Joe Don Baker dies at 89 after decades as action star, known for Walking Tall and James Bond films

Veteran actor Joe Don Baker, known for his tough-guy roles, has died at 89; funeral scheduled for Tuesday.

Joe Don Baker, the Texas-born actor best known for his rugged performances in Walking Tall and several James Bond films, has died at the age of 89. His family announced that he passed away on May 7.

Baker rose to fame in the early 1970s, first gaining attention for his role alongside Steve McQueen in Junior Bonner (1972) and as a menacing mob hitman in Charley Varrick (1973). However, it was his portrayal of real-life sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall (1973) that cemented his place in cinema history. As Pusser, Baker depicted a relentless lawman who fought crime with a wooden club, resonating with audiences during the politically turbulent Watergate era.

The film, made on a modest budget, became an unexpected box office success, grossing around $40 million — the equivalent of over $600 million today. Director Phil Karlson attributed its popularity to audiences' desire for a strong, moral figure to root for.

Baker also made notable appearances in the James Bond franchise, playing the villainous arms dealer Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights (1987), and later returning as CIA agent Jack Wade in GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). He was also recognized for his role as CIA agent Darius Jedburgh in the acclaimed BBC miniseries Edge of Darkness (1985), which earned him a BAFTA nomination.

Born on February 12, 1936, in Groesbeck, Texas, Baker studied business before pursuing acting. He trained at The Actors Studio in New York and appeared in Broadway productions before transitioning to film and television. Over his career, he starred in The Outfit (1973), The Natural (1984), Cape Fear (1991), Mars Attacks! (1996), and Mud (2012), among others. He also led the NBC series Eischied and made appearances in In the Heat of the Night and Fletch.

Baker was married to Maria Dolores Rivero-Torres from 1969 until their divorce in 1980. He is survived by family members in Groesbeck, Texas. A funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday in Mission Hills, California.