Simon Baker
Australian actor and director (born 1969)
Who was Simon Baker?
Simon Lucas Baker (born 30 July 1969) is an Australian actor and director. 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 achieved his Hollywood breakthrough in 1997 with 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. Baker has also appeared in several films, including, Restaurant (1998), The Devil Wears Prada (2006), and Margin Call (2011).
Historical significance
He first gained prominence on the Australian soap opera E Street (1992–1993). His breakthrough role came as 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.