Joe Don Baker, the rugged American actor best known for playing real-life Sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1973 hit Walking Tall, has died at the age of 89. His family confirmed his passing on May 7, according to Deadline. No cause of death was disclosed. Baker became iconic for portraying Pusser wielding a wooden club as he delivered his own brand of justice, a role that turned Walking Tall into a box-office success.
Born in 1936 in Groesbeck, Texas, Baker was raised by his aunt after losing his mother at age 12. He attended North Texas State College on a sports scholarship, graduating in 1958, then served two years in the U.S. Army. Afterward, he trained at New York’s Actors Studio and began acting on stage and television, appearing in series such as Bonanza and Gunsmoke. His film debut came with an uncredited role in Cool Hand Luke (1967).
Baker rose to prominence through Westerns including Guns of the Magnificent Seven and Wild Rovers, before achieving stardom with Walking Tall. His career showcased impressive range, with roles in Charley Varrick, Mitchell, The Natural, Fletch, and Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear.
In the James Bond franchise, Baker uniquely played both villain and ally—arms dealer Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights and CIA agent Jack Wade in GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies. On television, he earned acclaim and award nominations for Edge of Darkness and George Wallace.
His later films included Mars Attacks!, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Mud. Baker retired from acting in 2012.