Joe Don Baker

Biography

Joe Don Baker is an American character actor known for his tall stature and distinctive Texan drawl. He began his career in the mid-1960s, appearing in various Western films and television shows. Baker gained significant recognition for his role as Steve McQueen's younger brother in "Junior Bonner" (1972) and achieved fame as Buford Pusser in the hit film "Walking Tall" (1973), which tells the story of a Southern sheriff battling corruption. He later portrayed a sadistic hitman in Don Siegel's "Charley Varrick" (1973). Baker's versatility allowed him to take on diverse roles, including police detective Earl Eischied in the TV series "Eischied" (1979). His filmography includes performances in "Fletch" (1985), "The Living Daylights" (1987), "Mars Attacks!" (1996), and as intelligence operative Jack Wade in the James Bond films "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997) and "GoldenEye" (1995). He is married.