Simon Baker is today one of the most famous Australian actors. He actively starred in films and TV shows, works as a director and brings up three children. And today, when the series “The Mentalist” with the participation of the actor is very popular, fans are increasingly interested in the biographical data of the artist.
Simon Baker: biography and childhood
The actor was born on July 30, 1969 in the town of Launceston, on the territory of the Australian state of Tasmania. His mother worked as a teacher in a school where she taught English. And father Barry Baker was a gardener and a mechanic. When the boy was two years old, his parents divorced. And after some time, the mother again married the butcher Tom Danny. By the way, the famous actor has a sister and a half brother. And at the beginning of his acting career, Simon often used the name of his stepfather.
In the early 1970s, the family moved to the city of Ballina, which is located in New South Wales. This is where Simon Baker finishes school. By the way, not all fans know that the now famous actor in his school years was an athlete. He often won prizes in water polo and surf competitions, and spent his free time on the ocean.
After graduating from high school, the guy moved to Sydney, where he entered a medical college - he planned to become a nurse. But he never completed his education, as he was seriously interested in acting.
The beginning of an acting career
Simon got on television quite by accident. As some sources confirm, while studying at a medical school, he went with a friend to the casting just for "moral support", as he was not going to participate in the tests. But a guy with a good appearance was noticed and offered a job.
In the late 1980s, Simon Baker appears on Australian television, though under the name Simon Denny. At first he starred in several videos. In particular, he worked with Melissa Tkautz on the song Read My Lips. He can also be seen in the Euphoria trio video for the song Love You Right. And in 1991 he made his debut - he played James Healy in the popular Australian TV series "Home and Travel." He then starred in several soap operas, including The School of Broken Hearts.
First successes in hollywood
In 1995, the actor moved to Los Angeles and attended castings from time to time. Good luck smiled at him. In 1997, the first American film appeared in which Simon Baker was shot. His filmography was replenished with a famous picture called "The Secrets of Los Angeles", where he played a small role of Matt Reynolds. By the way, this picture received two Oscar figurines. Although Simon’s role was not very important, his work in the popular film added weight to his portfolio.
In 2000, two films were released with his participation. In the role of Michael Scott, he starred in the film Sex, Drugs and the Sunset Strip, and also played Chip Pettengill in the science fiction film Red Planet.
And a year later, the actor appears in the guise of Reto de Villiette in a historical drama based on the true events of The Story of a Necklace.
The series "Defender" and the long-awaited recognition
On September 25, 2001, the first episode of the series Defender was released, where Simon Baker played a major role. Here he appeared before the audience in the image of the arrogant and arrogant corporate lawyer Nick Fallin.
A successful lawyer is sentenced to community service for drug possession. Now, in addition to his main activity, he must work for free in the Pittsburgh State Legal Service, protecting interesting low-income families and minor children.
Without a doubt, this role has become one of the most prominent in the career of the actor. In 2002, he received the Family Television Awards as "Best Actor." In the same year, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for best performance of a major male role in a drama television series.
Simon Baker: filmography
After the series ended, the actor began acting in films of various genres. In particular, he is present in one of the episodes of the popular series "Anatomy Gray." In 2005, he starred in the horror film Call 2, playing Max Rourke.
In the same year, he appeared on the screens as Riley Danbo fighting a zombie in the sci-fi horror film Land of the Dead. In 2006, another rather famous comedy “The Devil Wears Prada” was released, where Simon played the handsome writer Christian Thompson. In 2006, he also got the role of Brian in the film "Something New." And from 2006 to 2007, the actor entertained the audience with his wonderful game in the series “Extra-Thieves”.
The series "Mentalist" and worldwide fame
In 2008, the first episode of the series was released, in which Simon Baker played the main role. The filmography of the actor was replenished with the project “The Mentalist”, which quickly captivated viewers from all over the world and firmly entered the ratings of the most popular TV shows in the world.
Here, Simon played beautifully the arrogant and selfish Patrick Jane, a consultant to the California Bureau of Investigation. This man, possessing charm, magnetism and a penetrating gaze, is an excellent manipulator. At one time he was a fraudster, assuring customers of the presence of extrasensory abilities. Today he helps police officers in solving crimes and is waiting in the wings, as he wholeheartedly wants to catch the killer of his wife and child.
The role of the charming Patrick, who seems to know in advance all the thoughts and intentions of the interlocutor, brought the actor several more awards. In 2009, the series was awarded the People's Choice Award for the best cast. Baker himself was nominated for yet another Golden Globe for best actor in the television series.
New movies with Simon Baker
After the astounding success of the series The Mentalist, new films began appearing on the screen in which Simon Baker starred. The filmography of the actor was replenished in 2009 with the movie "Disappearance", where he played Jack Bishop. In the same year, a painting appeared under the title “Resident”, in which Baker got the role of Malcolm Slate.
He also played a small role as Travis in the film Women in Need, which premiered at the 2009 Texas Film Festival. And a year later, Baker gets the role of Howard Hendrix in a rather successful thriller called "The Killer Inside Me."
In 2011, fans could again enjoy the game of their favorite actor, who played Jared Cohen in the thriller Risk Limit. By the way, this film was nominated for an Oscar in the Best Original Screenplay category. And in 2013, Simon got the role of Guy in the film "I Give the Year."
Participation in other projects
Simon Baker tried himself several times as a director, and his work was very successful. Of course, there is no legendary film on his list. However, as a director, he worked on one of the episodes of the series Defenders.
In addition, the actor was the director of several episodes of the famous series “The Mentalist”. And starting from the fifth season, it is Simon who is the producer of this project.
Actor Simon Baker since 2012 is the "ambassador of elegance" and the face of the famous Swiss watch brand Longines. With his appearance, the actor perfectly complements the main idea of the advertising campaign that "elegance is a lifestyle." In addition, not so long ago he became the face of Gentlemen Only - a new fragrance from the prestigious company Givenchy. By the way, the actor has repeatedly noted that a faithful wife always helped him create his own style and pick up clothes.
The personal life of the actor
If you are interested in questions about who Simon Baker is, the personal life of the actor is probably also of interest to you. With his future beloved, he met while participating in his first series, in 1991. The actor himself repeatedly mentioned that they did not work well, because Simon had just begun his acting career, and his partner, Rebecca Rigg, was already an experienced actress, since she had been working on television since 11 years old.
However, young people started dating. And after seven years of relationship, the couple still announced their marriage - in 1998, Simon Baker became a married man. His wife, by the way, is also a fairly well-known Australian actress. She played Felicia Scott in The Mentalist. There is a version that between the actors love broke out at first sight. Simon himself says that relationships and a happy marriage are hard work, in which he and his wife have reached perfection, since after 22 years they still love each other.
Soon, the couple had a daughter, Stella, and then the sons of Claude and Harry. A loving husband and a caring father is Simon Baker. The actor’s children are already quite old, and his daughter is in college. Until recently, the family lived in California, but then the actor was forced to return to Sydney. Today, Bakers live again in the United States, in Los Angeles.