Simon Baker

After turning heads in a just a few minutes of onscreen time as an earnest, ill-fated aspiring actor in "L.A. Confidential" (1997), Aussie actor Simon Baker went on to become a deft specialist in playing rapier-edged television heroes with distinct antiheroic tendencies or smarmy lotharios in various film roles. Once he gained notice from "L.A. Confidential," Baker landed supporting roles in Ang Lee's "Ride With the Devil" (1999) and the big-budget bomb "Red Planet" (2000) before starring on the hit lawyer drama, "The Guardian" (CBS, 2001-04). Though he had made significant strides in his career, Baker's Hollywood fortunes fluctuated, thanks to a string of misfire movies like "The Affair of the Necklace" (2004) and "The Ring Two" (2005). He stepped up with key supporting roles in "Something New" (2006) and "The Devil Wears Prada" (2006), only to stumble when his regular role on the high-profile crime drama "Smith" (CBS, 2006) was cut short after only three aired episodes. Undeterred, Baker finally received his proper due as the star of "The Mentalist" (CBS, 2008-15), which allowed the actor to fully display the promise he had demonstrated from the start of his career.