Simon Denny/Baker : another father&son's story

[lambertoise]

Does anybody know why Simon Baker chose to retrieve his birth name (Baker)? It seems a pretty dramatic gesture, (even though, I admit Baker goes very well with Simon) . I read in one of his bio that he was given his stepfather name (Denny) so probably, in order to do that, the biological father had to let go of his parental rights. It's none of my business, but it must have looked like a slap on the face for his mother and stepfather, don't you think?

[mb20]

From SimonSphere..

He only found out later that his stepfather was not his biological father - they never got along but Simon was loyal to him because he raised him.

[spunkymungbeans]

As a general rule a mother cannot change a child's name without the consent of the father. That doesn't mean they don't just go ahead and do it anyway.

I should point out in Australia there is no concept of 'parental rights'. In court proceedings there is only what is in 'the best interests of the child'. In family court matters the interests of the child are paramount. Generally, it is considered in the child's best interests (excluding considerations of abuse and neglect) for the child to remain in contact with both parents. But parents do not have any 'parental rights' as such.

[bakergirl]

lambertoise said:

Does anybody know why Simon Baker chose to retrieve his birth name (Baker)? It seems a pretty dramatic gesture, (even though, I admit Baker goes very well with Simon) . I read in one of his bio that he was given his stepfather name (Denny) so probably, in order to do that, the biological father had to let go of his parental rights. It's none of my business, but it must have looked like a slap on the face for his mother and stepfather, don't you think?

In many of the previous interviews Simon Baker has given, it's explained like this --

Quote:

"I was born Simon Baker and my name was changed to Simon Denny by my stepfather.
When I was having a child, [Stella] I found my father again and I changed my name to Baker - Denny.
It's taken me 30 years to finally understand who I am and where I came from.
Now, I've dropped the Denny and am back to what it says on my birth certificate."

By Paulette Cohn, ET Online staff.
December 12, 2001

---

Incidentally;
/me Simon's Mother and Stepfather are now also divorced.
/me Simon's sister - Terri - is a Doctor.
/me Simon's Mother and daughter, Stella, had both a small part in his movie "The affair of the necklace."

[mb20]

I didn't know his sister's name was Terri.

[bakergirl]

....Silly girl.