When it came time to find a captain to lead an all-new cast of intrepid space explorers, Enterprise went where no other Star Trek had gone before: to an established TV star with instant name recognition around the globe. The previous captains had earned reputations in theatre or as guest stars prior to their Trek experience, but this is the first time one stepped into the role with an already substantial fan base, along with a slate of Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe award.

Scott Bakula was still best known for his portrayal of Dr. Sam Beckett in Quantum Leap (which ran from 1989-1993) when he was approached to headline the Star Trek prequel. The idea of being the "first" captain to lead mankind to strange new worlds in deep space appealed to him. "I was a huge fan of the original Star Trek, and I'd never even dreamed that I would someday be a captain of a starship," he said in a STARTREK.COM chat. Then when he read the pilot script and met creators Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, he knew he had found a new home, and his decision to be Captain Jonathan Archer was "a no-brainer."

"What's great about having Scott Bakula in the role is that, you kind of feel like you already know him," Braga said at a convention in 2001 (related story). "He's got a friendly presence, he's down-to-earth, and that's how we see Captain Archer. He's a more accessible captain — he's one of the guys." Bakula was their first and only choice for the part, it turns out.

Bakula definitely brought a certain clout and panache to the series, but he also brought a great sense of esteem and morale to the set. The entire crew would talk warmly about how Scott added a personal touch by paying attention to each member of the production team, not to mention visitors to the set. He was great at making everyone feel like part of the family.

Some of that down-to-earth quality must come from his upbringing in the Midwest — St. Louis, Missouri, to be exact — before he moved to New York in 1976 to pursue a career on the stage. He used his athleticism and his love of baseball to land the role of Joe DiMaggio for his Broadway debut in "Marilyn: An American Fable." In 1988 he earned a Tony nomination for his starring role in the musical "Romance-Romance."

Since entering the Hollywood arena, Bakula has received high praise for his work in both TV and films, such as the Best Picture Academy Award winner "American Beauty" and his recurring role in Murphy Brown. His singing prowess has also afforded him some special opportunities. He has sung on the Kennedy Center Honors, at Carnegie Hall, at the Hollywood Bowl as a special guest of Carol Burnett, and in the animated musical "Cats Don't Dance."

Of course, it was Quantum Leap that made him a star and earned him legions of fans before Star Trek ever got its hands on him. Out of five seasons of that sci-fi show (the first one was very short), Bakula received an Emmy nomination four times, in the category Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He never brought home an Emmy, but he did win the equivalent Golden Globe award in 1992. He has won five "Q Awards" from the Viewers for Quality Television, four for Leap and one for Murphy Brown. During the run of Enterprise, Bakula was nominated twice for the Saturn Award by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films.

Since Enterprise left the air, Bakula has enjoyed his family life, raising his kids and coaching their soccer teams. But an actor of his caliber doesn't stay away from work for very long. Last August (2006) he delighted fans in Las Vegas by making his first appearance ever at a Star Trek convention, and he also surprised us with a new look — he had grown his hair long for the Civil War-era musical "Shenandoah" in Washington D.C. at Ford's Theatre (where President Lincoln was shot), and then kept it long for a two-episode guest stint on The New Adventures of Old Christine. But he's back to his more conventional look at the moment. We recently saw him on Comedy Central's American Body Shop playing a one-legged drunken Scott Bakula lookalike (related story). Earlier this year he was also in a Lifetime original movie called "Nora Roberts' Blue Smoke," and was on stage in L.A. for a musical called "No Strings." In addition, he has lent his voice, once again as Captain Archer, to the "Star Trek: Legacy" computer game released last year, along with the other four Trek captains. There have been rumors of a Quantum Leap revival movie, but he denied that in Vegas last year, saying there's been no talk about it that involves him. We'll see.

At this moment Scott is engaged in a stage production called "A Quality of Life" in Los Angeles, taking place at the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, adjacent to UCLA. No doubt this part draws upon his Missouri upbringing, as he plays a character from the Midwest whose conservative Christian views — shared with his wife, played by JoBeth Williams — clash with those of their liberal cousins (related story). "The Quality of Life" has been playing in previews for a week, and officially opens tomorrow evening. It will run through November 18. Visit GeffenPlayhouse.com for more (roll over "Plays" in the upper menu, then click on "The Quality of Life").

Scott is slated to return to Washington D.C. in January to headline a cabaret show to raise funds for the renovation of Ford's Theatre. "A Cabaret Evening With Scott Bakula and Friends" will take place January 17 and 18, 2008, at the Shakespeare Theatre's Harman Center for the Arts. Keep an eye on ProjectQuantumLeap.com for updates.

STARTREK.COM wishes Scott Bakula a very Happy Birthday on October 9, and many thanks for all of his work, talent and devotion. We look forward to seeing much more of him, wherever he shows up!

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