Simon Baker

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

Simon Baker
SimonBakerHWOFFeb2013.jpg
Simon Baker at the 2013 HWOFF
Born
Simon Lucas Baker[1]

(1969-07-30) 30 July 1969 (age 52)
Launceston, Tasmania, Australia
Other names
  • Simon Denny[2]
  • Simon Denny Baker[2]
  • Simon Baker-Denny[3]
OccupationActor, director
Years active1988–present
Spouse(s)
​
​
(m. 1998; sep. 2020)​
Children3

Simon Lucas Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor in television and film, and director. He is known for his lead roles in the CBS television series The Mentalist as Patrick Jane and The Guardian as Nicholas Fallin, and has starred in several Hollywood films.

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][1] He has an older sister, two half-brothers and a half-sister.[4] Baker's family moved to New Guinea when Baker was nine months old. His parents' marriage ended when he was two and his father remained out of contact until Baker became an adult.[2][3] His mother got remarried to Tom Denny, a butcher, but Baker did not get along well with his stepfather.[2] His mother and stepfather later got divorced.[1]

Baker spent part of his childhood living in the suburbs of Sydney[5][6] 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.[7] 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).[8] 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.[8]

He is known for his portrayal of Patrick Jane in the television series The Mentalist, and Nick Fallin in The Guardian.[9]

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.[10]

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 Tim Winton's novel of the same name.[8]

Advertisements[]

Longines billboard in Istanbul, Turkey

Baker fronted Samsung Electronics Australia's Turn on Tomorrow campaign announced in July 2010.[11][12]

Baker also featured in an 18-month ad campaign for ANZ Bank in Australia and New Zealand starting in 2012.[13]

Baker has been a Longines Ambassador of Elegance since 2012.[14] He featured in the "Elegance is an attitude" advertising campaign with a video that was shot at Chantilly Racecourse[15][16] as well as a magazine print campaign.[17] A photo shoot for Longines was conducted in London on 12 December 2017.[18] In 2019, he attended a photo shoot with Kate Winslet at the Château de Chantilly for the "Record" collection.[19]

Baker was selected by Givenchy to be the face of its fragrance Gentlemen Only in 2013,[20] and Gentlemen Only Absolute in 2016.[21][22]

Honours[]

In June 2012, Baker was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences along with 175 other individuals.[23]

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.[24]

Personal life[]

On 2 October 1998, Baker married Australian actress Rebecca Rigg after five years of living together.[8] Baker told The Ellen Degeneres Show that one of their two weddings was held on the beach at Carmel.[25] They have a daughter and two sons: Stella (b. 1993), Claude (b. 1998), and Harry (b. 2001).[9] Baker and Rigg separated in April 2020.[26]

Baker is close friends with actresses Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman. Watts is the godmother of his daughter Stella, while Kidman is the godmother of his younger son, Harry.

In July 2009, Baker told PopMatters that he was raised Catholic, but is now agnostic.[4]

Filmography[]

Film[]

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 Credited as Simon Baker-Denny
1998 Judas Kiss Junior Armstrong Credited as Simon Baker-Denny
1998 Love from Ground Zero Eric
1999 Ride with the Devil George Clyde
1999 Secret Men's Business Andy Greville Television film
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 Denbo
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 Harrap
2017 Breath Bill "Sando" Sanderson Also director, co-producer and co-writer; adaptation of the novel of the same name
2018 Here and Now Nick
2020 High Ground Travis Also Executive Producer[27]

Television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1992–1993 E Street Constable Sam Farrell Episode 1.316, additional unknown episodes
1993 A Country Practice Stewart Waterman 2 episodes
1993 GP Ben Miller Episode: "A Family Affair"
1993–1994 Home and Away James Hudson 19 episodes
1994 Which Way to the War Pvte Stan Hawke Episode: "Pilot"
1995 Naked Unsold TV pilot
1995–1996 Heartbreak High Mr. Thomas 'Tom' Summers 8 episodes
1996 Naked: Stories of Men Gabriel Episode: "Blind-Side Breakaway"
1996 Sweat Paul Steadman Episode: #1.3
2001–2004 The Guardian Nick Fallin Main cast
67 episodes
2006–2007 Smith Jeff Breen 7 episodes
2008–2015 The Mentalist Patrick Jane Main cast
151 episodes

Awards and nominations[]

Year Award Work Category Result
1993 Logie Awards E Street Most Popular New Talent Won
2000 Australian Film Institute Awards Secret Men's Business Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini-Series Nominated
2002 Golden Globe Awards The Guardian Best Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Television Series Nominated
2002 Family Television Awards The Guardian Best Actor Won
2004 Logie Awards E Street Most Popular Overseas Star Nominated
2005 Prism Awards The Guardian Best Performance in a Drama Series Storyline Nominated
2009 Golden Globe Awards The Mentalist Best Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Television Series (season 2) Nominated
2009 Emmy Awards The Mentalist Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (season 1) Nominated
2009 People's Choice Award The Mentalist Best new series (season 1: with cast) Won
2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards The Mentalist Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (season 2) Nominated
2011 Phoenix Film Critics Society Margin Call Best Cast (or Best Ensemble Acting) Nominated
2011 Gotham Awards Margin Call Best Ensemble Performance Nominated
2014 People's Choice Award The Mentalist Favourite TV Crime Drama (season 5: with cast) Nominated
2015 People's Choice Award The Mentalist Favourite Crime Drama TV Actor Nominated
2015 People's Choice Award The Mentalist Favourite TV Crime Drama (season 6: with cast) Nominated
2018 AACTA Awards Breath Best Supporting Actor Won
2018 AACTA Awards Breath Best Adapted Screenplay Nominated
2018 AACTA Awards Breath Best Direction Nominated
2018 AACTA Awards Breath Best Film Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c Curtis, Maree. "The Fabulous Baker Boy". Herald Sun.
  2. ^ Jump up to: 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. ^ Jump up to: a b Tulich, Katherine (20 March 2005). "The Fabulous Baker Boy". Herald Sun.
  4. ^ Jump up to: 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.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Purdon, Fiona (28 April 2018). "Hollywood star Simon Baker said he had no acting ambitions at first". Courier Mail. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "The Mentalist star Simon Baker on wife Rebecca Rigg and the children in Los Angeles". The Daily Telegraph. London. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
  10. ^ Michael Essany (28 December 2010). "'The Mentalist' Star Simon Baker Inks New $30 Million Deal". Screenrant.com. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  11. ^ "Samsung's new brand ambassador, Simon Baker, launches the new Samsung Series 9 LED TV at premier event in Sydney". Samsung. Archived 13 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ "Simon Baker new face of Samsung". Mumbrella. 12 July 2010. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  13. ^ "Simon Baker is back in new global ANZ ads". Mumbrella. 16 September 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  14. ^ "Producing Swiss Watches Since 1832". Longines. Archived from the original on 31 December 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  15. ^ "Simon Baker photo shoot for Longines at Chantilly Racecourse". YouTube. 30 July 2011. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  16. ^ "Shooting with Simon Baker". Facebook. 17 June 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  17. ^ "Longines Advertising campaign with Simon Baker". Facebook. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  18. ^ "Longines advertising Campaign". Facebook. 12 December 2017. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  19. ^ "The Record collection perfectly embodied by Longines Ambassadors of Elegance Kate Winslet & Simon Baker". Longines. 15 June 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  20. ^ Carmen Hamilton (12 March 2013). "Simon Baker is the face of Givenchy's new fragrance". Vogue Australia. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Simon Baker Continues to be a Gentleman for Givenchy". DA MAN Magazine. 21 June 2016. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  22. ^ Rebecca McLaughlin-Duane (4 June 2016). "Actor Simon Baker visits Dubai as Givenchy's fragrance ambassador". The National. Abu Dhabi. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  23. ^ "2012 new AMPAS members - Documents". Los Angeles Times. 9 June 2012. Archived from the original on 28 February 2017.
  24. ^ "Simon Baker receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame". CBS News. 14 February 2013. Retrieved 26 December 2015.
  25. ^ Simon Baker, Ellen DeGeneres (12 October 2010). Simon Baker Shares His Wedding Stories. YouTube. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ "High Ground (2020) Full Cast & Crew". IMDb. Retrieved 12 June 2020.

External links[]

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