Joe Don Baker

**Joe Don Baker** (February 12, 1936 – May 7, 2025)  is an American actor.

## Career

He began his career as a guest on TV series _Honey West_ (1965), _Judd for the Defense_ (1967), and _Bonanza_ (1968) among others. 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 1980s, 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
Baker died of lung cancer at an assisted living facility in Los Angeles, on May 7, 2025, at the age of 89. He was buried at Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery.
|Year|Tíle|Role|class="unsortable"|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

- Joe Don Baker fansite (Defunct prior to 1/10)
- Joe Don Baker Tribute (Defunct prior to 1/10)

## Infobox (person)

- **name**: Joe Don Baker
- **image**: Joe Don Baker "Mitchell" (1977 CBS press photo).jpg
- **caption**: Baker in _Mitchell (film), Mitchell_ (1975)
- **birth place**: Groesbeck, Texas, U.S.
- **death place**: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
- **education**: North Texas State (now University of North Texas)
- **occupation**: Actor
- **years active**: 1964–2012