Joe Don Baker

Joe Don Baker (February 12, 1936 – August 4, 2023) was an American actor.

Joe Don Baker
Born(1936-02-12)February 12, 1936
DiedAugust 4, 2023(2023-08-04) (aged 87)
NationalityAmerican
Occupationactor

Career

He began his career as a guest on TV series Honey West (1965), Judd for the Defense (1967), and Bonanza (1968) among other. Her first major role was in the western movie, Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969), starring with George Kennedy

Baker is known for starring in emblematic action movie in the '70s as Walking Tall (1973), which plays the incorruptible sheriff Buford Pusser of Tennessee, the movie was one of the most violent in the '70s and launched Baker star in action movies.

His second movie Charley Varrick (1973), was directed by Don Siegel. Here he plays a hired killer who should be responsible for eliminating Charley Varrick played by Walter Matthau

In the 1980 Baker appeared on television and movies as The Natural (1984), Final Justice (1985), The Abduction of Kari Swenson, TV (1987), and the TV series In the Heat of the Night (1989) as Chief Tom Dugan.

In 1992 he starred as Claude Kersek in charge of guarding Sam Bowden; Nick Nolte, in Cape Fear (1991), with Robert De Niro and directed by Martin Scorsese.

He also worked in the James Bond movies The Living Daylights (1987), GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).

One of his last jobs was at The Dukes of Hazzard (2005), Baker as Governor Jim Applewhite.

1967 episode Judd For the Defense. Character: Meryl Varney

Death

Baker died on August 4, 2023 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee from pneumonia-related problems, aged 87.[1]


Movie
Year Tíle Role Notes
1969 Guns of the Magnificent Seven Slater
1970 Adam at Six A.M. Harvey Gavin
1971 Wild Rovers Paul Buckman
1972 Junior Bonner Curly Bonner
1972 Welcome Home, Soldier Boys Danny
1973 Walking Tall Buford Pusser
1973 Charley Varrick Molly
1973 The Outfit Cody
1974 Golden Needles Dan
1975 Framed Ron Lewis
1975 Mitchell Mitchell
1977 Checkered Flag or Crash Walkaway Madden
1977 The Shadow of Chikara Wishbone Cutter
1977 The Pack Jerry
1977 Speedtrap Pete Novick
1982 Wacko Dick Harbinger
1983 Joysticks Joseph Rutter
1984 The Natural The Whammer
1985 Final Justice Sheriff Thomas Jefferson
1985 Fletch Chief Jerry Karlin
1986 Getting Even King R. Kenderson
1987 The Living Daylights Brad Whitaker
1987 The Killing Time Carl Cunningham
1987 Leonard Part 6 Nick Snyderburn
1988 Criminal Law Det. Mesel
1990 The Children Cliffe Wheater
1991 Cape Fear Claude Kersek
1992 The Distinguished Gentleman Olaf Andersen
1994 Reality Bites Tom Pierce
1994 Ring of Steel Man in Black
1995 Felony Donovan
1995 Underneath Clay Hinkle
1995 Panther Brimmer
1995 Congo R.B. Travis
1995 The Grass Harp Sheriff Junius Candle
1995 GoldenEye Jack Wade
1996 Mars Attacks! Richie's Dad
1997 Tomorrow Never Dies Jack Wade
2001 Vegas, City of Dreams Dylan Garrett
2001 Joe Dirt Don, Brandy's Dad (uncredited)
2003 The Commission Rep. Hale Boggs
2005 The Dukes of Hazzard Governor Jim Applewhite
2008 Strange Wilderness Bill Calhoun

References