Simon Baker
Australian actor and director (born 1969)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Simon Lucas Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor and director. He appeared on the Australian soap opera E Street (1992–1993). In 1997 he had a supporting role as Matt Reynolds in L.A. Confidential (1997). This role marked his American film debut and a pivotal turning point in his career, successfully establishing his presence in the international film industry.
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30 July 1969
- Australia
- United States
- Actor
- filmmaker
- model
Simon Baker | |
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Baker in February 2020 | |
| Born | Simon Lucas Baker 30 July 1969 Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Other names | |
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| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1992–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 3, including Stella |
He starred in the CBS legal drama The Guardian (2001–2004), for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama in 2002. He played Patrick Jane in the 2008-2015 Drama-thriller series The Mentalist, earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2009. Baker has also appeared in several films, including, Restaurant (1998), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), and Margin Call (2011).
Early life
Simon Lucas Baker[3] was born on 30 July 1969 in Launceston, Tasmania. His father, Barry, was a mechanic and school caretaker, and his mother, Elizabeth, was a high-school English teacher.[1][4] He has an older sister, two half-brothers and a half-sister.[5] Baker's family moved to New Guinea when Baker was nine months old. His parents' marriage ended when he was two, and his father did not get in touch until Baker was an adult.[1][2] His mother remarried to Tom Denny, a butcher, but Baker did not get on well with his stepfather.[6][1] His mother and stepfather later divorced.[3]
Baker spent part of his childhood living in the suburbs of Sydney,[7][8] but he mainly grew up in the Northern Rivers coastal town of Lennox Head, New South Wales.[1] He attended high school at Ballina High School and Trinity Catholic College.[9] Baker has been an avid surfer since his youth, and he considers surfing and the relationships with his surfing friends an important part of his upbringing.[1]
Career
Baker's first acting role was in a commercial. He got the role while waiting for a friend to audition when he himself was asked to audition for it.[1] From 1992 until its cancellation in 1993, Baker played Constable Sam Farrell in E Street.[10] The role earned him the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent award in 1993.[1][10] After E Street, Baker received several job offers and he accepted a guest role in A Country Practice as mechanic Stewart Waterman, who comes into conflict with his father Jack (played by Frankie J. Holden).[10] He also filmed an appearance in G.P..[11] In November 1993, he joined the cast of Home and Away for eight weeks as James Hudson, a teacher and love interest for Roxy Miller (Lisa Lackey).[11] He also appeared in Heartbreak High as Tom Summers in 1996.[12]
Baker relocated to the United States in the mid-1990s.[1] In 1997, he appeared in a supporting role in L.A. Confidential.[12]
Baker is known for his portrayal of Patrick Jane in the television series The Mentalist co-starring with Robin Tunney. In 2010, he was earning US$350,000 per episode of the show. Shortly afterwards, he signed a new contract that delivered a payment of US$30 million for his role of the title character.[13]
He portrayed Nick Fallin in The Guardian.[14]
In film, he is known for his roles as Max Rourke in the remake of the Japanese horror film The Ring Two, Riley Denbo in Land of the Dead, and Christian Thompson in the film adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada.
Baker made his directorial debut with the 2017 film Breath. He also co-wrote, co-produced and starred in the film. It is based on the Tim Winton novel.[12]
In 2026, Baker won the Logie Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for his performance in the 2025 television miniseries The Narrow Road to the Deep North.[15]
Honours
In June 2012, Baker was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences along with 175 other individuals.[16]
On 14 February 2013, Baker was honoured with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contribution to the entertainment industry. Baker's star can be found at 6352 Hollywood Blvd.[17]
Personal life
Baker married Australian actress Rebecca Rigg on 2 October 1998, after five years of living together.[12] Baker told The Ellen Degeneres Show that one of their two weddings was held on the beach at Carmel-by-the-Sea, California.[18] They have a daughter, Stella, and two sons.[14] Baker and Rigg separated in April 2020.[19]
Baker was raised Catholic, but became agnostic.[5]
Baker follows the rugby league club the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League.[20]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Matt Reynolds | |
| Most Wanted | Stephen Barnes | ||
| 1998 | Restaurant | Kenny | |
| Judas Kiss | Junior Armstrong | ||
| Love from Ground Zero | Eric | ||
| 1999 | Ride with the Devil | George Clyde | |
| 2000 | Sunset Strip | Michael Scott | |
| Red Planet | Chip Pettengill | ||
| 2001 | The Affair of the Necklace | Rétaux de Villette | |
| 2004 | Book of Love | David Walker | |
| 2005 | The Ring Two | Max Rourke | |
| Land of the Dead | Riley Denbo | ||
| 2006 | Something New | Brian Kelly | |
| The Devil Wears Prada | Christian Thompson | ||
| 2007 | Sex and Death 101 | Roderick Blank | |
| The Key to Reserva | Roger Thornberry | Short film | |
| 2009 | The Lodger | Malcolm Slaight | |
| Not Forgotten | Jack Bishop | ||
| Women in Trouble | Travis McPherson | ||
| 2010 | The Killer Inside Me | Howard Hendricks | |
| 2011 | Margin Call | Jared Cohen | |
| 2013 | I Give It a Year | Guy Harrap | |
| 2017 | Breath | Bill 'Sando' Sanderson | Also director, co-producer and co-writer |
| 2018 | Here and Now | Nick | |
| 2020 | High Ground | Travis | Also executive producer |
| 2022 | Blaze | Luke | |
| 2023 | Limbo | Travis Hurley | Also executive producer |
| 2026 | Klara and the Sun | Paul | Post-production (scenes deleted)[21] |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | Shades of Love: Midnight Magic | N/a | Television film |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt | Party Guest | Episode: "Only Sin Deep" |
| 1992–1993 | E Street | Constable Sam Farrell | 112 episodes |
| 1993 | A Country Practice | Stewart Waterman | 2 episodes |
| GP | Ben Miller | Episode: "A Family Affair" | |
| 1993–1994 | Home and Away | James Hudson | 19 episodes |
| 1994 | Which Way to the War | Private Stan Hawke | Television pilot |
| 1995 | Naked | N/a | Television pilot |
| 1995–1996 | Heartbreak High | Mr. Thomas 'Tom' Summers | 8 episodes |
| 1996 | Naked: Stories of Men | Gabriel | Episode: "Blind-Side Breakaway" |
| Sweat | Paul Steadman | Episode: "Episode 3" | |
| 1999 | Secret Men's Business | Andy Greville | Television film |
| 2001–2004 | The Guardian | Nick Fallin | 67 episodes; also director |
| 2006 | Smith | Jeff Breen | 7 episodes |
| 2008–2015 | The Mentalist | Patrick Jane | 151 episodes; also director and producer |
| 2022 | Roar | Adam | Episode: "The Woman Who Ate Photographs" |
| 2024 | Boy Swallows Universe | Robert Bell | 7 episodes |
| 2025 | The Narrow Road to the Deep North | Keith Mulvaney | 4 episodes |
| Ten Pound Poms | Sidney Skinner | Episode: "Episode 2" | |
| 2026 | Scarpetta | Benton Wesley | 8 episodes |
| TBA | Lioness | N/a | Director and producer |