Australian-born Simon Baker is a Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actor with an impressive background in film and television that has captivated audiences across the globe. Baker currently plays “Patrick Jane” on CBS’ popular series “The Mentalist.” Currently in season 4, Baker plays a former “psychic” con man who now uses his talent for human observation to help the California Bureau of Investigation. His performance earned him an Emmy and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series. The Mentalist is one of the highest-rated shows on the network, breaking ratings records from the start.
Baker recently completed production on the romantic comedy “I Give It a Year,” directed by Dan Mazer and starring Ross Bryan and Anna Faris. Baker was last seen in Margin Call, a thriller that follows major players in investment banks around the clock during the early stages of the 2008 financial crisis. The film’s cast includes Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci, Paul Bettany, Jeremy Irons, Zachary Quinto and Demi Moore. The film was selected at this year’s Independent Spirit Awards for the Robert Altman Award of the Year, presented to a film’s director, casting director and actor. The National Board of Review also named it one of the top ten independent films of the year. Baker and producer Mark Johnson have also acquired the film rights to the award-winning novel Breath, written by Tim Winton, one of Australia’s most famous and celebrated novelists. Baker and Johnson will serve as producers, with Baker also co-starring.
In 2010, Baker starred in Michael Winterbottom’s “Killer in Me” alongside Kathy Affleck. Before that, Baker starred in the hit 20th Century Fox series “The Devil Wears Prada” with Meryl Streep and Anne Hathaway; he also starred in Focus Features’ romantic comedy “New” starring Sanaa Lathan thing”. Baker first came to prominence in Curtis Henson’s Oscar-winning “Los Angeles Confidential,” pairing Kevin Spacey and Danny DeVito. Baker’s other early roles include: Necklace Events with Hilary Swank, Red Planet with Val Kilmer, Sunset Strip with Anna Friel and Nick Stahl, Sex and Death 101 with Wynona Ryder and Ang Lee’s critically acclaimed The Devil Peer, the film at the 1999 Deauville Film Festival and the Toronto Film Festival.
Other feature film credits include, Universal’s Land of the Dead, George Romero’s highly anticipated sequel to the famous zombie franchise starring Dennis Hopper and John Leguizamo, DreamWorks’ horror sequel The Lord of the Rings 2, Starring Naomi Watts and Sissy Spacek, and the independent feature film “The Book,” Love Francis O’Connor, screened in competition at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. Baker starred in CBS’ acclaimed TV series The Guardian from 2001 to 2004. He portrays a die-hard corporate lawyer convicted of drug possession to serve as a legal advocate for children. Baker’s performance earned him his first Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Drama Series. Other TV credits include the critically acclaimed but short-lived CBS series Smith, created by John Wells and starring Reliotta and Virginia Madsen.