Walking Tall is a 1973 American action semi-biopic film of Sheriff Buford Pusser, a professional wrestler-turned-lawman in McNairy County, Tennessee. It starred Joe Don Baker as Pusser. The film was directed by Phil Karlson. Based on Pusser's life, it was a combination of very loosely based fact and Hollywood revisionism. It has since become a well known cult classic with two direct sequels of its own, a TV movie, a brief TV series and a remake that had its own two sequels.

Answer this question: who was the original actor in walking tall? Let's give stream of consciousness first:
The important part for answering this question is: It starred Joe Don Baker as Pusser.
So, the final answer is Joe Don Baker.