Simon Baker

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).

• Name — Simon Baker • Birth Name — Simon Lucas Baker • Other Names — * Simon Denny • Simon Denny Baker • Simon Baker-Denny • Born — 30 July 1969 • Birthplace — Launceston, Tasmania, Australia • Citizenship — * Australia • United States • Occupation — * Actor • filmmaker • model • Years Active — 1992–present • Children — 3, including Stella

Simon Lucas Baker 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. He has an older sister, two half-brothers and a half-sister. 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. His mother remarried to Tom Denny, a butcher, but Baker did not get on well with his stepfather. His mother and stepfather later divorced. Baker spent part of his childhood living in the suburbs of Sydney, but he mainly grew up in the Northern Rivers coastal town of Lennox Head, New South Wales. He attended high school at Ballina High School and Trinity Catholic College. 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.

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. From 1992 until its cancellation in 1993, Baker played Constable Sam Farrell in E Street. The role earned him the Logie Award for Most Popular New Talent award in 1993. 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). He also filmed an appearance in G.P.. 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). He also appeared in Heartbreak High as Tom Summers in 1996. Baker relocated to the United States in the mid-1990s. In 1997, he appeared in a supporting role in L.A. Confidential. 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. He portrayed Nick Fallin in The Guardian. 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. 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.

Baker married Australian actress Rebecca Rigg on 2 October 1998, after five years of living together. Baker told The Ellen Degeneres Show that one of their two weddings was held on the beach at Carmel. They have a daughter, Stella, and two sons. Baker and Rigg separated in April 2020. Baker was raised Catholic, but became agnostic. Baker follows the rugby league club the Parramatta Eels in the National Rugby League.

• 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 • Lionness — Director and producer

The authorities additionally record the headings Simon Baker-Denny and Simon Lucas Baker. His recorded language was English. He married Rebecca Rigg.

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

• Year — Award — Category — Work — Result — Ref. • 1993 — Logie Awards — Most Popular New Talent — E Street • 2000 — Australian Film Institute Awards — Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini-Series — Secret Men's Business • 2002 — Golden Globe Awards — Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama — The Guardian • 2004 — Logie Awards — Most Popular Overseas TV Star • 2005 — PRISM Awards — Performance in a Drama Series Storyline • 2009 — Primetime Emmy Awards — Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series — The Mentalist • 2010 — Golden Globe Awards — Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Drama • Screen Actors Guild Awards — Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series • Australian Film Institute Awards — Best Actor • 2011 — People's Choice Awards — Favorite TV Crime Fighter • Gotham Awards — Best Ensemble Performance — Margin Call • 2012 — Independent Spirit Awards — Robert Altman Award • 2015 — People's Choice Awards — Favorite Crime Drama TV Actor — The Mentalist • 2017 — Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards — Trailblazer Award • 2018 — Australian Directors Guild Awards — Best Direction in a Feature Film — Breath • Seattle International Film Festival — Best Feature Film • Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards — Best Supporting Actor • Best Adapted Screenplay (Shared with Gerard Lee and Tim Winton) • Best Direction • Best Film (Shared with Mark Johnson and Jamie Hilton) • 2019 — Australian Film Critics Association Awards — Best Supporting Actor • Best Screenplay (Shared with Gerard Lee) • Best Director • Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards — Best Supporting Actor • Best Script (Shared with Gerard Lee and Tim Winton) • Best Director • Best Film (Shared with Mark Johnson and Jamie Hilton) • 2021 — Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards — Best Lead Actor in Film — High Ground • 2022 — Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards — Best Supporting Actor in Film — Blaze • 2023 — Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards — Best Supporting Actor • 2024 — Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards — Best Lead Actor in Film — Limbo • Film Critics Circle of Australia Awards — Best Actor • Logie Awards — Best Lead Actor in a Drama — Boy Swallows Universe • Asian Academy Creative Awards — Best Actor in a Supporting Role • 2025 — Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards — Best Supporting Actor in a Drama • 2026 — Logie Awards — Best Supporting Actor in a Drama — The Narrow Road to the Deep North