Dylan Baker
Encyclopedia
Dylan Baker is an American
actor
, known for playing supporting roles in both major studio and independent film
s.
, but was raised in Lynchburg, Virginia
. He began his career as a teenager in regional theater productions. He attended Holy Cross Regional Catholic School
and then went on to attend Darlington School and finally graduated from the Georgetown Preparatory School
in 1976. He attended the College of William and Mary
in Virginia and Georgia Tech in Georgia and later graduated from Southern Methodist University
in 1980. Baker then received a Masters in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama
, where he studied alongside Chris Noth
and Patricia Clarkson
.
credits include Eastern Standard
, La Bête
, Mauritius
, and God of Carnage
. He won an Obie Award
in 1986 for his performance in the off-Broadway
play Not About Heroes
.
The next year, he made his motion picture debut in the 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
Baker's first recurring TV role was on Steven Bochco's
highly acclaimed Murder One
. Since then, he has appeared in such TV series as Northern Exposure
, Law & Order
, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
, Without a Trace
, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
, The West Wing, and the short-lived sitcom The Pitts
.
He garnered major critical attention in 1998 with his performance as a tormented pedophile in Todd Solondz
's Happiness. He also gained notice for his portrayal of Dr. Curt Conners in Spider-Man 2
and Spider-Man 3
.
In 2000, he portrayed Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara
in Thirteen Days
, a historical drama about the Cuban Missile Crisis
. He also held a small role in Requiem for a Dream, where he played a doctor who sees Jared Leto
's character with a severely infected, rotting arm. In 2002 he portrayed Alexander Rance, an accountant for an Irish crime syndicate, in Road to Perdition
.
During the short-lived 2007 series Drive
, Baker played the role of John Trimble, a father suffering from a terminal illness
.
Baker most recently played William Cross in NBC
's Kings
, in which his wife Becky Ann Baker
played Jessie Shepherd, the mother of protagonist
David Shepherd. Baker also guest starred in an episode of Monk
, playing a theater critic who murders his girlfriend in "Mr. Monk and the Critic". He earned an Emmy nomination for his guest star role on The Good Wife.
Baker guest starred in the November 2010 House
episode "A Pox on Our House".
Baker guest starred in the season four
finale of Burn Notice
as Raines, an old spy friend of Michael's. He reprised the role in the season five premiere, and also permitted his likeness to be used in the Burn Notice
graphic novel "A New Day".
In 2010, Baker played Hollis B. Chenery in Secretariat
.
Baker played Pashto-speaking CIA agent Jerry Boorman in season 4 of Damages.
, The Corrections
) to biography (Steve Jobs
).
In 1990, he married actress Becky Gelke, now known professionally as Becky Ann Baker
. They have a daughter, Willa, and reside in New York City
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, known for playing supporting roles in both major studio and independent film
Independent film
An independent film, or indie film, is a professional film production resulting in a feature film that is produced mostly or completely outside of the major film studio system. In addition to being produced and distributed by independent entertainment companies, independent films are also produced...
s.
Early life
Baker was born in Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, but was raised in Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
. He began his career as a teenager in regional theater productions. He attended Holy Cross Regional Catholic School
Holy Cross Regional Catholic School (Lynchburg, Virginia)
Holy Cross Regional Catholic School is a private, Roman Catholic school in Lynchburg, Virginia for Pre-K through 12th grade. It is in association with the Roman Catholic Diocese of Richmond.-Background:...
and then went on to attend Darlington School and finally graduated from the Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School
Georgetown Preparatory School is an American Jesuit college preparatory school for grades 9 through 12. It is the oldest all boys school in the United States, and the only Jesuit boarding school in the country...
in 1976. He attended the College of William and Mary
College of William and Mary
The College of William & Mary in Virginia is a public research university located in Williamsburg, Virginia, United States...
in Virginia and Georgia Tech in Georgia and later graduated from Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University
Southern Methodist University is a private university in Dallas, Texas, United States. Founded in 1911 by the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, SMU operates campuses in Dallas, Plano, and Taos, New Mexico. SMU is owned by the South Central Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church...
in 1980. Baker then received a Masters in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama
Yale School of Drama
The Yale School of Drama is a graduate professional school of Yale University providing training in every discipline of the theatre: acting, design , directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, sound design, technical design and production, and theater...
, where he studied alongside Chris Noth
Chris Noth
Christopher David "Chris" Noth is an American actor. He is known for long-running television roles as Det. Mike Logan on the police procedural and legal drama television series, Law & Order and Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and as Big on Sex and the City. For the latter role, he has been...
and Patricia Clarkson
Patricia Clarkson
Patricia Davies Clarkson is an American actress. After studying drama on the East Coast, Clarkson launched her acting career in 1985, and has worked steadily in both film and television. She twice won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actress in Six Feet Under...
.
Career
Baker's Broadway theatreBroadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
credits include Eastern Standard
Eastern Standard
Eastern Standard is a play by Richard Greenberg. Set in 1987, it focuses on yuppies, AIDS, the stock market and insider trading scandals, homelessness, and urban malaise.-Plot:...
, La Bête
La Bête
La Bête is a comedy by American playwright, David Hirson. Written in rhymed couplets of iambic pentameter, the Molière-inspired story, set in 17th century France, pits dignified, stuffy Elomire, the head of the royal court-sponsored theatre troupe, against the foppish, frivolous street entertainer...
, Mauritius
Mauritius (play)
Mauritius is a play on Broadway which opened on October 4, 2007 at the Biltmore Theatre and closed November 25, 2007. Written by Pulitzer Prize for Drama-nominee Theresa Rebeck, it is her Broadway debut. It is about two sisters who inherit a stamp collection which might be worth a fortune. Many of...
, and God of Carnage
God of Carnage
God of Carnage is a play by Yasmina Reza. It is about two pairs of parents, one of whose child has hurt the other at a public park, who meet to discuss the matter in a civilized manner. However, as the evening goes on, the parents become increasingly childish, resulting in the evening devolving...
. He won an Obie Award
Obie Award
The Obie Awards or Off-Broadway Theater Awards are annual awards given by The Village Voice newspaper to theatre artists and groups in New York City...
in 1986 for his performance in the off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
play Not About Heroes
Not About Heroes
Not About Heroes is a drama by Stephen MacDonald about the real-life relationship between the poets Wilfred Owen and Siegfried Sassoon first performed at the Edinburgh Festival in 1982....
.
The next year, he made his motion picture debut in the 1987 film Planes, Trains and Automobiles.
Baker's first recurring TV role was on Steven Bochco's
Steven Bochco
Steven Ronald Bochco is a US television producer and writer. He has developed a number of popular television hits including Hill Street Blues, L.A. Law, and NYPD Blue, as well as some notable flops such as Cop Rock....
highly acclaimed Murder One
Murder One (TV series)
Murder One is an American legal drama series that first aired on the ABC network in the United States in 1995. The series was created by Steven Bochco, Charles H. Eglee, and Channing Gibson.-Premise:...
. Since then, he has appeared in such TV series as Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure
Northern Exposure is an American television series that ran on CBS from 1990 to 1995, with a total of 110 episodes.-Overview:The series was given a pair of consecutive Peabody Awards: in 1991–92 for the show's "depict[ion] in a comedic and often poetic way, [of] the cultural clash between a...
, Law & Order
Law & Order
Law & Order is an American police procedural and legal drama television series, created by Dick Wolf and part of the Law & Order franchise. It aired on NBC, and in syndication on various cable networks. Law & Order premiered on September 13, 1990, and completed its 20th and final season on May 24,...
, Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Law & Order: Criminal Intent is an American police procedural television drama series set in New York City, where it was also primarily produced. Created and produced by Dick Wolf and René Balcer, the series premiered on September 30, 2001, as the second spin-off of Wolf's successful crime drama...
, Without a Trace
Without a Trace
Without a Trace is an American television drama which originally ran on CBS from September 26, 2002 to May 19, 2009. The series was set in New York City and concerned a fictitious FBI Missing Persons Unit.-Premise:...
, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
, The West Wing, and the short-lived sitcom The Pitts
The Pitts
The Pitts was a short-lived FOX sitcom that aired 7 half-hour episodes between March and April 2003. It is about a family and their bad luck. It was a satire on typical American sitcoms with over-the-top sight gags.-Premise:...
.
He garnered major critical attention in 1998 with his performance as a tormented pedophile in Todd Solondz
Todd Solondz
Todd Solondz is an American independent film screenwriter and director known for his style of dark, thought-provoking, socially conscious satire. Solondz has been critically acclaimed for his examination of the "dark underbelly of middle class American suburbia", a reflection of his own background...
's Happiness. He also gained notice for his portrayal of Dr. Curt Conners in Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2
Spider-Man 2 is a 2004 American superhero film directed by Sam Raimi, written by Alvin Sargent and developed by Alfred Gough, Miles Millar, and Michael Chabon. It is the second film in the Spider-Man film franchise based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
and Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3
Spider-Man 3 is a 2007 American superhero film written and directed by Sam Raimi, with a screenplay by Ivan Raimi and Alvin Sargent. It is the third film in the Sam Raimi Spider-Man trilogy based on the fictional Marvel Comics character Spider-Man...
.
In 2000, he portrayed Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara
Robert McNamara
Robert Strange McNamara was an American business executive and the eighth Secretary of Defense, serving under Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson from 1961 to 1968, during which time he played a large role in escalating the United States involvement in the Vietnam War...
in Thirteen Days
Thirteen Days (film)
Thirteen Days is a 2000 docudrama directed by Roger Donaldson about the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, seen from the perspective of the US political leadership. Kevin Costner stars, with Bruce Greenwood featured as John F. Kennedy....
, a historical drama about the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
. He also held a small role in Requiem for a Dream, where he played a doctor who sees Jared Leto
Jared Leto
Jared Joseph Leto is an American actor, director, producer, occasional model and musician. Leto has appeared in both big budget Hollywood films and smaller projects from independent producers and art houses. He rose to prominence for playing Jordan Catalano in the teenage drama My So-Called Life...
's character with a severely infected, rotting arm. In 2002 he portrayed Alexander Rance, an accountant for an Irish crime syndicate, in Road to Perdition
Road to Perdition
Road to Perdition is a 2002 American crime film directed by Sam Mendes. The screenplay was adapted by David Self, from the graphic novel of the same name by Max Allan Collins. The film stars Tom Hanks, Paul Newman, Jude Law, and Daniel Craig...
.
During the short-lived 2007 series Drive
Drive (TV series)
Drive is a short-lived American action drama television series created by Tim Minear and Ben Queen, produced by Minear, Queen, and Greg Yaitanes, and starring Nathan Fillion, four episodes of which aired on the Fox network in April 2007...
, Baker played the role of John Trimble, a father suffering from a terminal illness
Terminal illness
Terminal illness is a medical term popularized in the 20th century to describe a disease that cannot be cured or adequately treated and that is reasonably expected to result in the death of the patient within a short period of time. This term is more commonly used for progressive diseases such as...
.
Baker most recently played William Cross in NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's Kings
Kings (U.S. TV series)
Kings is an American television drama series which aired on NBC. The series' narrative is loosely based on the Biblical story of King David, but set in a kingdom that culturally and technologically resembles the present-day United States....
, in which his wife Becky Ann Baker
Becky Ann Baker
Becky Ann Baker is an American actress who is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Jean Weir on NBC's Emmy Award-winning Freaks and Geeks.-Early life:Baker was born Becky Gelke in Fort Knox, Kentucky...
played Jessie Shepherd, the mother of protagonist
Protagonist
A protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
David Shepherd. Baker also guest starred in an episode of Monk
Monk (TV series)
Monk is an American comedy-drama detective mystery television series created by Andy Breckman and starring Tony Shalhoub as the titular character, Adrian Monk. It originally ran from 2002 to 2009 and is primarily a mystery series, although it has dark and comic touches.The series debuted on July...
, playing a theater critic who murders his girlfriend in "Mr. Monk and the Critic". He earned an Emmy nomination for his guest star role on The Good Wife.
Baker guest starred in the November 2010 House
House (TV series)
House is an American television medical drama that debuted on the Fox network on November 16, 2004. The show's central character is Dr. Gregory House , an unconventional and misanthropic medical genius who heads a team of diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in...
episode "A Pox on Our House".
Baker guest starred in the season four
Burn Notice (season 4)
The fourth season of the American television spy drama Burn Notice premiered on June 3, 2010 on the cable television channel USA Network...
finale of Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
as Raines, an old spy friend of Michael's. He reprised the role in the season five premiere, and also permitted his likeness to be used in the Burn Notice
Burn notice
A burn notice is an official statement issued by one intelligence agency to other agencies. It states that an individual or a group is unreliable for one or more reasons...
graphic novel "A New Day".
In 2010, Baker played Hollis B. Chenery in Secretariat
Secretariat (film)
Secretariat is a 2010 biographical film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and Mayhem Pictures, and directed by Randall Wallace. The film chronicles the life of thoroughbred race horse Secretariat, winner of the Triple Crown in 1973...
.
Baker played Pashto-speaking CIA agent Jerry Boorman in season 4 of Damages.
Audiobooks
Baker is a prolific narrator of audiobooks, having narrated a wide range of books, ranging from fiction (The Grapes of WrathThe Grapes of Wrath
The Grapes of Wrath is a novel published in 1939 and written by John Steinbeck, who was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 and the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1962....
, The Corrections
The Corrections
The Corrections is a 2001 novel by American author Jonathan Franzen. It revolves around the troubles of an elderly Midwestern couple and their three adult children, tracing their lives from the mid-twentieth century to "one last Christmas" together near the turn of the millennium...
) to biography (Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs (biography)
Steve Jobs is the authorized biography of Steve Jobs. The biography is written at the request of Jobs by acclaimed biographer Walter Isaacson, a former executive at CNN and Time who has written best-selling biographies about Benjamin Franklin and Albert Einstein.Based on more than forty interviews...
).
Personal life
Becky Ann Baker
Becky Ann Baker is an American actress who is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Jean Weir on NBC's Emmy Award-winning Freaks and Geeks.-Early life:Baker was born Becky Gelke in Fort Knox, Kentucky...
. They have a daughter, Willa, and reside in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.