Actor Bailey Chase has opened up about the personal decision that led him and his family to leave California and settle in North Carolina. The Homestead star says concerns about California’s proposed COVID-19 vaccine requirements for schoolchildren played a major role in the family’s decision to move away from Los Angeles.
Chase, 54, discussed the move during a recent interview with Fox News Digital. He explained that the pandemic changed how he and his wife, Amy, viewed their children’s education, family life and future. According to the actor, the situation eventually convinced them that it was time for a fresh start. The family relocated to the mountains of western North Carolina around five years ago. Since then, Chase says they have built a lifestyle that gives them more time together and allows him to focus on what matters most outside his acting career.
Why Bailey Chase Decided to Leave California
Chase said California’s pandemic-era school policies became a major concern for him and his wife. At the time, their three children were still very young, and the possibility of vaccination requirements affecting their return to school weighed heavily on the couple. In his conversation with Fox News Digital, Chase recalled that the proposed requirements became the final factor in their decision to leave California. He also pointed to school closures, cancelled children’s sports activities and the wider disruption caused by the pandemic. However, there is an important distinction regarding the policy. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced a proposed COVID-19 vaccination requirement for students in October 2021. The plan was intended to cover public and private schoolchildren, but it faced repeated delays.
The California Department of Public Health later confirmed that it would not pursue the proposed requirement for the 2022–2023 school year. In February 2023, state officials confirmed that they were no longer pursuing the school vaccination mandate. Therefore, the requirement never took effect. For Chase, however, the uncertainty surrounding the policy and the wider changes to everyday life had already influenced his family’s decision.
Bailey Chase Enjoys Family Life in North Carolina
After leaving Los Angeles, Chase and his family settled in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Amy’s hometown in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The location also has a personal connection for the actor, who attended Duke University in Durham on a football scholarship. In a January 2026 interview with Duke Alumni Magazine, Chase explained that his wife had always considered returning to the place where she grew up. Although they had not initially planned exactly when the move would happen, the pandemic eventually helped them make that decision.
The actor has since embraced a more family-focused routine. He described himself as a busy soccer dad, regularly taking his children to their activities. His oldest daughter is also passionate about ballet and was preparing for a performance of The Nutcracker. Chase shares three children with Amy: a daughter, Waverly, and twins, Maggie and Gauge. He has made it clear that spending time with them is one of his biggest priorities. As he explained in the Fox News Digital interview, acting remains important to him, but his attention shifts completely towards his family when he is not filming. For Chase, being a father is the most meaningful responsibility in his life.
Moving Away From Hollywood Came With Career Challenges
Although Chase is happy with his decision, leaving Los Angeles was not without professional consequences. The actor had spent more than two decades building his career in Hollywood, and relocating meant losing some opportunities that depended on being based in the entertainment industry. During an August appearance on the Living Local podcast, Chase acknowledged that he had missed out on certain acting roles because he was no longer living in Los Angeles.
He specifically mentioned an opportunity involving Grey’s Anatomy, explaining that production companies sometimes find it easier and less expensive to hire actors who are already based nearby. Nevertheless, the move also opened doors to different projects. Chase said he had received new opportunities, including roles in faith-based films and television productions. His experience highlights one of the challenges actors can face when choosing to live outside major entertainment centres. While a move can improve family life, it may also require professional adjustments.
Faith and Family Have Become Bigger Priorities for the Actor
Another important part of Chase’s life in North Carolina has been reconnecting with his Christian faith. He has previously spoken about feeling disconnected from religion during his years in Los Angeles. In a January interview with Crosswalk, the actor discussed returning to church after settling in North Carolina. He also shared that his family had become involved in church activities, with his daughters enjoying their youth group. Chase has also reflected on how his priorities changed after leaving the Hollywood lifestyle behind. In a 2024 Instagram post, he considered whether spending more time pursuing his faith, rather than professional success, could have made a difference in his life. These personal changes have also influenced the entertainment projects he chooses. Chase has expressed pride in being part of productions that highlight faith, family, community and personal responsibility.
Bailey Chase Returns for Season 2 of Homestead
Despite building a life away from Hollywood, Chase continues to work in television and film. He currently plays former Green Beret Jeff Eriksson in Homestead: The Series, a post-apocalyptic drama available through Angel Studios. The series follows a group of survivors who seek safety inside a fortified compound in the Rocky Mountains after a nuclear attack throws the country into chaos. Chase’s character takes responsibility for security while facing the challenges of protecting his family and the wider community.
The story began with the 2024 feature film Homestead, followed by the television series. According to Angel Studios, the series continues the film’s storyline and is available on its streaming platform. Season 2 is scheduled to premiere on November 3, 2026, with new episodes planned for weekly release. Chase’s return to the series marks another major project in a career that has continued despite his decision to live outside Los Angeles. His experience reflects a clear shift in priorities. Rather than making Hollywood the centre of his everyday life, Chase appears focused on maintaining a balance between his professional commitments, his faith and raising his children in North Carolina.
