Many of us will spend our lives away from the limelight and the glitz of Hollywood. However, some individuals achieve stardom at a very young age.
A notable example is Scott Baio, who became famous at just 9 years old. He began his career in the film ‘Bugsy Malone’ alongside Frankie Valli. To secure his role in 1976, he outperformed 2,000 other candidates, ultimately portraying the young gangster.
The following year, he landed a leading role in the beloved sitcom, Happy Days, portraying Chachi Arcola, the cousin of The Fonz. Before long, he became a well-known figure in households across the country.
As his career began to flourish, his family relocated to Hollywood, providing unwavering support to the rising star. He went on to appear in several films, including Zapped!, Foxes, and Skatetown U.S.A.
Eventually, he transitioned back to television, moving from Happy Days to Charles in Charge after the former concluded.
Meanwhile, his personal life was also evolving. He married actress and stuntwoman Renee Sloan in 2007, although their relationship faced numerous challenges.
When they learned they were expecting twins, they were thrilled, but their joy was short-lived as they lost the babies at 11 weeks. They later welcomed a daughter named Bailey.
Not long after bringing Bailey home in 2007, the pediatrician reached out with concerns from the newborn screening, suggesting a rare condition known as glutaric acidemia type 1, or GA-1.
This potentially life-threatening condition led to a two-month wait for further testing. Fortunately, when Bailey was 10 weeks old, additional evaluations confirmed she did not have GA-1.
The couple chose to share their experiences, advocating for the importance of expanded newborn screening and establishing a foundation to support this cause.
In 2015, they faced another hurdle when Renee was diagnosed with meningioma brain tumors, described as “benign tumors that grow on the outer casing of the brain.” She also faced early-stage breast cancer but successfully underwent three lumpectomies.
Despite these health challenges, they remained resilient and supportive of each other during these trying times.
When Renee received her diagnosis, Scott felt a deep fear of losing her. He expressed, “It was all about our child. I would have been heartbroken for our daughter, as she means the world to us, and that would have devastated her.”
Renee shared her perspective as well, recalling, “Before we broke the news to our daughter, he rested his head on my shoulder in the kitchen and cried. Our daughter saw this and asked, ‘Mommy, why are you making Daddy cry?’
“She insisted, ‘You need to apologize. You apologize for making Daddy cry.’ So I held back my emotions and said, ‘I’m sorry, Daddy, for making you cry.’ You just have to stay strong.”
In 2017, Scott reflected again on their ongoing health challenges.
Wife was fighting breast cancer! Now what? U can see I twtd abt it that yr. ET covered it @AndreaCGWW @ProPublica pic.twitter.com/ZlMT1S40x3
— Scott Baio (@ScottBaio) June 20, 2016
Renee remained resilient for her family, even in tough times. She remarked, “I’m tough in my own way.”
Scott chimed in, adding, “She’s tough in life.”
Scott Baio has faced numerous challenges throughout his life. He has been a devoted husband, father, and friend. We wish him and his family endless joy in the years to come.
