Scott Bairstow was raised on a farm in Steinbach, Manitoba and caught the acting bug early when he appeared on his first television show, Let's Go! at the age of 10. He enjoyed theatre while still in school but wanting to turn professional as soon as possible he moved to New York when he was just 17. Like many aspiring young actors he waited tables and did the occasional commercial until he landed the part of young Stuart Chandler, playing flashback scenes, on the daytime drama All My Children. After that he returned to Canada, finished school, and was better prepared for the big time
Kris Kristofferson and
Scott Bairstow in a poster for Two For Texas
when he landed the lead roll in the made-for-TV movie, There Was A Little Boy, staring opposite Cybil Sheppard. It wasn't long before he was signed to a 3 picture deal with Disney where he filmed White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf. From there he was castas Newt Call in Lonesome Dove: The Series which kept Scott busy for 2 years.

In 1997 Bairstow was signed to play Kyle Sullivan in Black Circle Boys. Almost immediately after he became Marty Stouffer in the very successful Disney film Wild America. For the small screen he made Killing Mr. Griffin and then he received a call saying famed actor/director Kevin Costner wanted to chat. That chat led to an offer to play the part of Luke in The Postman.

Meanwhile, US specialty channel, TNT was starting production on a Kris Kristofferson vehicle, Two For Texas. Scott got the nod to play opposite the star and ended up sharing the poster with him too. By this time there was quite a bit of buzz about the young Canadian actor, and there was more good news when Scott's agent told him producers at FOX wanted to talk to him. Scott was cast as Henry, a Yale graduate turned cyber-porn writer, in Significant Others. Then they offered him a half season stint on Party of Five where he played Ned, the girlfriend-beating college boyfriend of Julia Salinger played by fellow-Northern Star, Neve Campbell.

It's safe to say Scott makes a big impression wherever he goes. Cast in an episode of X-Files, the series' creator, Chris Carter, remembered him and offered Scott the 13 episode series Harsh Realm which was a tremendous showcase for his talent.

Source: northernstars.ca