Simon Baker
| Simon Baker | |
|---|---|
 Baker in Paris at the French premiere of I Give It a Year, 2013 | |
| Born |
Simon Baker 30 July 1969 Launceston, Tasmania, Australia |
| Other names |
Simon Denny Simon Baker Denny |
| Occupation | Actor, director |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) |
| Religion | None |
| Spouse(s) | Rebecca Rigg (m. 1998) |
| Children | 3 |
Simon Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor and director. In his television acting career, he is best known for his lead role in the CBS television series The Mentalist as Patrick Jane and as Nicholas Fallin in The Guardian.
In his film acting career, he is best known for the lead role of Riley Denbo in Land of the Dead and Christian Thompson in the film adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, based on the 2003 novel of the same name.
Early life
Simon Baker was born to a high school English teacher, Elizabeth Labberton, and a groundskeeper/mechanic, Barry Baker, on 30 July 1969, in Launceston, Tasmania.[1] His parents divorced while he was still young. His mother later married Tom Denny, a butcher. Simon Baker also has a sister, currently a doctor in Australia, and three younger half brothers. By 1972, the family had moved from Launceston to Ballina, New South Wales, where Baker's parents hoped to secure better paying jobs. He attended St. Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School in Ballina and Ballina High School, graduating in 1986. In school, he was known as Simon Baker-Denny.
Acting career
Baker began acting on Australian television during the late 1980s using the name "Simon Denny". He first appeared in music videos for Melissa Tkautz ("Read My Lips") and Australian dance outfit Euphoria ("Love You Right") in 1991 before appearing in the successful series E Street, Home and Away and Heartbreak High. As "Simon Baker Denny" he was a co-star of the David Croft/Jeremy Lloyd sitcom pilot, Which Way to the War, which was not developed into a series.
In 1995, he was in an episode of the Australian television (ABC TV) series Naked (episode title: Blindside Breakaway) in the role of a rugby player. His character was an easy going mummy's boy until he met a girl who challenged his safe existence. He called the role "physically demanding" due to the fact most of the extras were actual rugby players.[2] At the time he referred to this role as an important opportunity as well as being "the best job I've had in my life". He went on to say it was going to be hard afterwards to want to do anything offered.[2]
He relocated to the United States, where he was cast in a small role in L.A. Confidential, which led to further opportunities in supporting roles in films. In 1998 he starred in a small, independent film by filmmaker Stephen Grynberg titled "Love from Ground Zero", and in 1999 appeared in Ang Lee's Ride with the Devil. In 2000, he played Michael Scott in Adam Collis's Sunset Strip. He also played an astronaut in Red Planet with Val Kilmer, Carrie-Anne Moss and Benjamin Bratt. He played the male lead in the television series The Guardian for three seasons beginning in 2001, and also appeared in The Affair of the Necklace. He played a distressed husband in 2004's Book of Love. In 2005, he starred as an altruistic hero in George A. Romero's Land of the Dead.
In 2006, he played Brian Kelly in the film Something New, writer Christian Thompson in The Devil Wears Prada, and had a leading role as Jeff in the short-lived television series Smith. After Smith, he returned to movies and played the role of Roderick Blank in Sex and Death 101 and Jack Bishop in Not Forgotten.
In 2008, Baker received the lead role of Patrick Jane, a consultant to the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in CBS's The Mentalist. In 2009, Baker was nominated for an Emmy Award for The Mentalist. In late 2009, Baker was also nominated for his second Golden Globe Award (for The Mentalist) and his first SAG Award for his work.
Baker has continued to act in movies during The Mentalist. He played Howard Hendricks in The Killer Inside Me,[3] Jared Cohen in Margin Call, and Guy Harrap in I Give It a Year.
Directing career
Baker made his directorial debut with the second season episode of The Guardian, "My Aim Is True". On The Mentalist he has directed an episode per season from the third season onwards. The episodes he has directed include "Red Moon" (season 3), "Blinking Red Light" (season 4), "Red Sails at Sunset" (season 5), "My Blue Heaven" (season 6), and "The Silver Briefcase" (season 7).
Baker plans to produce and direct a movie based on the novel Breath by Tim Winton.
Other activities
On 6 June 2010, he played in a charity football match for The Rest of The World team versus England on ITV's Soccer Aid 2010,[4] coming on as a substitute in the second half. The match went to a penalty shootout; Baker took a penalty which was saved by England celebrity goalkeeper, Jamie Theakston. The Rest of the World went on to win the shoot out and the match for the first time since the tournament started.
Personal life
In 1998, Baker married Australian actress Rebecca Rigg after five years of living together.[5] They have three children: Stella Breeze (born 8 August 1993), Claude Blue (born 1998), and Harry Friday (born 19 September 2001). Fellow Australian, actress Nicole Kidman, is godmother to Harry while actress Naomi Watts is godmother to Claude.[6] Baker and his family resided in Malibu, California,[7] before moving back to Sydney; they then returned to Los Angeles so Simon could appear on Smith, and later on The Mentalist.[5] He also owns property in Australia, near Byron Bay.[8]
Baker and his sons are fans of the Parramatta Eels in the Australian NRL.[9] His name first appeared in Who's Who in Australia in 2011.[10] In July 2009, Baker told PopMatters that he is an agnostic.[11]
In 2010, he was earning US$350,000 per episode of The Mentalist. At that time his net worth was US$25 million.[12] Shortly after he signed a contract that delivered a payment of US$30 million for his role as Patrick Jane.[13]
Honors
On 14 February 2013, Baker was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the entertainment industry. Baker's star can be found at 6352 Hollywood Blvd.[14]
In June 2012 was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences along with 175 other individuals.[15]
Commercials
Simon Baker was selected by the French perfume house Givenchy to be the face of the Fragrance "Gentlemen Only".[16] In it Baker walks down a pavement in pouring rain, whilst carrying an umbrella. The spot released 11 March 2013 also exists in a 33 sec version and reached a strong YouTube audience.
Baker also featured in an 18-month ad campaign for ANZ Bank in Australia and New Zealand starting in 2012.[17]
Since 2012, he has been a Longines Ambassador of Elegance [18] and featured in "Elegance is an attitude" advertising campaign which was shot in Chantilly Racecourse [19] as well as their magazine print campaign for the same slogan [20] shot by Le Studio Production SA.
Simon Baker fronted Samsung Electronics Australia's "Turn on Tomorrow" campaign featuring as announced in July 2010 [21] [22] He starred in a TV advertisement for Samsung Electronics Australia created by Leo Burnett Sydney which brings together all of Samsung's products in one 60-second TV spot.[23]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Midnight Magic | N/A | Television film |
| 1997 | L.A. Confidential | Matt Reynolds | Credited as Simon Baker Denny |
| 1997 | Most Wanted | Stephen Barnes | Credited as Simon Baker Denny |
| 1998 | Restaurant | Kenny | |
| 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 | Affair of the Necklace, TheThe Affair of the Necklace | Rétaux de Villette | |
| 2004 | Book of Love | David Walker | |
| 2005 | Ring Two, TheThe Ring Two | Max Rourke | |
| 2005 | Land of the Dead | Riley Denbo | |
| 2006 | Something New | Brian Kelly | |
| 2006 | Devil Wears Prada, TheThe Devil Wears Prada | Christian Thompson | |
| 2007 | Sex and Death 101 | Roderick Blank | |
| 2007 | Key to Reserva, TheThe Key to Reserva | Roger Thornberry | Short film |
| 2009 | Lodger, TheThe Lodger | Malcolm Slaight | |
| 2009 | Not Forgotten | Jack Bishop | |
| 2009 | Women in Trouble | Travis McPherson | |
| 2010 | Killer Inside Me, TheThe Killer Inside Me | Howard Hendricks | |
| 2011 | Margin Call | Jared Cohen | Nominated—Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast |
| 2013 | I Give It a Year | Guy Harrap | |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Tales from the Crypt | Uncredited extra | Episode: "Only Skin Deep" |
| 1992–1993 | E Street | Constable Sam Farrell | 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 | 6 episodes |
| 1994 | Which Way to the War | Pvt Stan Hawke | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1995 | Naked | N/A | 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 | Guardian, TheThe Guardian | Nick Fallin | 67 episodes Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama Nominated—Prism Award for Performance in a Drama Series Nominated—Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series |
| 2006–2007 | Smith | Jeff Breen | 7 episodes |
| 2008–2015 | Mentalist, TheThe Mentalist | Patrick Jane | 151 episodes Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Crime Fighter Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series Nominated—People's Choice Award for Favorite Crime TV Drama Actor |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | The Mentalist | People's Choice Award | Favorite TV Crime Drama (season 6: with cast) | Nominated |
| 2015 | The Mentalist | People's Choice Award | Favorite Crime Drama TV Actor | Nominated |
| 2014 | The Mentalist | People's Choice Award | Favorite TV Crime Drama (season 5: with cast) | Nominated |
| 2011 | Margin Call | Gotham Awards | Best Ensemble Performance | Nominated |
| 2011 | Margin Call | Phoenix Film Critics Society | Best Cast (or Best Ensemble Acting) | Nominated |
| 2010 | The Mentalist | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series (season 2) | Nominated |
| 2009 | The Mentalist | People's Choice Award | Best new series (season 1: with cast) | Won |
| 2009 | The Mentalist | Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (season 1) | Nominated |
| 2009 | The Mentalist | Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Television Series (season 2) | Nominated |
| 2005 | The Guardian | Prism Awards | Best Performance in a Drama Series Storyline | Nominated |
| 2004 | E Street | Logie Awards | Most Popular Overseas Star | Nominated |
| 2002 | The Guardian | Family Television Awards | Best Actor | Won |
| 2002 | The Guardian | Golden Globe Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Dramatic Television Series | Nominated |
| 2000 | Secret Men's Business | Australian Film Institute Awards | Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Telefeature or Mini-Series | Nominated |
| 1993 | E Street | Logie Awards | Most Popular New Talent | Won |
References
- ↑ Murray, Rebecca. "Simon Baker Talks About "Something New"". About.com. Retrieved 22 June 2010.
I was raised a Catholic...
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 TV Week magazine, 22 July 1995, pp 64–65. "A trying role" by Di Stanley.
- ↑ The Killer Inside Me: Theatrical Trailer and One-Sheet Debut
- ↑ Soccer Aid – Rest of the World team ITV Entertainment
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Mentalist star Simon Baker on wife Rebecca Rigg and the children in Los Angeles". Daily Telegraph. 12 April 2011. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ↑ Brady, James (1 January 2009). "In Step With Simon Baker". Parade.com. Retrieved 28 December 2010.
- ↑ "Simon Baker:Actor". People.com. 13 May 2002. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ↑ "Simon Baker's $1.5 million coastal hideaway". Adelaide Now. 12 January 2010. Retrieved 29 June 2012.
- ↑ Walter, Brad (19 July 2010). "Even psychic couldn't predict this comeback". The Sydney Morning Herald.
- ↑ "Who's Who pack now boasts Siddle, Hamish and Andy and the Masterchef judges". heraldsun.com.au. 9 December 2010.
- ↑
- ↑ http://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/simon-baker-net-worth/
- ↑ http://screenrant.com/mentalist-simon-baker-cbs-30-million-deal-mssny-93877/
- ↑ http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-207_162-57569501/simon-baker-receives-star-on-hollywood-walk-of-fame/ | CBS News - Simon Baker receives star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- ↑ "Academy Invites 176 to Membership". The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 29 June 2012. Retrieved 19 July 2013.
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1v-FW1bNQk | Simon Baker in the 17 sec TV Spot
- ↑ http://mumbrella.com.au/simon-baker-is-back-in-new-global-anz-ads-116014
- ↑ http://www.longines.com/ambassadors/Simon-Baker
- ↑ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-iS9eiJFnto
- ↑ https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.442070209176161.94536.130170163699502&type=3
- ↑ http://www.pressreleasepoint.com/samsung-australia-announce-simon-baker-new-brand-ambassador | press release
- ↑ http://www.samsung.com/au/newsletters/dealers/august2010/av.html | Samsung Australia newsletter
- ↑ http://www.bandt.com.au/news/archive/breaking-campaign-simon-baker-stars-in-samsung-821 | B&T magazine article
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Simon Baker. |
- Simon Baker at AllMovie
- Simon Baker at the Internet Movie Database
- Simon Baker at TVGuide.com
- Simon Baker Australian Film Commission
- Simon Baker interview The Guardian Femail Magazine
- Simon Baker The Guardian The Age
- Simon Baker interview Land of the Dead Femail Magazine
- snappytoes on Instagram Simon Baker's instagram page
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