Veteran actor and rugged star of ‘Walking Tall” and Bond series, dies at 89

Joe Don Baker, who was famous for playing tough, just characters in 1970s American films, died at 89 years old.

Through his role as Buford Pusser and his presence as both a villain and friend in the James Bond films, Baker proved himself one of Hollywood’s toughest and most memorable actors. He died in May 2025, after a battle with lung cancer at an assisted living home in Los Angeles.

Although there were initial reports of his death, his former brother-in-law only confirmed it to the Washington Post on May 15.

Born in 1936 in Groesbeck, Texas, Baker came from simple and devoted backgrounds. Before he became famous, he played football for North Texas State and joined the United States military.

The real change in his life happened after he moved to New York and attended the Actors Studio. Following the styles of Robert Mitchum and Spencer Tracy, Baker managed to show more by being quiet than many could express with just verbal words.

Fittingly, given the past, he and Mitchum co-starred in Cape Fear years later, even though it was his only time working with Mitchum professionally.

By expressing both anger and sadness, Baker’s performance made him stand out in the crowd: Buford Pusser played by Joe Don Baker in the 1973 film Walking Tall. Baker brought to life the real-life sheriff, using a baseball bat and a strong sense of fairness to represent those standing up to tyranny.

The movie surprised the box office and spoke directly to a national desire for honest heroes standing up to corruption. According to Baker, the impact of the film could be seen in neighboring countries, like

Thailand where the government was overthrown. Such stories might not be accurate, but they reflect the cultural impact the movie made at the time it came out. It became more than a hit; it turned into a phenomenon.

After Walking Tall, Baker went on to be involved in many different film and television projects over the next four decades. He was part of films that required a strong presence, like Charley Varrick, Mars Attacks!, and Reality Bites.

Although his acting wasn’t flamboyant, it always had a believable quality to it, based on things he himself had experienced. In 2012, he worked with Matthew McConaughey on the well-praised movie, Mud, directed by Jeff Nichols.

Earning the Robert Altman Award for performance allowed Baker to finish his career with an impact, standing for what was right.

Baker managed to gain a special place in the James Bond world. John Barrymore played the character of Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights in 1987, bringing a distinctly strong American style to the villain.

In the following films, he played Jack Wade, a CIA agent fond of cigars, full of wit and ready for action in GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies. Because Botha showed up as an enemy and then a friend, he became a key figure in the Bond series.

When you have typical characters showing up every time, Baker changed it up. a style rooted in American real life that was both pleasant and easy to remember.

In real life, Baker was kind and gentle despite playing many tough people on screen. Those who knew him best see him as a gentle, thoughtful person with some shyness. Being close to nature and good books, and cats, he gained inner wisdom that he carried quietly in his heart.

“I think people believe that we big guys aren’t romantic at all,” he said in a past interview. At the same time, he seems to have given his career a certain romantic and sentimental touch with his approach. Since you want to be invited again, you make sure every job is done as well as possible.

They enjoy your work, so they hire you for more jobs It was a straightforward way of thinking, but it helped him succeed for many years.

His part in television was also valued, especially for his role as Darius Jedburgh in the British Edge of Darkness miniseries. The film made him BAFTA-nominated and put his talents in front of a worldwide audience. Baker’s portrayal of Jedburgh was both enchanting and unpredictable, leaving the viewer wondering how a Texan was but also crucial to the plot of a British movie.

Later on, Baker married Maria Dolores Rivero-Torres and stayed with her from 1969 to 1980. Though his wife and he did not have children, he always kept strong ties with his family back in Texas and never let go of his heritage. Be it in a film or in daily life, he showed a true and genuine character that attracted his team and many followers.

Joe Don Baker was not after fame and glory in his acting career. It was mostly about getting things done, forming bonds, and making performances that counted. He kept his values throughout his films, whether making a justice story from the South or a Cold War thriller:

gritty, grounded, and unforgettable. Baker showed how powerful he was by beating corrupt politicians with his bat or trading quips with the fictional James Bond character. He is the kind of actor who usually didn’t get top credit, but he was so good at what he did that his scenes often improved the film.