Joe Don Baker
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- February 12, 1936 in Groesbeck, Texas, USA
- Died
- May 7, 2025
- Active Years
- 1955–2013 (59 Years)
- Total Credits
- 84 credits in database
Biography
Joe Don Baker was an American film actor born on February 12, 1936, in Groesbeck, Texas, USA. His acting career included eighty-four known credits on the Movie Database platform. He was recognized for portraying 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 Central Intelligence Agency agent Jack Wade in the James Bond films GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies. His death occurred on May 7, 2025, at the age of eighty-nine.
Career overview
Joe Don Baker was an American film actor who was born on February 12, 1936, in Groesbeck, Texas, USA. During his career, he amassed 84 known acting credits in movies and television shows.
He was perhaps best known for several notable roles in feature films. His performances included playing a Mafia hitman in Charley Varrick and portraying real-life Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall. He also appeared as the James Bond villain Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights and as CIA agent Jack Wade in the James Bond films GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies.
Joe Don Baker passed away on May 7, 2025, at the age of 89. His extensive filmography and memorable character portrayals established his presence in American cinema throughout his active years as a performer.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
84 titles- Mud (2013) as King
- Strange Wilderness (2008) as Bill Calhoun
- The 50 Greatest Television Dramas (2007) as Self
- The Dukes of Hazzard (2005) as Governor Jim Applewhite
- Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade (2004) as Self (archive footage)
- The Commission (2003) as Rep. Hale Boggs
- Joe Dirt (2001) as Don, Brandy's Dad (uncredited)
- Vegas, City of Dreams (2001) as Dylan Garrett
- Inside The Living Daylights (2000) as Self
- Inside 'The Living Daylights' (2000) as Self
- Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke (1999) as Buck Duke
- Poodle Springs (1998) as P.J. Parker
- Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) as Wade
- George Wallace (1997) as Big Jim Folsom
- George Wallace (1997) as Big Jim Folsom
- To Dance with Olivia (1997) as Horace
- Mars Attacks! (1996) as Glenn Norris
- The Siege at Ruby Ridge (1996) as Gerry Spence
- The Siege at Ruby Ridge (1996) as Gerry Spence
- The Grass Harp (1996) as Sheriff Junius Candle
- Felony (1996) as Donovan
- GoldenEye (1995) as Jack Wade
- Congo (1995) as R.B. Travis
- Panther (1995) as Brimmer
- The Underneath (1995) as Clay Hinkle
- Reality Bites (1994) as Tom Pierce
- Ring of Steel (1994) as Man in Black
- Complex of Fear (1993) as Det. Frank Farrel
- The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) as Olaf Andersen
- Citizen Cohn (1992) as Sen. Joseph McCarthy
- Cape Fear (1991) as Claude Kersek
- The Children (1990) as Cliffe Wheater
- Criminal Law (1989) as Detective Mesel
- Defrosting the Fridge (1989) as Hunter McCall
- The Living Daylights (1987) as Brad Whitaker
- The Abduction of Kari Swenson (1987) as Sheriff Onstad
- Leonard Part 6 (1987) as Snyderburn
- The Killing Time (1987) as Carl Cunningham
- Getting Even (1986) as King R. Kenderson
- Screen Two (1985) as Hunter McCall
- Edge of Darkness (1985) as Darius Jedburgh
- Fletch (1985) as Chief Jerry Karlin
- The Natural (1984) as The Whammer
- Final Justice (1984) as Deputy Sheriff Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III
- Joysticks (1983) as Joseph Rutter
- Wacko (1982) as Dick Harbinger
- Power (1980) as Tommy Vanda
- Eischied (1979) as Earl Eischied
- To Kill a Cop (1978) as Chief Earl Eischied
- To Kill a Cop (1978) as Chief Earl M. Eischied
- Speedtrap (1977) as Pete Novick
- The Pack (1977) as Jerry
- Checkered Flag or Crash (1977) as Walkaway Madden
- The Shadow of Chikara (1977) as Wishbone Cutter
- Mitchell (1975) as Mitchell
- Framed (1975) as Ron Lewis
- Golden Needles (1974) as Dan Mason
- Walking Tall (1973) as Buford Pusser
- Charley Varrick (1973) as Molly
- Doc Elliot (1973) as Aaron Hickey
- The Outfit (1973) as Jack Cody
- The Valachi Papers (1972) as Irish member of Valachi gang (uncredited)
- Junior Bonner (1972) as Curly Bonner
- That Certain Summer (1972) as Phil Bonner
- Mongo's Back in Town (1971) as Mongo Nash
- Wild Rovers (1971) as Paul Buckman
- Welcome Home, Soldier Boys (1971) as Danny
- Adam at Six A.M. (1970) as Harvey Gavin
- Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969) as Slater
- The Mod Squad (1968)
- Lancer (1968)
- The Outsider (1968) as Billy Joe Corey
- Ironside (1967)
- The High Chaparral (1967) as Yuma
- Judd, for the Defense (1967)
- Cool Hand Luke (1967) as Fixer
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Frank Kearney
- Felony Squad (1966)
- The F.B.I. (1965) as Alex Drake
- The Big Valley (1965) as Tom Lightfoot
- Honey West (1965) as Rocky Hansen
- Bonanza (1959) as Luke Harper
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Woody Stoner
- Gunsmoke (1955) as Tom Butler
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Joe Don Baker best known for?
Joe Don Baker is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Mud (2013), The Dukes of Hazzard (2005), Joe Dirt (2001), The Prince & Me 2: The Royal Wedding (2006).
When and where was Joe Don Baker born?
Joe Don Baker was born on February 12, 1936 in Groesbeck, Texas, USA. They passed away on May 7, 2025.
How many credits does Joe Don Baker have?
Joe Don Baker has accumulated over 84 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1955 to 2013.
What is Joe Don Baker's background in cinema and television?
Joe Don Baker was an American film actor born on February 12, 1936, in Groesbeck, Texas, USA. His acting career included eighty-four known credits on the Movie Database platform. He was recognized for portraying a Mafia hitman in Charley Varrick, real-life Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall, James Bond vil...
Joe Don Baker by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Edge of Darkness (1985) as Darius Jedburgh — aged about 49
- Judd, for the Defense (1967) — aged about 31
- Cool Hand Luke (1967) as Fixer — aged about 31
- Mission: Impossible (1966) as Frank Kearney — aged about 30
- Bonanza (1959) as Luke Harper — aged about 23
- Charley Varrick (1973) as Molly — aged about 37
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