Person
Joe Don Baker
Acting · 1936–2025 · Groesbeck, Texas, USA
Biography
Joe Don Baker (February 12, 1936 - May 7, 2025) was an American film actor, perhaps best known for his roles as a Mafia hitman in Charley Varrick, real-life Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall, James Bond villain Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights, and CIA agent Jack Wade in the James Bond films GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies.
Known for
Bonanza
Luke Harper
Ironside
1967
Mission: Impossible
Frank Kearney
Screen Two
Hunter McCall
The Big Valley
Tom Lightfoot
The F.B.I.
Alex Drake
Gunsmoke
Woody Stoner
The High Chaparral
Yuma
Felony Squad
1966
The Mod Squad
1968
Filmography
- 2013MudKing
- 2008Strange WildernessBill Calhoun
- 2007The 50 Greatest Television DramasSelf
- 2005The Dukes of HazzardGovernor Jim Applewhite
- 2004Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood RenegadeSelf (archive footage)
- 2003The CommissionRep. Hale Boggs
- 2001Joe DirtDon, Brandy's Dad (uncredited)
- 2001Vegas, City of DreamsDylan Garrett
- 2000Inside The Living DaylightsSelf
- 2000Inside 'The Living Daylights'Self
- 1999Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris DukeBuck Duke
- 1998Poodle SpringsP.J. Parker
- 1997Tomorrow Never DiesWade
- 1997George WallaceBig Jim Folsom
- 1997George WallaceBig Jim Folsom
- 1997To Dance with OliviaHorace
- 1996Mars Attacks!Glenn Norris
- 1996The Grass HarpSheriff Junius Candle
- 1996The Siege at Ruby RidgeGerry Spence
- 1996The Siege at Ruby RidgeGerry Spence
- 1996FelonyDonovan
- 1995GoldenEyeJack Wade
- 1995CongoR.B. Travis
- 1995PantherBrimmer
- 1995The UnderneathClay Hinkle
- 1994Ring of SteelMan in Black
- 1994Reality BitesTom Pierce
- 1993Complex of FearDet. Frank Farrel
- 1992The Distinguished GentlemanOlaf Andersen
- 1992Citizen CohnSen. Joseph McCarthy
- 1991Cape FearClaude Kersek
- 1990The ChildrenCliffe Wheater
- 1989Criminal LawDetective Mesel
- 1989Defrosting the FridgeHunter McCall
- 1987Leonard Part 6Snyderburn
- 1987The Killing TimeCarl Cunningham
- 1987The Living DaylightsBrad Whitaker
- 1987The Abduction of Kari SwensonSheriff Onstad
- 1986Getting EvenKing R. Kenderson
- 1985Edge of DarknessDarius Jedburgh
- 1985FletchChief Jerry Karlin
- 1985Screen TwoHunter McCall
- 1984Final JusticeDeputy Sheriff Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III
- 1984The NaturalThe Whammer
- 1983JoysticksJoseph Rutter
- 1982WackoDick Harbinger
- 1980PowerTommy Vanda
- 1979EischiedEarl Eischied
- 1978To Kill a CopChief Earl M. Eischied
- 1978To Kill a CopChief Earl Eischied
- 1977The PackJerry
- 1977SpeedtrapPete Novick
- 1977The Shadow of ChikaraWishbone Cutter
- 1977Checkered Flag or CrashWalkaway Madden
- 1975MitchellMitchell
- 1975FramedRon Lewis
- 1974Golden NeedlesDan Mason
- 1973The OutfitJack Cody
- 1973Doc ElliotAaron Hickey
- 1973Charley VarrickMolly
- 1973Walking TallBuford Pusser
- 1972That Certain SummerPhil Bonner
- 1972Junior BonnerCurly Bonner
- 1972The Valachi PapersIrish member of Valachi gang (uncredited)
- 1971Welcome Home, Soldier BoysDanny
- 1971Mongo's Back in TownMongo Nash
- 1971Wild RoversPaul Buckman
- 1970Adam at Six A.M.Harvey Gavin
- 1969Guns of the Magnificent SevenSlater
- 1968The Mod Squad
- 1968Lancer
- 1968The OutsiderBilly Joe Corey
- 1967Cool Hand LukeFixer
- 1967The High ChaparralYuma
- 1967Judd, for the Defense
- 1967Ironside
- 1966Mission: ImpossibleFrank Kearney
- 1966Felony Squad
- 1965The F.B.I.Alex Drake
- 1965Honey WestRocky Hansen
- 1965The Big ValleyTom Lightfoot
- 1959BonanzaLuke Harper
- 1955GunsmokeWoody Stoner
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