Simon Baker

Simon Baker is an Australian actor and director with an impressive career in both film and television. Born on July 30, 1969, in Launceston, Tasmania, Baker began his career as a teenage actor in Australian television shows such as E Street and Home and Away.

In 1997, Baker moved to the United States to pursue his acting career and quickly landed roles in television shows such as The Guardian and The Mentalist. He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Patrick Jane in The Mentalist, which aired from 2008 to 2015.
Baker has also had success in film, appearing in movies such as L.A. Confidential, The Devil Wears Prada, and Margin Call. He received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts Awards for his role in the film Breath.
In addition to his work in front of the camera, Baker has also directed several episodes of The Mentalist and the 2013 film Breath, which was based on the novel by Tim Winton.
Baker's Broadway debut came in 2014 when he starred in the play The Audience alongside Helen Mirren. The play, written by Peter Morgan, explored the relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and her prime ministers throughout her reign. Baker played the role of Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.
The Audience received positive reviews and was nominated for several Tony Awards, including Best Play and Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role for Mirren. Baker's performance was also praised, with The New York Times calling him "charismatic" and "convincing."
Following his success on Broadway, Baker returned to television and starred in the CBS drama series The Mentalist until its conclusion in 2015. He also appeared in the 2016 film High-Rise, based on the novel by J.G. Ballard.
In 2018, Baker returned to television with the Australian miniseries The Gloaming. The series, which was filmed in Tasmania, followed a detective investigating a murder in a small town. Baker played the role of Senior Detective Inspector Jack Mathieson.
Most recently, Baker has starred in the Australian film, Here Are the Young Men, which premiered at the 2020 Galway Film Fleadh. The film, based on the novel by Rob Doyle, follows a group of teenagers in Dublin who struggle with the transition to adulthood.
Throughout his career, Baker has received numerous accolades for his work, including a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Television Drama for his role in The Mentalist. He was also honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.