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Where Is the Original Cast of Quantum Leap Now?
They've been very busy.
Season 2 of the new Quantum Leap premiered on NBC earlier this fall, answering many questions even as it asked new ones. With the return of the hit reboot, many fans are taking a nostalgic look back at the original Quantum Leap, which was once an American favorite.
The original series won a whopping six Emmys during its five-season, 97 episode run from 1989 to 1993, and was both critically acclaimed and mega-popular among viewers. Now, the time travel story has been brought back to life by a whole new cast, including Raymond Lee and Caitlin Bassett.
But what happened to the original stars who skyrocketed the show to popularity nearly 30 years ago? Here's everything you need to know about the main characters and their careers after Quantum Leap.
Who was in the original Quantum Leap cast?
The main stars of the original series were Scott Bakula, who played Dr. Sam Beckett, and Dean Stockwell, who played Admiral Al Calavicci. The two were catapulted into their long mission when Dr. Beckett's experiment accidentally sent his consciousness back through time, ultimately inhabiting the body of a new character each episode.
RELATED: Where to Watch NBC's Quantum Leap Season 2
Deborah Pratt played Ziggy, the charming supercomputer Dr. Beckett created to facilitate his time-travel project
What is Scott Bakula doing now?
Bakula had already established himself as an actor before joining the cast of Quantum Leap, appearing in several Broadway shows and television series — including titular lawyer, Barnett M. "Bud" Lutz, Jr., in the sitcom Eisenhower & Lutz.
When Quantum Leap ended, Bakula was snapped up for a recurring role in Murphy Brown, playing reporter Peter Hunt who became romantically involved with Murphy.
Bakula later joined the cast of Star Trek: Enterprise in 2001 as Captain Jonathan Archer, an invaluable Starfleet leader, and continued in the role for an impressive 97-episode run.
Bakula also appeared in NCIS and then starred in NCIS: New Orleans from 2014 to 2021, portraying the investigator Dwayne Pride. He's also made guest appearances on hit shows like The Simpsons (playing himself, in 2019) and What We Do In The Shadows (also as himself, in 2021).
Is Scott Bakula in the new Quantum Leap?
The new Quantum Leap series is currently airing its second season, and Bakula has yet to appear in the revived version of the show, which premiered on NBC in fall of 2022.
However, the reboot is strongly tied to its original roots. Bakula's Sam Beckett is frequently mentioned on the series, and in the official canon timeline, Beckett remains lost in time - and there remains hope he could still be saved and return home to the present day. Though Bakula hasn't returned, the series does feature one original actor from the original series: Susan Diol, who reprises the role of Beth Calavicci from the original series.
The new version of the show features a new team of scientists, led by Dr. Ben Song (Raymond Lee), who restarted Dr. Beckett's project in the hopes of discovering what had happened over 30 years prior.
RELATED: How They Created The New Quantum Leap Headquarters in NBC Revival
What happened to Dean Stockwell after Quantum Leap?
Actor Dean Stockwell landed the role of Al after a long career as an actor; he got his start as a child. He even starred alongside Hollywood heavy-hitters like Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly.
After the show, Stockwell appeared in several notable projects, including Battlestar Galactica, where he portrayed John Cavil for 15 episodes. He made a one-episode appearance on NCIS: New Orleans as Tom Hamilton in 2014, reuniting with his old cast mate, Bakula.
Stockwell passed away in November 2021 at the age of 85.
Where is Deborah Pratt now?
Pratt first reprised the role of Ziggy in the 2009 Independent fan-film Quantum Leap: A Leap to Di For.
Currently, Pratt serves as an Executive Producer for the new Quantum Leap and made a special appearance as Ziggy in Season 1, Episode 1 ("July 13th, 1985"). The production side wasn't entirely new to Pratt: She had also been a co-producer for Season 1 of the original Quantum Leap in 1989 and worked her way up to being a co-executive producer in Season 5.
Before returning to the time-travel franchise, Pratt directed Season 16, Episode 21 of Grey's Anatomy ("Put on a Happy Face"). She's received five Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination and has published several acclaimed sci-fi novels.
Originally published Sep 14, 2022.
