Joe Don Baker, the tough-as-nails actor who rose to fame playing the hard-hitting sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall and later made his mark in the James Bond films — on both sides of the law — has pa.ss.ed away at 89.
A Start in Sports and Service
Baker, known for his ability to command a scene without demanding the spotlight, brought an unmistakable ruggedness to every role, whether he was cracking skulls with a bat or exchanging sharp dialogue with 007.
His career spanned decades, with 57 film credits to his name before retiring in 2012. While rarely the center of Hollywood buzz, Baker earned a reputation as a consistently compelling presence — criminally underrated, yet impossible to forget.
Born in Groesbeck, Texas, in 1936, he began as a football player at North Texas State and served in the U.S. Army. But his life took a dramatic turn when he moved to New York and joined the Actors Studio, launching a career inspired by screen legends like Robert Mitchum — his future Cape Fear co-star — and Spencer Tracy.
The Breakout: Walking Tall
Baker’s major breakthrough came in 1973 with Walking Tall, where he portrayed a no-nonsense sheriff who fought corruption armed with little more than a baseball bat and sheer determination. The movie’s bold marketing dared audiences to “stand up and applaud,” and they did — both critics and moviegoers embraced it, propelling Baker into stardom.
The film even had an international impact. Baker once claimed that after a six-month run in Thailand, it sparked a student and farmer uprising: “One hundred thousand people picked up sticks, pitchforks, and guns to overthrow the damn rip-off government,” he said.
A Versatile Career
Baker continued to build a diverse resume with roles in crime dramas like Charley Varrick, cult films like Mitchell, and big studio productions including Mars Attacks!, Reality Bites, and Cape Fear. But it was his contributions to the Bond franchise that truly cemented his pop culture legacy.
He made history in 1987 as the first American to play a Bond villain, starring opposite Timothy Dalton as arms dealer Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights. Remarkably, less than ten years later, he returned to the series as a good guy — the affable CIA agent Jack Wade — in both GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies, opposite Pierce Brosnan’s Bond.
On television, his performance as CIA agent Darius Jedburgh in the acclaimed British series Edge of Darkness earned him a BAFTA nomination and further broadened his international recognition.
Beyond the Screen
While often cast as the heavy, those who knew Baker described him as warm-hearted and deeply generous. His obituary calls him “a beacon of kindness,” noting his love for books, the outdoors, and especially his fondness for cats.
In a 1992 interview, he reflected on the challenges of typecasting: “They don’t think big guys like us are romantic, or funny. But you do the best work you can so they’ll want to hire you again.”
His final film role was in Mud (2012), where he acted alongside Matthew McConaughey. The film earned the Robert Altman Award, and Baker quietly stepped away from acting afterward.
Baker was married to Maria Dolores Rivero-Torres from 1969 until their divorce in 1980. They had no children. He is survived by relatives in his Texas hometown.
His Final Days
Joe Don Baker pa.ss.ed away from lung can.cer on May 7, 2025, in a Los Angeles assisted living facility, according to a former brother-in-law who spoke with The Washington Post. News of his death was made public on May 15.
From small-town Texas to the global stage of Bond and beyond, Baker crafted a career defined by grit, depth, and authenticity. He may be gone, but his impact remains — rest in peace, Joe Don Baker.
