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| Simon Baker | |
|---|---|
| Name | Simon Baker |
| Caption | Baker at the 2012 Cannes Film Festival. |
| Birth name | Simon Baker |
| Birth date | 30 July 1969 |
| Birth place | Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Occupation | Actor, director, producer |
| Yearsactive | 1987–present |
| Spouse | Rebecca Rigg, 1998 |
Simon Baker. An Australian actor, director, and producer, internationally recognized for his leading roles in American television and film. He gained widespread fame for portraying the title character in the CBS psychological drama series The Mentalist, a role for which he received a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama nomination. His career spans notable films such as L.A. Confidential, The Devil Wears Prada, and Land of the Dead, alongside his earlier work in Australian television.
Born in Launceston, Tasmania, he is the son of Elizabeth Labberton and Barry Baker. His family moved to Ballina, New South Wales, where he spent much of his youth. He attended Ballina High School before relocating to Sydney in his late teens to pursue acting. His early professional training was gained through various roles in Australian television commercials and guest spots on series, laying the foundation for his future career in the entertainment industry.
His early career was built in Australia, with significant roles on popular series such as E Street and Home and Away. His breakthrough in American cinema came with a supporting role in the critically acclaimed Curtis Hanson film L.A. Confidential. He subsequently starred in a mix of studio and independent films, including Red Planet, The Ring, and George A. Romero's Land of the Dead. A major career turning point was his casting as Nicholas Fallin on the CBS legal drama The Guardian, which ran for three seasons and earned him a Logie Award. His global stardom was cemented with the lead role of Patrick Jane on The Mentalist, which aired on CBS from 2008 to 2015. Following the series' conclusion, he returned to Australia to make his feature film directorial debut with Breath, an adaptation of the Tim Winton novel, in which he also starred. He has also served as an executive producer on several projects, including the Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer.
He has been married to Australian actress Rebecca Rigg since 1998; the couple first met on the set of the ABC series Heartbreak High. They have three children together and split their time between Los Angeles, California, and Byron Bay, New South Wales. An avid surfer, he is actively involved in environmental and ocean conservation causes. He has supported organizations such as the Surfrider Foundation and Sea Shepherd Conservation Society.
A selection of his notable acting credits includes: * L.A. Confidential (1997) as Matt Reynolds * The Devil Wears Prada (2006) as Christian Thompson * The Ring (2002) as Noah Clay * Land of the Dead (2005) as Riley Denbo * The Guardian (2001–2004) as Nicholas Fallin * The Mentalist (2008–2015) as Patrick Jane * Breath (2017) as Sando (also director)
Throughout his career, he has received numerous accolades. For his work on The Mentalist, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2009 and won the People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Drama Actor in 2013. His performance in The Guardian earned him a Logie Award for Most Popular Actor. He has also received multiple nominations from the Satellite Awards and Teen Choice Awards. His directorial work on Breath was recognized with a nomination for Best Direction at the AACTA Awards.
Category:Australian male film actors Category:Australian television actors Category:Australian film directors