“The Mentalist” Star Simon Baker Faces DUI Charges

The Mentalist star Simon Baker is facing drunk-driving charges in Australia. Baker, 55, was reportedly charged with two offenses and will appear in a Mullumbimby court in northern New South Wales on Sept. 4.

Baker was charged with driving under the influence of alcohol and attempting to drive under the influence of alcohol, both first offenses, according to Australian media outlets. Details surrounding the incident that led to the charges remain unclear. The Daily Mail reported that Baker was granted bail with no conditions. The actor has not yet publicly addressed these reports.

Baker is best-known for his leading role in CBS’s The Mentalist. Airing from 2008 until 2015, the hit series starred Baker as Patrick Jane, a former “psychic” who uses his skills to “read” people’s minds while working as a consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The series also featured Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman, Amanda Righetti, Rockmond Dunbar, Emily Swallow, Joe Adler, and Josie Loren. Baker’s portrayal of Patrick Jane earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2013.

After The Mentalist ended with its shortened seventh season in 2015, Baker continued his acting career with roles in various projects such as Breath, Here and Now, High Ground, Roar, Blaze, and Limbo. Most recently, he was seen in Netflix’s Boy Swallows Universe. Based on Trent Dalton’s semi-autobiographical novel, the series follows Eli Bell, a young boy in 1980s Brisbane, dealing with life’s harsh realities and looming dangers to his family. Baker portrayed Eli’s father, Robert Bell, a role that earned him a TV Week Logie Awards nomination. The series received a total of 11 nominations. Although Baker did not attend the awards ceremony, which took place shortly after news of his legal issues surfaced, the Daily Mail reported on Aug. 23 that the actor was spotted out and about in Australia for the first time since the incident.

Baker’s other acting credits include Land of the Dead, The Devil Wears Prada, The Lodger, Not Forgotten, The Guardian, Sunset Strip, and more, according to his IMDb profile.

Source: Daily Mail, TV Week Logie Awards