You’ve seen the face. It’s a mix of that distinct Baldwin jawline and a sort of weathered, Hollywood-meets-evangelist energy. If you’ve ever wondered who is Hailey Bieber’s father, the answer is Stephen Baldwin.
He's the youngest of the four famous Baldwin brothers. Alec is the biggest star, obviously. Then you've got Billy and Daniel. Stephen? He was the "wild child" who eventually took a very different path than his siblings.
Honestly, the relationship between Hailey and her dad is a bit of a rollercoaster. It’s not your typical "happy Hollywood family" story. It’s complicated. It’s spiritual. Sometimes, it’s even a little awkward on social media.
The Career That Started It All
Stephen Baldwin didn't just appear out of thin air when Hailey became a supermodel. Back in the '90s, he was a legitimate "it" guy.
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He played Michael McManus in The Usual Suspects. That’s a classic. He was also in Bio-Dome with Pauly Shore, which, let’s be real, is a total cult favorite even if critics hated it. He had this gritty, rebellious vibe that worked.
But things shifted.
After the September 11 attacks, Stephen had a massive religious awakening. He became a born-again Christian. This wasn’t just a "Sunday church" kind of thing; it became his whole personality. He started making faith-based films and documentaries. He even claimed that his outspoken beliefs made him a bit of an outcast in mainstream Hollywood.
The Weird Way Hailey Met Justin
Here is a fun fact: Stephen is actually the reason Hailey and Justin Bieber met in the first place.
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There’s this old, grainy video from 2009. They’re backstage at The Today Show. Stephen, looking very much like a "cool dad," introduces a 12-year-old Hailey to a young, bowl-cut-era Justin.
"My name's Steve Baldwin," he says. "This is my daughter Hailey."
She looks totally unimpressed. She has her arms crossed. It’s the ultimate "teenager embarrassed by her dad" moment. Fast forward nearly a decade, and he’s walking her down the aisle at a courthouse in New York, and then again at a massive South Carolina wedding.
Financial Troubles and Tax Issues
It hasn't all been red carpets and private jets. Stephen has been very open—sometimes maybe too open—about his struggles.
In 2009, the same year Hailey met Justin, Stephen filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He owed millions in taxes and mortgage payments. He even spent time in court over unpaid New York state income taxes back in 2013, eventually reaching a deal to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars to avoid jail time.
It’s a sharp contrast to Hailey’s current life. She’s built a billion-dollar skincare empire with Rhode. Her husband is one of the biggest pop stars on the planet.
While her dad was struggling with the IRS, Hailey was figuring out how to navigate the world as an independent woman. She’s admitted in interviews that she isn't "super close" with her family right now. She’s focused on the family she built with Justin and their son, Jack Blues Bieber.
The Social Media Drama
If you follow Stephen on Instagram, you know things can get... intense.
In early 2024, he posted a video asking for prayers for Hailey and Justin. People lost their minds. Was there a divorce coming? Was someone sick?
Hailey was reportedly not happy about it. She prefers to keep her private life private, while Stephen is more of a "wear your heart (and your prayers) on your sleeve" kind of guy. It created this weird public tension where the world was watching a father-daughter disagreement play out through cryptic captions and "likes."
Why the Baldwin Name Still Matters
Despite the distance, you can’t strip away the Baldwin legacy.
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- The Brazilian Connection: Hailey’s mom, Kennya Deodato Baldwin, is Brazilian. Stephen met her on a subway in New York in the late '80s. This is why Hailey is so proud of her heritage.
- The Uncle Factor: Having Alec Baldwin as an uncle means you're never truly out of the spotlight.
- The Grandfather: Kennya’s father (Hailey’s grandpa) is Eumir Deodato, a legendary Grammy-winning Brazilian musician.
Stephen might be the "controversial" one in the family tree, but he’s the one who gave Hailey her start. He kept her relatively grounded in suburban New York, away from the Hollywood "scene," until she was old enough to handle it herself.
What You Can Do Next
If you’re interested in the Baldwin family dynamic, the best thing to do is look at Hailey’s older interviews in Vogue or W Magazine. She talks a lot about the transition from being "Stephen's daughter" to being "Hailey." It gives a lot of context to why she chose to drop the Baldwin name and fully embrace being a Bieber. You can also check out Stephen's older filmography like 8 Seconds to see the acting talent that runs in the family before the religious pivot changed his career trajectory forever.