Scott Vincent Baio was born on September 22, 1960, in the Bay Ridge neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, to Italian immigrant parents, Rose and Mario Baio. He was the third child in his family and developed an interest in acting at a young age.

His breakthrough came in 1976 when he was cast as the lead in the musical film "Bugsy Malone," beating out thousands of other child actors. He gained widespread recognition for his role as Chachi Arcola, Fonzie’s cousin, on the popular television sitcom "Happy Days," which he played from 1977 to 1984.

This role made him a teen idol during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Baio also starred in the spin-off "Joanie Loves Chachi" from 1982 to 1983. Following this, he led the sitcom "Charles in Charge" from 1984 to 1990, where he played a college student hired as a live-in babysitter.

Throughout the 1990s and beyond, he maintained a steady acting career with roles in the medical mystery series "Diagnosis: Murder" and guest appearances on shows such as "Arrested Development," "Full House," and "Touched by an Angel."

He also ventured behind the camera, directing episodes of TV shows including "The Wayans Bros." and "Unhappily Ever After." Baio has been a recognizable figure on television and continued working into the 2010s with notable roles such as in the Nickelodeon sitcom "See Dad Run."

His personal life has also been the subject of media attention, including his VH1 reality series about his dating life.

Scott Baio married Peaches Renee Sloan in 2007, and they have one daughter together. He and his wife founded the Bailey Baio Angel Foundation, supporting children with metabolic disorders after their daughter was misdiagnosed with such a condition at birth.