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Simon Baker

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For other people named Simon Baker, see Simon Baker (disambiguation).

Simon Baker
Baker in February 2013
Born
Simon Lucas Baker[1]

(1969-07-30) 30 July 1969 (age 55)
Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Other names
  • Simon Denny[2]
  • Simon Denny Baker[2]
  • Simon Baker-Denny[3]
Occupations
  • Actor
  • filmmaker
  • model
Years active1992–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1998; sep. 2020)​
Children3, Stella, Claude and Harry

Simon Lucas Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor and director. He is best known for his role as Patrick Jane in the CBS drama series The Mentalist (2008–2015), for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series nomination.

Early life

Baker was born in Launceston, Tasmania. His father, Barry, was a mechanic and school caretaker, and his mother, Elizabeth, was a high school English teacher.[2][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.[2][3] His mother remarried to Tom Denny, a butcher, but Baker did not get on well with his stepfather.[2] His mother and stepfather later divorced.[1]

Baker spent part of his childhood living in the suburbs of Sydney[6][7] but he mainly grew up in the Northern Rivers coastal town of Lennox Head, New South Wales.[2] He attended high school at Ballina High School and Trinity Catholic College.[8] 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.[2]

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.[2] Before working in Hollywood, he acted in various Australian television shows such as E Street (as Sam Farrel: 1992–1993), Home and Away (as James Hudson: 1993–1994), and Heartbreak High (as Tom Summers: 1996).[9] In 1993, Baker won the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent.[2]

Baker at a ceremony to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 2013.

Baker relocated to the United States in the mid-90s.[2] In 1997, Baker appeared as Matt Reynolds in L.A. Confidential.[9]

He is known for his portrayal of Patrick Jane in the television series The Mentalist, and Nick Fallin in The Guardian.[10]

In 2010, he was earning US$350,000 per episode of The Mentalist. Shortly after, he signed a contract that delivered a payment of US$30 million for his role as Patrick Jane.[11]

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, which he also starred in, co-wrote and co-produced. The film is based on the Tim Winton novel.[9]

Honours

In June 2012, Baker was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences along with 175 other individuals.[12]

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.[13]

Personal life

On 2 October 1998, Baker married Australian actress Rebecca Rigg after five years of living together.[9] Baker told The Ellen Degeneres Show that one of their two weddings was held on the beach at Carmel.[14] They have a daughter, Stella, and two sons.[10] Baker and Rigg separated in April 2020.[15]

In July 2009, Baker told PopMatters that he was raised Catholic, but is now agnostic.[5]

In September 2024, Simon Baker settled a legal case related to a DUI charge in Australia, which had drawn media attention earlier in the year.[16]

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
TBA Klara and the Sun Josie's father Post-production

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 — Unsold 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: #1.3
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
TBA The Narrow Road to the Deep North Keith Post-production
TBA Scarpetta Benton Wesley Pre-production

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Work Result Ref.
1993 Logie Awards Most Popular New Talent E Street Won [17]
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 [18]
2002 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama The Guardian Nominated [19]
2004 Logie Awards Most Popular Overseas TV Star Nominated [20]
2005 PRISM Awards Performance in a Drama Series Storyline Nominated [21]
2009 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series The Mentalist Nominated [22]
2010 Golden Globe Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama Nominated [23]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Nominated [24]
Australian Film Institute Awards Best Actor Nominated [25]
2011 People's Choice Awards Favorite TV Crime Fighter Nominated [26]
Gotham Awards Best Ensemble Performance Margin Call Nominated [27]
2012 Independent Spirit Awards Robert Altman Award Won [28]
2015 People's Choice Awards Favorite Crime Drama TV Actor The Mentalist Nominated [29]
2017 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Trailblazer Award Honored [30]
2018 Australian Directors Guild Awards Best Direction in a Feature Film Breath Won [31]
Seattle International Film Festival Best Feature Film Nominated [32]
Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Supporting Actor Won [33]
Best Adapted Screenplay (Shared with Gerard Lee and Tim Winton) Nominated [33]
Best Direction Nominated [33]
Best Film (Shared with Mark Johnson and Jamie Hilton) Nominated [33]
2019 Australian Film Critics Association Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated [34]
Best Screenplay (Shared with Gerard Lee) Nominated [34]
Best Director Nominated [34]
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Supporting Actor Won [35]
Best Script (Shared with Gerard Lee and Tim Winton) Won [35]
Best Director Nominated [35]
Best Film (Shared with Mark Johnson and Jamie Hilton) Nominated [35]
2021 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Lead Actor in Film High Ground Nominated [36]
2022 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Supporting Actor in Film Blaze Nominated [37]
2023 Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated [38]
2024 Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards Best Lead Actor in Film Limbo Nominated [39]
Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards Best Actor Nominated [40]
Logie Awards Best Lead Actor in a Drama Boy Swallows Universe Nominated [41]

References

  1. ^ a b Curtis, Maree. "The Fabulous Baker Boy". Herald Sun.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j 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.
  3. ^ a b Tulich, Katherine (20 March 2005). "The Fabulous Baker Boy". Herald Sun.
  4. ^ 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. ^ a b 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. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ 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.
  9. ^ a b c d Purdon, Fiona (28 April 2018). "Hollywood star Simon Baker said he had no acting ambitions at first". The Courier-Mail. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  10. ^ a b "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.
  11. ^ Michael Essany (28 December 2010). "'The Mentalist' Star Simon Baker Inks New $30 Million Deal". Screen Rant. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  12. ^ "2012 new AMPAS members - Documents". Los Angeles Times. 9 June 2012. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ "Actor Simon Baker admits drinking and driving in Australia". CNA Lifestyle. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  17. ^ "35TH TV WEEK LOGIE AWARDS, 1993". TV Week. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  18. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  19. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  20. ^ "46TH TV WEEK LOGIE AWARDS, 2004". TV Week. Archived from the original on 26 January 2014. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  21. ^ Morfoot, Addie (10 March 2005). "EIC names 9th annual Prism noms". Variety. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  22. ^ "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series - 2009". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  23. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  24. ^ "The 16th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  25. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  26. ^ "Nominees & Winners". People's Choice. Archived from the original on 8 November 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  27. ^ "PAST RECIPIENTS OF 2011". Gotham Awards. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  28. ^ "WINNERS ANNOUNCED FOR 2012 FILM INDEPENDENT SPIRIT AWARDS". Film Independent. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  29. ^ "Nominees & Winners". People's Choice. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  30. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  31. ^ Keast, Jackie (10 April 2018). "2018 ADG Award nominees unveiled, with female directors dominating in children's TV drama". IF. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  32. ^ Bedell, Amanda (10 June 2018). "Eighth Grade, Won't You Be My Neighbor?, WIN TOP AWARDS AT THE 44TH SEATTLE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL". Seattle International Film Festival. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  33. ^ a b c d "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  34. ^ a b c "2019 Awards". Australian Film Critics Association. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  35. ^ a b c d "2018 Awards". Film Critics Circle of Australia. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  36. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  37. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  38. ^ "2022 Awards Nominees and Winners". Film Critics Circle of Australia. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  39. ^ "Winners & Nominees". Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  40. ^ "2023 Award Nominees & Winners". Film Critics Circle of Australia. Retrieved 13 April 2024.
  41. ^ "Logies 2024 winners list: Larry Emdur wins gold, Rebecca Gibney honoured as Boy Swallows Universe cleans up". ABC News. 18 August 2024.
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