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Simon Baker

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Simon Baker
Baker in February 2020
Baker in February 2020
Born Simon Lucas Baker
30 July 1969
Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Other names Simon Denny[1]
Simon Denny Baker[1]
Simon Baker-Denny[2]
Citizenship Australia
United States
Occupations Actor
filmmaker
model
Years active 1992–present
Spouse Rebecca Rigg
(m. 1998; sep. 2020)
Children 3, including Stella

Simon Lucas Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor and director. He first gained prominence on the Australian soap opera E Street (1992–1993). Baker achieved his Hollywood breakthrough in 1997 with 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. 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. His breakthrough role came as 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.[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 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 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 Lionness Director and producer

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
1993 Logie Awards Most Popular New Talent E Street Won [22]
2000 Australian Film Institute Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini-Series Secret Men's Business Nominated [23]
2002 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama The Guardian Nominated [24]
2004 Logie Awards Most Popular Overseas TV Star Nominated [25]
2005 PRISM Awards Performance in a Drama Series Storyline Nominated [26]
2009 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Mentalist Nominated [27]
2010 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama Nominated [28]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Nominated [29]
Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actor Nominated [30]
2011 People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Crime Fighter Nominated [31]
Gotham Awards Best Ensemble Performance Margin Call Nominated [32]
2012 Independent Spirit Awards Robert Altman Award Won [33]
2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Crime Drama TV Actor The Mentalist Nominated [34]
2017 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Trailblazer Award Honored [35]
2018 Australian Directors Guild Awards Best Direction in a Feature Film Breath Won [36]
Seattle International Film Festival Best Feature Film Nominated [37]
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Supporting Actor Won [38]
Best Adapted Screenplay (Shared with Gerard Lee and Tim Winton) Nominated [38]
Best Direction Nominated [38]
Best Film (Shared with Mark Johnson and Jamie Hilton) Nominated [38]
2019 Australian Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated [39]
Best Screenplay (Shared with Gerard Lee) Nominated [39]
Best Director Nominated [39]
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Supporting Actor Won [40]
Best Script (Shared with Gerard Lee and Tim Winton) Won [40]
Best Director Nominated [40]
Best Film (Shared with Mark Johnson and Jamie Hilton) Nominated [40]
2021 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Lead Actor in Film High Ground Nominated [41]
2022 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Supporting Actor in Film Blaze Nominated [42]
2023 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated [43]
2024 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Lead Actor in Film Limbo Nominated [44]
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Actor Nominated [45]
Logie Awards Best Lead Actor in a Drama Boy Swallows Universe Nominated [46]
Asian Academy Creative Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role Won [47]
2025 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Nominated [48]
2026 Logie Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Drama The Narrow Road to the Deep North Won [15]

References

  1. Back to citation occurrence 1.00 Back to citation occurrence 1.01 Back to citation occurrence 1.02 Back to citation occurrence 1.03 Back to citation occurrence 1.04 Back to citation occurrence 1.05 Back to citation occurrence 1.06 Back to citation occurrence 1.07 Back to citation occurrence 1.08 Back to citation occurrence 1.09 Hooton, Amanda (2 July 2015). "Beach boy Simon Baker's biggest role yet". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  2. Back to citation occurrence 2.0 Back to citation occurrence 2.1 Tulich, Katherine (20 March 2005). "The Fabulous Baker Boy". Herald Sun.
  3. Back to citation occurrence 3.0 Back to citation occurrence 3.1 Curtis, Maree. "The Fabulous Baker Boy". Herald Sun.
  4. Back to citation Delaney, Brigid (20 June 2022). "'I didn't know he was my dad': Simon Baker shares his remarkable family story". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  5. Back to citation occurrence 5.0 Back to citation occurrence 5.1 Lee, Luaine (22 July 2009). "Simon ('The Mentalist') Baker snapped back just at the right time". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 6 December 2013. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  6. Back to citation CBS News (6 May 2012). Simon Baker, more than "The Mentalist". Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via YouTube.
  7. Back to citation Thorp, Charles (1 June 2018). "How Simon Baker's Lifetime of Surfing Helped Him Make New Surf Movie 'Breath'". Men's Journal. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  8. Back to citation Grady, Pam (13 June 2018). "'Breath' a labor of love for 'Mentalist' star Simon Baker". Datebook. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  9. Back to citation Broome, Hamish (11 May 2016). "Famous people who call the Northern Rivers home". Northern Star. Archived from the original on 31 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  10. Back to citation occurrence 10.0 Back to citation occurrence 10.1 Back to citation occurrence 10.2 Stanley, Di (24 April 1993). "Simon switches soaps!". TV Week. pp. 8–9.
  11. Back to citation occurrence 11.0 Back to citation occurrence 11.1 Stanley, Di (6 November 1993). "Roxy romance!". TV Week. pp. 10–11.
  12. Back to citation occurrence 12.0 Back to citation occurrence 12.1 Back to citation occurrence 12.2 Back to citation occurrence 12.3 Purdon, Fiona (28 April 2018). "Hollywood star Simon Baker said he had no acting ambitions at first". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  13. Back to citation Michael Essany (28 December 2010). "'The Mentalist' Star Simon Baker Inks New $30 Million Deal". Screen Rant. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  14. Back to citation occurrence 14.0 Back to citation occurrence 14.1 "The Mentalist star Simon Baker on wife Rebecca Rigg and the children in Los Angeles". The Daily Telegraph. London. 12 April 2011. Archived from the original on 24 October 2021. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
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  17. Back to citation Lombardi, Ken (14 February 2013). "Simon Baker receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". CBS News. Archived from the original on 18 October 2018. Retrieved 24 October 2021.
  18. Back to citation Simon Baker, Ellen DeGeneres (12 October 2010). Simon Baker Shares His Wedding Stories. YouTube. Archived from the original on 12 December 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  19. Back to citation Henderson, Cydney (29 January 2021). "'The Mentalist' star Simon Baker, wife Rebecca Rigg split after 29 years of marriage". USA Today. Archived from the original on 30 January 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
  20. Back to citation Vella, Joanne (6 May 2019). "The Mentalist Star Simon Baker at Parramatta Eels v St George Dragons Match". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney, Australia. Retrieved 4 August 2025.
  21. Back to citation Lee, Sophie (8 April 2026). "Simon Baker on How Reading an Anthropologist's Account of Taking Peyote Changed His Life Forever". Cultured. Retrieved 15 April 2026.
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