Simon Baker
| Simon Baker | |
|---|---|
 Baker in Paris at the French premiere of I Give It a Year, April 2013 |
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| Born | Simon Baker 30 July 1969 Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Other names | Simon Denny Simon Baker Denny |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Height | 5 feet 10 inches (1.78 m) |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca Rigg (1998–present; 3 children) |
Simon Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor and director. In his television acting career, he is best known for his lead role in the CBS television series The Mentalist as Patrick Jane and as Nicholas Fallin in The Guardian.
In his film acting career, he is best known for the lead role of Riley Denbo in Land of the Dead and Christian Thompson in the film adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, based on the 2003 novel of the same name.
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Early life [edit]
Simon Baker was born to a high-school English teacher, Elizabeth Labberton, and a groundskeeper/mechanic, Barry Baker, on 30 July 1969, in Launceston, Tasmania. He was raised as a Roman Catholic.[1] His parents divorced while he was still young. His mother later married Tom Denny, a butcher. Simon Baker also has a sister, currently a doctor in Australia, and three younger half brothers. By 1972, they had moved from Launceston to Ballina, New South Wales, hoping to secure better paying jobs. In 1986, he graduated from Ballina High School as Simon Baker-Denny, after completing his primary school education at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School, also in Ballina.
Acting career [edit]
Baker began acting on Australian television during the late 1980s using the name "Simon Denny". He first appeared in music video clips for Melissa Tkautz ("Read My Lips") and Australian dance outfit Euphoria ("Love You Right") in 1991 before appearing in the successful series E Street, Home and Away and Heartbreak High. As "Simon Baker Denny" he was a co-star of the David Croft/Jeremy Lloyd sitcom pilot, Which Way to the War, which was not developed into a series.
In 1995, he was in an episode of the Australian television (ABC TV) series Naked (episode title: Blindside Breakaway) in the role of a rugby player. His character was an easy going mummy's boy until he met a girl who challenged his safe existence. He called the role "physically demanding" due to the fact most of the extras were actual rugby players.[2] At the time he referred to this role as an important opportunity as well as being "the best job I've had in my life". He went on to say it was going to be hard afterwards to want to do anything offered.[2]
He relocated to the United States, where he was cast in a small part in L.A. Confidential, which led to further opportunities in supporting roles in films. In 1998 he starred in a small, independent film by filmmaker Stephen Grynberg titled "Love from Ground Zero", and in 1999 appeared in Ang Lee's Ride with the Devil. In 2000, he played Michael Scott in Adam Collis's Sunset Strip. He also played an astronaut in Red Planet with Val Kilmer, Carrie-Anne Moss and Benjamin Bratt. He played the male lead in the television series The Guardian for three seasons beginning in 2001, and also appeared in The Affair of the Necklace. He played a distressed husband in 2004's Book of Love. In 2005, he starred as an altruistic hero in George A. Romero's Land of the Dead.
In 2006, he played Brian Kelly in the film Something New, writer Christian Thompson in The Devil Wears Prada, and had a leading role as Jeff in the short-lived television series Smith. In 2007, he was cast as Roderick Blank in Sex and Death 101.
In 2008, Baker received the lead role of Patrick Jane, a consultant to the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in CBS's The Mentalist. In 2009, Baker was nominated for an Emmy Award for The Mentalist. In late 2009, Baker was also nominated for his second Golden Globe Award (for The Mentalist) and his first SAG Award for his work. He played Howard Hendricks in The Killer Inside Me, which starred Casey Affleck, Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba and Bill Pullman.[3]
In February 2013, Baker was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the entertainment industry. Baker's star can be found at 6352 Hollywood Blvd.[4]
Other activities [edit]
On 6 June 2010, he played in a charity soccer match for The Rest of The World team versus England on ITV's Soccer Aid 2010,[5] coming on as a substitute in the second half. The match went to a penalty shootout; Baker took a penalty which was saved by England celebrity goalkeeper, Jamie Theakston. The Rest of the World went on to win the shoot out and the match for the first time since the tournament started.
On 13 June 2012, Swiss watchmaker Longines introduced Simon Baker as its new Ambassador of Elegance.
Personal life [edit]
In 1998, Baker married Australian actress Rebecca Rigg after five years of living together.[6] They have three children: Stella Breeze (born 8 August 1993), Claude Blue (born 1999), and Harry Friday (born 19 September 2001). Fellow Australian, actress Nicole Kidman, is godmother to Harry while actress Naomi Watts is godmother to Claude.[7] Baker and his family resided in Malibu, California,[8] before moving back to Sydney; they then returned to Los Angeles so Simon could appear on Smith, and later on The Mentalist.[6] He also owns property in Australia, near Byron Bay.[9]
In January 2009, Baker told Parade Magazine that he and his wife were interested in becoming American citizens.[7] Baker has been a dual U.S./Australian citizen since 2010.[10]
Baker and his sons are fans of the Parramatta Eels in the Australian NRL.[11] His name first appeared in Who's Who in Australia in 2011.[12]
Filmography [edit]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Matt Reynolds | credited as Simon Baker Denny |
| 1997 | Most Wanted | Stephen Barnes | credited as Simon Baker Denny |
| 1998 | Restaurant | Kenny | |
| 1998 | Judas Kiss | Junior Armstrong | credited as Simon Baker-Denny |
| 1998 | Love from Ground Zero | Eric | |
| 1999 | Ride with the Devil | George Clyde | |
| 2000 | Sunset Strip | Michael Scott | |
| 2000 | 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 | |
| 2005 | Land of the Dead | Riley | |
| 2006 | Something New | Brian Kelly | |
| 2006 | The Devil Wears Prada | Christian Thompson | |
| 2007 | Sex and Death 101 | Roderick Blank | |
| 2007 | The Key to Reserva | Roger Thornberry | Short film |
| 2009 | The Lodger | Malcolm Slaight | |
| 2009 | Not Forgotten | Jack Bishop | |
| 2009 | Women in Trouble | Travis McPherson | |
| 2010 | The Killer Inside Me | Howard Hendricks | |
| 2011 | Margin Call | Jared Cohen | |
| 2013 | I Give It a Year | Guy |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Shades of Love: Midnight Magic | CHCH-TV Television film | |
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt | Uncredited extra | Episode: "Only Skin Deep" |
| 1992–93 | E Street | Constable Sam Farrell | Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent |
| 1993 | GP | Ben Miller | Episode- "A Family Affair" |
| 1994 | Which Way to the War | Pvt Stan Hawke | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1994 | Home and Away | James Healy | |
| 1995 | Naked | ||
| 1995–96 | Heartbreak High | Mr. Thomas 'Tom' Summers | Season 3: Episodes 80–89 |
| 1996 | Naked: Stories of Men | Gabriel | Episode: "Blind-Side Breakaway" |
| 1996 | Sweat | Paul Steadman | Season 1: Episode 3 |
| 1999 | Secret Men's Business | Andy Greville | |
| 2001–2004 | The Guardian | Nick Fallin |
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| 2006–2007 | Smith | Jeff Breen | Main Role |
| 2008–present | The Mentalist | Patrick Jane |
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Awards and nominations [edit]
Australian Film Institute Awards
- 2000: Nominated, "Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini-Series" – Secret Men's Business
- 2009: Won with complete cast "Best new series" – The Mentalist season 1
- 2009: Nominated, "Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series" – The Mentalist season 1
Family Television Awards
- 2002: Won, "Best Actor" – The Guardian
- 2002: Nominated, "Best Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Television Series" – The Guardian
- 2009: Nominated, "Best Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Television Series" – The Mentalist season 2
- 2010: Nominated, "Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series" – The Mentalist season 2
- 1993: Won, "Most Popular New Talent" – E Street
- 2004: Nominated, "Most Popular Overseas Star"
- 2005: Nominated, "Best Performance in a Drama Series Storyline" – The Guardian
References [edit]
- ^ Murray, Rebecca. "Simon Baker Talks About "Something New"". About.com. Retrieved 22 June 2010. "I was raised a Catholic..."
- ^ a b TV Week magazine, 22 July 1995, pp 64–65. "A trying role" by Di Stanley.
- ^ The Killer Inside Me: Theatrical Trailer and One-Sheet Debut
- ^ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57569501/simon-baker-receives-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame/ | CBS News - Simon Baker receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- ^ Soccer Aid – Rest of the World team ITV Entertainment
- ^ a b "The Mentalist star Simon Baker on wife Rebecca Rigg and the children in Los Angeles". Daily Telegraph. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ a b Brady, James (1 January 2009). "In Step With Simon Baker". Parade.com. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ^ "Simon Baker:Actor". People.com. 13 May 2002. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ "Simon Baker's $1.5 million coastal hideaway". Adelaide Now. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ^ "Turning up the charm back home"
- ^ Walter, Brad (19 July 2010). "Even psychic couldn't predict this comeback". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ^ "Who's Who pack now boasts Siddle, Hamish and Andy and the Masterchef judges". heraldsun.com.au. 9 December 2010.
External links [edit]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Simon Baker |
- Simon Baker at AllRovi
- Simon Baker at the Internet Movie Database
- Simon Baker at TVGuide.com
- Simon Baker Australian Film Commission
- Simon Baker interview The Guardian Femail Magazine
- Simon Baker The Guardian The Age
- Simon Baker interview Land of the Dead Femail Magazine
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- 1969 births
- Australian emigrants to the United States
- Australian film actors
- Australian television actors
- Australian television directors
- People educated at the National Institute of Dramatic Art
- Living people
- People from Launceston, Tasmania
- People from New South Wales
- American film actors
- American television actors
- American television directors
- Naturalized citizens of the United States
- American male actors
