Joe Don Baker, the rugged Texan actor known for his iconic role in “Walking Tall” and appearances in three James Bond films, has died at 89. Baker died from lung cancer on May 7, 2025, at an assisted living center in Los Angeles, California.
Born February 12, 1936, in Groesbeck, Texas, Baker established himself as a quintessential tough guy on screen, portraying characters on both sides of the law throughout a career that spanned more than four decades. His family described him as a “beacon of kindness and generosity” whose “intellectual curiosity made him a voracious reader, inspiring a great love of nature and animals, particularly cats.”
Baker’s breakthrough role came in 1973 when he starred as real-life Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser in “Walking Tall,” a film about a former wrestler who takes on corruption in his small town armed with a wooden club. The independent film became an unexpected box office sensation, grossing an estimated $40 million on a budget of approximately $500,000.
In a mid-1990s interview, Baker reflected that his film resonated during the Watergate era when many Americans felt powerless against political corruption. He explained that “Walking Tall” satisfied a common vigilante fantasy – the desire to confront wrongdoers that most people couldn’t act upon without consequences. At the same time, his character Pusser had the authority to do so.
The 6-foot-2 actor’s physical presence and distinctive Texas drawl made him perfect for the tough-guy roles that defined his career. Before his breakthrough, Baker had already begun to attract attention with supporting roles in Westerns both on television and in film, including “Guns of the Magnificent Seven” (1969) and “Wild Rovers” (1971).
Baker first attracted mainstream attention in 1972 when he starred as the younger, business-minded brother of an aging Arizona rodeo rider (Steve McQueen) in Sam Peckinpah’s “Junior Bonner,” followed up in a role portraying a sadistic mob hitman named Molly in Don Siegel’s “Charley Varrick,” starring Walter Matthau.
Baker achieved a rare distinction in the James Bond franchise, playing two characters across three films. He first appeared as the villainous arms dealer Brad Whitaker in “The Living Daylights” (1987), which starred Timothy Dalton as 007. Baker later returned to the series in a heroic role, playing CIA agent Jack Wade in “GoldenEye” (1995) and “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997), both starring Pierce Brosnan as Bond.
Throughout his career, Baker demonstrated remarkable versatility, taking on a wide variety of roles. He played a legendary baseball player in “The Natural” (1984), a corrupt police chief in the Chevy Chase comedy “Fletch” (1985), and a morally dubious private investigator in Martin Scorsese’s remake of “Cape Fear” (1991).
His television work was equally impressive. Baker received a BAFTA TV Award nomination for portraying a CIA agent in the acclaimed BBC series “Edge of Darkness.” He was also nominated for Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for his role as Alabama governor Big Jim Folsom in the television film “George Wallace.”
After excelling in football and basketball at Groesbeck High School, Baker attended North Texas State College (now the University of North Texas) on a sports scholarship. There, he played linebacker, served as co-captain of the football team, and joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity before graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1958.
Following his college graduation, Baker served two years in the United States Army before moving to New York City to study at the prestigious Actors Studio, where he would remain a lifetime member. He cited Robert Mitchum and Spencer Tracy as his major influences.
Baker’s stage career included appearances on Broadway during the 1963-64 season in productions of “Marathon ’33” and “Blues for Mister Charlie” before he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue film and television opportunities.
Later in his career, Baker continued to take on memorable roles in films including “Reality Bites” (1994), “Mars Attacks!” (1996), “Joe Dirt” (2001), and “The Dukes of Hazzard” (2005).
Baker’s final role was in Jeff Nichols’ 2012 drama “Mud,” starring Matthew McConaughey. He was part of the ensemble cast that received the Robert Altman Award at the Independent Spirit Awards. After this performance, he retired from acting.
Baker was married to Maria Dolores Rivero-Torres from 1969 until their divorce in 1980. He had no children but is survived by extended family in his hometown of Groesbeck, Texas.
A funeral service to honor Baker’s life will be held on May 20, 2025, at Utter McKinley Mortuary in Mission Hills, California.
Baker’s legacy endures through his extensive filmography of nearly 60 movies and numerous television appearances, which showcase his talent for bringing authenticity and depth to every character he portrayed during his long and successful career in Hollywood.
