‘James Bond’ and ‘Walking Tall’ actor Joe Don Baker dead at 89
Hollywood has lost one of their own.
Actor Joe Don Baker died at age 89 on May 7, per his obituary. The star was perhaps best known for his role as Sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1973 action/thriller “Walking Tall.”
Baker first rose to fame in the 1972 western flick “Junior Bonner,” playing Curly, the younger brother of Steve McQueen’s character Junior Bonner, a middle-aged rodeo rider.
Baker also had a role in the James Bond films, first playing arms dealer Brad Whitaker in the 1987 movie “The Living Daylights” that starred Timothy Dalton as 007.
In 1995 and 1997, the actor was back — this time as CIA agent Jack Wade in “GoldenEye” and “Tomorrow Never Dies,” which were led by Pierce Brosnan as Bond.
“Born on February 12, 1936, Joe Don was a beacon of kindness and generosity. His intellectual curiosity made him a voracious reader, inspiring a great love of nature and animals, particularly cats,” his obituary reads. “Throughout his life, Joe Don touched many lives with his warmth and compassion, leaving an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him.”
Baker grew up in Groesbeck, Texas, where he “excelled in football and basketball,” per the obit.
“His athletic skills led him to secure a scholarship at North Texas State College, where he joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and graduated in 1958 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. In 1994 he received the Distinguished Alumni award from his College, now renamed University of North Texas.”
After joining the army, Baker moved to New York City and studied at the Actor’s Studio.
“Eventually, he moved to Los Angeles, where his acting career gradually took off,” the obituary continued. “Starting with small television parts, he eventually progressed to major acting roles as leading man and later in life as a character actor. During his long career, until his retirement in 2012 he performed in 57 movies.”
During his career, Baker won the Robert Altman Award at the Independent Spirit Awards for his role in the 2012 movie “Mud,” which also starred Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard and Sarah Paulson.
Baker was also nominated for best actor by the British Academy of Television for his role in the 1985 movie “Edge of Darkness,” and again for Best Supporting Actor in 1997 for the film “George Wallace.”
Baker was married from 1969 to 1980, but never had kids.
“Joe Don’s 11-year marriage produced no offspring. He is survived by relations in his native Groesbeck, who will forever cherish his memory. He is mourned by a small but very close circle of friends who will miss him eternally.”
The obituary concluded, “As we say goodbye to Joe Don, we hold onto the memories and the love he shared with us. Though he may no longer be with us in body, his spirit will always remain, a guiding light in the lives he touched. Rest in peace, Joe Don. You will be dearly missed but never forgotten.”