Joe Don Baker, the award-winning actor best known for his role in Walking Tall and his appearances in three James Bond films, has died at the age of 89. His family announced that he passed away on May 7. The cause of death was not released.
Born on February 12, 1936, in Groesbeck, Texas, Baker got a degree in business administration from North Texas State College before serving two years in the US Army. He later moved to New York City to train as an actor at the world-renowned Actors Studio before launching his film and television career.
As reported by Fox News, Baker made his screen debut in 1965 with the television series Honey West and gained early attention with a role in the 1967 film Cool Hand Luke. His big break came in 1973 with Walking Tall, where he played Sheriff Buford Pusser, gaining widespread acclaim. He also gained fame for his appearances in James Bond movies, appearing in The Living Daylights (1987), GoldenEye (1995), and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).
A Versatile Talent Across Genres
Over nearly five decades, Baker played characters in an assortment of movies, such as Mitchell, Charlie Varrick, The Natural, Cape Fear (1991), Fletch, Mars Attacks!, and Reality Bites.
On television, he starred in the series Eischeid and made guest appearances on classic shows such as Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, and In the Heat of the Night.
Baker was nominated for a BAFTA for his role in the British miniseries Edge of Darkness. His last film appearance was in Mud, released in 2012 starring as Matthew McConaughey. He retired from acting later that year.
Although married for 11 years, Baker had no children. He is survived by family in Groesbeck and a close-knit group of friends. A funeral service will take place in Mission Hills, California.