Top-Paid 2010 TV Star Makes Shocking Comeback After Major Career Slump!

Simon Baker, also known as Patrick Jane for those in the know. Those who’ve followed the exploits of this somewhat disagreeable hero on TF1, will understand. Aired between 2008 and 2015, Mentalist was a hit on CBS. In total, there were seven seasons, 151 episodes, and just as many cases solved by Lisbon (Robin Tunney) and her team.

This is the first time a U.S. series has featured a mentalist, a person who uses their extraordinary observational skills to solve crimes as a police consultant. This allows him to contribute to justice and unmask the mysterious killer who murdered his wife and daughter, the infamous Red John, whose pursuit forms the underlying plot of the series.

From Success to a Career Slump

For Simon Baker, who had already proven himself in film and television with roles in The Devil Wears Prada and The Guardian, his role in Mentalist allowed him to shine even more. In 2010, as his series was breaking records, the Australian actor renegotiated his salary to $30 million per year and negotiated three additional seasons: this deal allowed him to become the series’ producer and to receive syndication shares. In the process, he became the highest-paid actor on television, surpassing Hugh Laurie (House M.D.) and Laurence Fishburne (CSI: Crime Scene Investigation).

However, all good things must come to an end. After Mentalist ended in 2015, Simon Baker struggled to find a comparable role. He failed to make a significant impact in the film industry, and television offers weren’t pouring in. It wasn’t until 2022 with Netflix that we saw him back on our screens: that year he played a supporting role in the Australian production The Boy and the Universe.

The Comeback!

After a dry spell – during which he produced several feature films – Simon Baker appears to be making a strong comeback. This year, he stars in the historical drama The Narrow Road to the Deep North, a mini-series co-created by Justin Kurzel (Assassin’s Creed). He stars alongside Jacob Elordi.

But his most significant project to date is the adaptation of Patricia Cornwell’s novels, Scarpetta, which is currently in post-production with Prime Video. He will appear alongside Nicole Kidman, who will portray the famous forensic pathologist.

Baker will portray Benton Wesley, an FBI agent who develops a romantic relationship with her. The crime series is expected to be released on the platform in 2026 and is anticipated to be one of the highlights of the year.

In the meantime, you can watch or re-watch Mentalist before it leaves Prime Video’s catalog on August 25th.