Born in Newark, New Jersey, he went on to have a lengthy career in theater and television, perhaps his best known role being Dr. Russ Matthews on the long-running daytime soap Another World (1973–1981, 1989, 1992).

On November 25, 2004, Bailey drowned in the pool at his home in Los Angeles, California.

His grave is located in Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery.

[3] At the time of his death he had been playing Alistair Crane on the daytime soap Passions for less than three months,[1] to great fan and critical praise.

[4] The following year, Bailey's son Xander had a small role on Passions as Edmund,[5] a man who dated Alistair's granddaughter, Fancy.