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.Joe Don Baker
+ 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  Molly1973  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  Jerry1977  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)

Category:1936 births
Category:2025 deaths
Category:Actors from Texas
Category:Actors who played Bond villains 
Category:American movie actors
Category:American television actors