Joe Don Baker, the rugged screen presence who embodied the grit and justice of 1970s American cinema, has died at the age of 89. Known for his iconic portrayal of no-nonsense sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall and for his rare double role in the James Bond universe-as both villain and ally-Baker leaves behind a legacy of toughness, talent, and quiet charisma.
Baker passed away on May 7, 2025, from lung cancer at an assisted living facility in Los Angeles. His death, confirmed by a former brother-in-law to The Washington Post, wasn’t publicly announced until May 15.
From Texas Fields to Hollywood Screens
Born in 1936 in Groesbeck, Texas, Baker’s early days were far from the glitz of Hollywood. He played football at North Texas State and served in the Army before fate took a hard turn toward acting. He moved to New York, joined the prestigious Actors Studio, and carved out a career built on quiet intensity and uncompromising authenticity.
Two of his biggest influences were Robert Mitchum and Spencer Tracy-actors who knew how to say everything without saying much at all. Fittingly, Baker would later share the screen w Mitchum in Cape
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