The Sunshine Kids Foundation is a foundation that is dedicated to providing positive group activities and emotional support for young children with cancer throughout North America.

“Twenty-three years ago, my 12-year-old goddaughter was diagnosed with a rare form of Leukemia. She came into contact with this organization, and it totally changed her outlook with how she dealt with her disease. Through her, I met the founder and I’ve been involved with it ever since,” Bailey said.

By 2005, Bailey’s professional work spanned just over 30 years, when he landed the role of Detective Lt. Provenza in a new, prime-time cable T.V. series called The Closer, which was to star Kyra Sedgwick. Bailey chuckles as he begins to speak of his character, whom he describes as ruggedly handsome, slightly-over-middle-aged, charming, loving and caring man.

“Now, others don’t see him that way,” Bailey laughed, “but that’s how I see him, and probably how he sees himself.”

Provenza’s relationship with Sedgwick’s Brenda was one of extreme distaste and disdain in the beginning, describes Bailey.

“She was an outsider, he didn’t like working for a woman, and he particularly didn’t like working for a Southern woman and he didn’t like working for a really pushy woman and she was all of those things,” Bailey said. “But by the end of the first season, when Brenda was in great jeopardy of losing her job, it was Provenza who came up with the plan to help save her job.”

As the show progressed, so too has the relationship of Provenza and Brenda, which according to Bailey now mirrors that of an old uncle and a niece who find that they work better together than apart.

“But it’s real confusing who’s taken who under who’s wing,” Bailey says.

The Closer is the first time the two actors have worked with each other.

“And she’s one of the most favorite actors I’ve ever worked with,” Bailey confessed. “Both professionally and as a person, we’ve become very fond of each other and I think it shows on screen as well. She, and actually the entire cast, have been enormous contributors of spirit, time, and care to the Sunshine Kids.”

After three seasons of unprecedented success, The Closer has emerged as one of the highest rated cable T.V. series of all-time, setting records for viewers with 10-million tuning in for last season’s finale.

The series, dubbed “groundbreaking” by industry professionals, is set to return for its fourth season at 8 p.m. Monday, July 14 on TNT.

Of the show, Bailey says fans will see more of their characters’ real lives as extended family, friends and crisis’ are introduced, and the on-the-job troubles for Provenza are far from over.

“Oh, the fifth episode of the upcoming season is like the story of Job for Provenza,” Bailey laughs. “Every time he turns around he’s got new problems.”

Bailey, who will be 64 in August, credits the cast for their appeal to the large viewing audience they’ve attained, and says though success was envisioned for the show, he never expected it to be as broad as it has become.