Bairstow first appeared on television at the age of 10, in a show called Let's Go!. He moved to New York City when he was 17 and landed a part on the soap opera All My Children playing "Stuart Chandler" in flashback scenes to the character's youth. He had the lead role opposite Cybill Shepherd in the television movie There Was a Little Boy (1993) and has also appeared opposite such well-known actors as Kevin Costner in The Postman (1997) and Kris Kristofferson in Two for Texas (1998).
In addition to his role on Party of Five, and The X-Files Episode: Miracle Man (1994), Bairstow has also starred as the lead character, Newt Call, in both Lonesome Dove: The Series and 'Lonesome Dove: The Outlaw Years, as well as the lead in Chris Carter's short-lived series, Harsh Realm.
Bairstow was married to Marty Rich from 1994 to 2000, and has two sons, Casey William (1995) and Dalton (1998).
In May 2003, Bairstow was charged in Everett, Washington with second degree child rape for allegedly having had sex with a 12-year-old girl, who is related to Bairstow's ex-wife, and later asking her to keep quiet about it. In December 2003, he pleaded guilty to a lesser charge -- second degree assault. Bairstow entered an Alford plea, under which he maintained his innocence but conceded that he would likely be convicted by a jury if the case went to trial. He was sentenced to four months in jail, one year community supervision, and was required to undergo a sexual deviancy evaluation. He was also ordered to have no contact with the girl for 10 years and to pay for any counseling she requires.
