Simon Baker
Biography
Simon Lucas Baker is an Australian actor and director born on July 30, 1969, in Launceston, Tasmania. He was born to Elizabeth Labberton, a high school English teacher, and Barry Baker, a groundskeeper and mechanic. Raised as a Roman Catholic, Baker experienced his parents' divorce during his youth. He is recognized for his extensive work in both television and film, maintaining a career that spans several decades. Known professionally as Simon Baker, he has also been credited as Simon Baker-Denny and Simon Denny. He relocated to Los Angeles with his family to pursue his professional acting interests, establishing himself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
Career overview
Baker first gained professional prominence in Australia through his role on the soap opera E Street, appearing on the program from 1992 to 1993. His early recognition included receiving the Logie award for Most Popular New Talent in 1992. He achieved his Hollywood breakthrough in 1997 with a supporting role as Matt Reynolds in the film L.A. Confidential, which served as his American film debut. Throughout his career, he has been involved in 50 known acting credits.
In his television career, Baker is best known for his lead roles as Nicholas Fallin in The Guardian and as Patrick Jane in the CBS series The Mentalist. Within the film industry, he is noted for his lead role as Riley Denbo in Land of the Dead. Additionally, he portrayed Christian Thompson in the film adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada, a project based on the 2003 novel of the same name. His filmography also includes an appearance in the film Margin Call.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Scarpetta (2026) as Benton Wesley
- The Narrow Road to the Deep North (2025) as Keith Mulvaney
- Boy Swallows Universe (2024) as Robert Bell
- Limbo (2023) as Travis Hurley
- Roar (2022) as Adam
- Blaze (2022) as Luke
- Blaze (2022) Executive Producer
- High Ground (2021) as Travis
- The Kelly Clarkson Show (2019) as Self
- Here and Now (2018) as Nick
- Breath (2017) as Sando
- Breath (2017) Producer
- Breath (2017) Director
- Breath (2017) Screenplay
- I Give It a Year (2013) as Guy
- Margin Call (2011) as Jared Cohen
- Conan (2010) as Self
- The Killer Inside Me (2010) as Howard Hendricks
- Going Vertical: The Short Board Revolution (2010) as Narrator
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Jimmy Fallon (2009) as Self
- The Lodger (2009) as Malcolm
- Women in Trouble (2009) as Travis McPherson
- Not Forgotten (2009) as Jack Bishop
- Live from Studio Five (2009) as Self
- The Mentalist (2008) as Patrick Jane
- The Mentalist (2008) Director
- The Mentalist (2008) Producer
- Sex and Death 101 (2007) as Roderick Blank
- The Devil Wears Prada (2006) as Christian Thompson
- Smith (2006) as Jeff Breen
- Something New (2006) as Brian Kelly
- Land of the Dead (2005) as Riley
- The Ring Two (2005) as Max Rourke
- Book of Love (2004) as David Walker
- Burst (2004) Director of Photography
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- The Guardian (2001) as Nick Fallin
- The Guardian (2001) Director
- The Affair of the Necklace (2001) as Rétaux de Vilette
- Red Planet (2000) as Chip Pettengill
- Sunset Strip (2000) as Michael Scott
- Ride with the Devil (1999) as George Clyde
- Secret Men's Business (1999) as Andy Greville
- Restaurant (1999) as Kenny
- Love from Ground Zero (1998) as Eric
- Judas Kiss (1998) as Junior Armstrong
- The View (1997) as Self
- L.A. Confidential (1997) as Matt Reynolds
- Most Wanted (1997) as Stephen Barnes
- Sweat (1996) as Paul Steadman
- Heartbreak High (1994) as Decoy
- Which Way to the War (1994) as Private Stan Hawke
- Late Show with David Letterman (1993) as Self - Guest
- Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) as Self - Guest
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self - Guest
- E Street (1989) as Sam Farrell