Scott Bakula of 'NCIS: New Orleans' Biggest Family Life Regret

“NCIS: New Orleans” star Scott Bakula regretted not spending much time with his daughter during her formative years because of his busy schedule as an actor.

In an interview with PEOPLE, Bakula admitted that he was “hardly ever home for four and a half seasons” after booking the lead role in NBC’s time-traveling series “Quantum Leap.”

The actor shares daughter Chelsy and son Cody with ex-wife Krista Neumann. Bakula and Neumann ended their marriage in 1995.

“It took me a long time to work out my feelings about our relationship,” he said, adding that his biggest regret is not being around enough to see Chelsy through her formative years.

A SECOND SHOT AT FAMILY-CAREER HARMONY

With her second marriage, Bakula said he sees to it that his family is at the top of his priorities. When he signed on the headline “Star Trek: Enterprise” in 2001, he had it put in his contract that he would be done every Wednesday at 6 p.m. so he could be home for dinner.

The actor shares two sons with his second wife, actress Chelsea Field.

“I made time to coach my sons’ soccer and baseball teams,” said Bakula, who flies from New Orleans to spend weekends with Field and their sons.

“It takes energy and focus,” he said. “We work hard to stay present in the relationship. Chelsea is amazingly present and has taught me a lot about relationships and spirituality. I feel incredibly lucky to have the career and family I do.”

THE DOWNSIDE OF FAME

Apart from the difficulty of juggling show business and family, another downside to fame is dealing with fanatics.

Bakula was once harassed by a woman previously convicted of threatening actor Michael J Fox.

In 1996, Bakula and Field started receiving unsigned letters in the mail from Tina Marie Ledbetter. The letters were filled with threats

One letter read: "Please announce on nationwide TV that you are NOT divorcing Krista and Chelsea is NOT pregnant with your baby! How can you betray your fans! Do NOT divorce Krista! You 2 belong together. You are a match made in heaven.”