife, Renee, since 2007. What’s your secret for a happy marriage?

SB: I listen to my wife at all times! — I’m making a joke. The secret to a happy marriage is just giving the other person space. I’ll be honest with you, I can be a little selfish. I think it’s to do with being an actor my whole life. But my wife catches me on it and tells me where it’s at in a nice way. She’s a Tennessee girl, and she does listen to everything I say, which is unfortunate because it doesn’t give me any wiggle room for not listening to what she says. But I’m a good dad, and I’m a pretty good husband.

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Does your daughter have any aspirations of following in your acting footsteps? 

SB: She was in a couple of episodes of a series I did called See Dad Run on Nick at Nite. We did a movie together called Courting Mom and Dad. It was a faith-based film during COVID, and she had a ball. But I tried to steer her away from the entertainment business. She’s a golfer, and she goes to a sports academy here in Florida. She’s a very, very talented golfer. I don’t recommend show business for young people. My job right now in life is to make sure my daughter gets on the LPGA Tour.

What kind of a dad are you?

SB: I can be strict, but I’m with [Bailey] a lot, and I feel so lucky to be with her a lot. She’s a great, faithful, Christian young lady, and I couldn’t be more proud of her. I guess I’m a pretty cool dad. I’ll be 64 in September, but I don’t act it. I’m still running around with her doing the things I need to do.

What have you learned from being a dad?

SB: My daughter has taught me patience, which I had little of. She taught me a different kind of love from my wife. One day, I said to her, “Bailey, when it comes to you, 95 percent of the time I’m just guessing. I don’t know what the right move is. Sometimes I get it right, but a lot of times I get it wrong.” That to me was one of the biggest life lessons my daughter taught me. Even in life, you guess a lot.