Simon Baker became a household name when he starred as Patrick Jane in CBS’s hit series, The Mentalist. The success of the show led him to direct and executive produce several of the 150 episodes, it led him to his first People’s Choice Award, and it led him to a whopping $30 million contract from CBS.
Hailing from Australia, Baker stumbled into acting when asked to audition for a commercial. Shortly after, he found himself starring in popular Australian programs like E-Street, Heartbreak High, and Home and Away; these roles earned him recognition from The Logie Awards, who named him “Most Popular New Talent.”
When Baker moved to the United States in the ‘90s, he landed a role in the Oscar-winning film, L.A. Confidential. He’d go on to appear in films like Land of the Dead, The Ring Two, and the box-office smash, The Devil Wears Prada—for the latter, he starred alongside Emily Blunt, Anne Hathaway, and Meryl Streep, to name a few. But most fans recognize him for his television work. Not only did he star in The Mentalist, but he also played the main character of another CBS drama: The Guardian. These performances earned him nominations everywhere from the Screen Actors Guild to the Emmys to the Golden Globes.
And Baker’s worn many hats in the industry. In 2017, he starred in the film, Breath, which he also co-produced, co-wrote, and directed. This film earned him countless accolades, including an AACTA Award.
Outside of acting, Baker’s modeled for brands like Givenchy and Longines, leading People Magazine to list him as one of the “Most Beautiful People.” For his contributions to entertainment, he has his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.