Simon Lucas Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor and director. He appeared on the Australian soap opera E Street (1992–1993). In 1997 he had a supporting role as Matt Reynolds in L.A. Confidential (1997). This role marked his American film debut and a pivotal turning point in his career, successfully establishing his presence in the international film industry.
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. He played 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).
Early life 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 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.
Career 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.
Honours 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.
Personal life 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-by-the-Sea, California. 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.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1997 L.A. Confidential Matt Reynolds Most Wanted Stephen Barnes 1998 Restaurant Kenny Judas Kiss Junior Armstrong Love from Ground Zero Eric 1999 Ride with the Devil George Clyde 2000 Sunset Strip Michael Scott Red Planet Chip Pettengill 2001 Rétaux de Villette 2004 Book of Love David Walker 2005 Max Rourke Land of the Dead Riley Denbo 2006 Something New Brian Kelly The Devil Wears Prada Christian Thompson 2007 Sex and Death 101 Roderick Blank The Key to Reserva Roger Thornberry Short film 2009 The Lodger Malcolm Slaight Not Forgotten Jack Bishop Women in Trouble Travis McPherson 2010 The Killer Inside Me Howard Hendricks 2011 Margin Call Jared Cohen 2013 I Give It a Year Guy Harrap 2017 Breath Bill 'Sando' Sanderson Also director, co-producer and co-writer 2018 Here and Now Nick 2020 High Ground Travis Also executive producer 2022 Blaze Luke 2023 Limbo Travis Hurley Also executive producer 2026 Klara and the Sun Paul Post-production (scenes deleted)
Television 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 Lioness Director and producer
Awards and nominations 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
References
External links