Celebrity Nooz: Simon Baker

Simon Baker (Actor) - The Mentalist

Updated: 8/11/20

Name: Simon Baker

Birth Name: Simon Baker-Denny

Born: July 30, 1969 in Launceston, Tasmania, Australia

Nickname: Smiley

Claim To Fame: Simon Baker is an Australian actor in television and film, and director. He is best known for his lead role as famous "psychic" Patrick Jane in the hit CBS television series The Mentalist (2008-2015).

Family Life: In October 1998, Baker married Australian actress Rebecca Rigg after five years of living together. They have a daughter and two sons: Stella, Claude, and Harry.

Info: Son of drama teacher Elizabeth Labberton, and school grounds-man Barry Baker; split when he was age 2.

Older sister Terri is a doctor. Has three half-siblings.

Grew up in the Northern Rivers coastal town of Ballina, New South Wales, where he was known by the nickname 'Smiley'.

As a teen, he competed on a state level in surfing and water polo.

Worked as a bricklayer.

He and wife, Rebecca, met in 1991 on a blind date at the Royal Hotel in Sydney's Paddington.

On 14 February 2013, Baker was honored 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.

Trivia: Baker was the part of numerous ads campaigns for products and businesses like Samsung Electronics Australia's Turn on Tomorrow, ANZ Bank, Longines Ambassador of Elegance, and fragrances Gentlemen Only and Gentlemen Only Absolute.

His acting mentor is Dabney Coleman.

Baker and his wife Rebecca are close friends with actresses Naomi Watts and Nicole Kidman. Rebecca has known Kidman for many years; they met on the audition circuit in Australia. Watts is the godmother of his daughter Stella, while Kidman is the godmother of his youngest son, Harry.

He was one of the singers/dancers in the music video "Love You Right" by the dance-pop band Euphoria. Visible in the official video from 2:20.

Baker, and his L.A. Confidential (1997) co-stars Russell Crowe, and Guy Pearce were all raised in Australia. Baker is the only one of the three who was born in Australia. Pearce was born in England, Crowe in New Zealand.

Voted among People Magazine's 50 Most Beautiful People (2002).

Named among Fade-In Magazine's 100 People in Hollywood You Need to Know (2005).

One of People Magazine's 100 Most Beautiful People (2009).

His wife Rebecca Rigg, his daughter Stella Baker and his son Claude have all appeared in an episode of The Mentalist (2008). Rebecca appeared in the episode "The Mentalist: A Dozen Red Roses (2009)", Stella appeared in the episode "The Mentalist: The Greybar Hotel (2014)". and his son, Claude made an appearance in the episode "The Mentalist: Red Sails in the Sunset (2012)".

Where Are They Now: Baker's most recent film release is the 2020 action-thriller High Ground. It's about a young Aboriginal man who teams up with ex-soldier Travis (Simon Baker) to track down the most dangerous warrior in the territory.

View other 'Where Are They Now' celebrities

Read the latest issue of Celebrity Nooz

Subscribe!