Simon R Baker's career in the spotlight began at the tender age of nine, when he landed his first starring role in the feature film "Once in a Blue Moon". This marked the start of a long and illustrious career, punctuated by notable performances in a range of television and film projects.
One of his most significant early roles was in the hit TV series "North of Sixty", which he starred in for three seasons. This was followed by a leading role in the Stephen Spielberg-produced mini-series "Into the West", as well as the lead in the Disney Channel feature film "Buffalo Dreams".
Simon's impressive resume also includes a four-month stint opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Cate Blanchett in Ron Howard's "The Missing", as well as the lead in the independent film "Buckaroo". Additionally, he has appeared in the award-winning festival hit "On the Corner", which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.
Other notable projects include the made-for-television movies "Journey to the Center of the Earth", "Dreamkeeper", and the two "North of Sixty" movies "Dream Storm" and "Distant Drumming", as well as the mini-series "Big Bear".
Simon's work in feature films has earned him numerous accolades, including a First Americans in the Arts nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Chris Eyre's "Smoke Signals". He has also appeared in the Academy Award-nominated film "The Sweet Hereafter", directed by Atom Egoyan.
His impressive filmography also includes "Now and Forever", "Shanghai Noon", "I Robot", "Spooky House", "Tribe of Joseph", and "Back to Turtle Island". In addition to his work in feature films, Simon has also appeared in a number of television series, including "Strange Empire", "The Crow", "Nothing to Good for a Cowboy", "Two", and "Hawkeye".
Simon's educational background is equally impressive, having graduated from the prestigious Canadian Film Centre's new Actors Conservatory. This highly competitive program accepted only eight students from across the country, and Simon was fortunate enough to be one of them. His instructors included industry luminaries such as Norman Jewison, Keifer Sutherland, Sarah Polley, Colm Feore, Martha Henry, Clement Virgo, Patricia Rozema, Lynne Stopkewich, and Donald Petrie, to name just a few.
In addition to his acting career, Simon has also hosted the CTV show "First Story", which highlights arts, culture, and happenings in the Native community across Canada. He is a proud member of the Squamish and Haida nations, and his mother is Cree. When he's not working, Simon enjoys playing lacrosse, practicing martial arts, and participating in Pow Wow and Haida dancing.
Currently, Simon is touring the world as the host of the show "Native Planet", which explores indigenous cultures around the world and shares their stories with a global audience. He has completed three seasons of the show and continues to be a prominent figure in the entertainment industry.
