Joe Don Baker facts for kids

Joe Don Baker (born February 12, 1936 – died May 7, 2025) was an American actor. He was famous for playing "tough guy" characters, sometimes as a hero and sometimes as a bad guy. He became well-known for his role as the real-life sheriff Buford Pusser in the movie Walking Tall (1973).

Joe Don Baker also appeared in three James Bond films. He played a villain named Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights (1987). Later, he played a helpful CIA agent named Jack Wade in GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). He was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for his role in the TV show Edge of Darkness (1985).

Early Life and School

Joe Don Baker was born in Groesbeck, Texas. His parents were Edna and Doyle Charles Baker. After his mother passed away when he was 12, his aunt Anna Thompson raised him.

In high school, he was a talented athlete. He played basketball and was a co-captain and linebacker in American football. He went to North Texas State College on a sports scholarship. He was part of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and earned a degree in business in 1958.

After college, Joe Don Baker served in the United States Army for two years. Then, he moved to New York City to study acting at the Actors Studio. He looked up to famous actors like Robert Mitchum and Spencer Tracy.

Acting Career Highlights

Starting Out in Acting

Joe Don Baker began his acting career on television. He also had small roles in movies, including an uncredited part in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke. He appeared in many TV shows like The Big Valley and Mod Squad. In 1971, he was the main character in the TV movie Mongo's Back in Town.

Standing at 6 feet 2 inches tall, Baker's strong build and Texas accent were perfect for Westerns. He appeared in films like Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) and Wild Rovers (1971). His film career really took off when he played Steve McQueen's younger brother in Junior Bonner (1972).

Becoming a Star with Walking Tall

In 1973, Joe Don Baker became a big star by playing Sheriff Buford Pusser in the action film Walking Tall. The movie was about a real-life sheriff who fought crime. It became a huge hit and made $23 million at the box office. Even though critics praised his acting, he decided not to be in the sequel.

That same year, his role as Molly in Charley Varrick helped make him even more famous. He also acted alongside Robert Duvall in the crime film The Outfit. In 1975, he starred in Mitchell, a movie that was later made fun of on the TV show Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Later Notable Roles

In 1984, Joe Don Baker played "The Whammer," a baseball player like Babe Ruth, in the movie The Natural, which starred Robert Redford. The next year, in 1985, he played the police chief Jerry Karlin in the comedy Fletch, starring Chevy Chase. In the UK, he played a CIA agent named Darius Jedburgh in the TV show Edge of Darkness. He was nominated for a BAFTA TV Award for this role.

In 1991, he worked with director Martin Scorsese in the movie Cape Fear. He played a private detective hired to protect a family from a dangerous criminal.

Joe Don Baker also filled in for actor Carroll O'Connor on the TV series In the Heat of the Night. He played Captain Tom Dugan for four episodes. Later in his career, he appeared in films like Joe Dirt (2001), The Dukes of Hazzard (2005), and Mud (2012).

His Roles in James Bond Films

Joe Don Baker is well-known for his parts in the James Bond movie series.

In 1987, he played the main villain, an arms dealer named Brad Whitaker, in The Living Daylights. In this film, Timothy Dalton played James Bond.

Years later, he returned to the Bond series but as a different character. He played Jack Wade, a friendly CIA agent, in two movies starring Pierce Brosnan as Bond: GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).

Death

Joe Don Baker passed away on May 7, 2025, at the age of 89.

See also

In Spanish: Joe Don Baker para niños