Joe Don Baker dies at 89 after decades as action star, known for Walking Tall and James Bond films
Baker rose to fame in the early 1970s, first gaining attention for his role alongside Steve McQueen in Junior Bonner (1972) and as a menacing mob hitman in Charley Varrick (1973). However, it was his portrayal of real-life sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall (1973) that cemented his place in cinema history. As Pusser, Baker depicted a relentless lawman who fought crime with a wooden club, resonating with audiences during the politically turbulent Watergate era.
The film, made on a modest budget, became an unexpected box office success, grossing around $40 million — the equivalent of over $600 million today. Director Phil Karlson attributed its popularity to audiences' desire for a strong, moral figure to root for.
Baker also made notable appearances in the James Bond franchise, playing the villainous arms dealer Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights (1987), and later returning as CIA agent Jack Wade in GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997). He was also recognized for his role as CIA agent Darius Jedburgh in the acclaimed BBC miniseries Edge of Darkness (1985), which earned him a BAFTA nomination.
Born on February 12, 1936, in Groesbeck, Texas, Baker studied business before pursuing acting. He trained at The Actors Studio in New York and appeared in Broadway productions before transitioning to film and television. Over his career, he starred in The Outfit (1973), The Natural (1984), Cape Fear (1991), Mars Attacks! (1996), and Mud (2012), among others. He also led the NBC series Eischied and made appearances in In the Heat of the Night and Fletch.
Baker was married to Maria Dolores Rivero-Torres from 1969 until their divorce in 1980. He is survived by family members in Groesbeck, Texas. A funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday in Mission Hills, California.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Express Tribune
A biography crackles with scandals
The biography is critical of Prince Andrew. It presents him as arrogant and self-seeking. Photo Courtesy: BBC This searing biography of Prince Andrew crackles with scandals about sex and money on almost every page, two subjects that have always caused problems for the royals, the BBC reported. Andrew Lownie's book, Entitled: The Rise and Fall of the House of York, is an unrelentingly unflattering portrait of Prince Andrew. It depicts him as arrogant, self-seeking and in denial about his links to the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The author's best-selling biographies have a habit of changing the reputation of famous figures, such as establishing the Nazi intrigues around the Duke of Windsor, the former Edward VIII. Although in the case of Entitled, he hasn't so much cemented Prince Andrew's reputation, as put it in concrete boots and thrown it in the river. It is hard to see how he might come back from this. This account, more than 450 pages, is said to have taken four years to research, involving hundreds of interviews. And for anyone thinking they have heard much of this story before, it is the extra and sometimes unexpected, throwaway details that will make this a fascinating read. Like comedian Billy Connolly and Sir Elton John being at Prince Andrew's stag night. Or film maker Woody Allen being at the same dinner with Prince Andrew at Epstein's house in Manhattan. This detail tallies with a piece in the New York Times this week that quotes a birthday greeting written by Allen to Epstein, which references "even royalty" being at one of Epstein's dinners. To rapidly lose some mid-life weight, when he was going out with a younger woman, the book records that Prince Andrew lived on a crash diet of "stewed prunes for breakfast, raw vegetables for lunch and soup for supper". About their academic ability, the book says that Prince Andrew and his former wife Sarah Ferguson passed two O-levels at their respective expensive private schools. Andrew had to re-take exams the following year before going on to take A-levels. Now in disgrace, Prince Andrew is claimed to spend his time, when not riding or golfing, cooped up watching aviation videos and reading thrillers, with The Talented Mr Ripley said to be his favourite. It is about a con-man taking on the identity of a wealthy playboy. There are some more gentle anecdotes about him, such as when he was a helicopter pilot and ferried a group of soldiers from a rifle range and decided to put down on the Sandringham estate. Queen Elizabeth II, who was in residence, was said to have looked at the guns being toted by these unexpected arrivals. "You can put those in there if you like," she said, pointing to an umbrella stand. But the biography is much more crowded with anecdotes about his rudeness and his acute lack of self awareness, not to mention a prodigious number of quick-fire affairs. It is claimed he swore at and insulted staff, bawling someone out as an "imbecile" for not using the Queen Mother's full title. Protection officers were despatched to collect golf balls and private jets seemed to be hired as casually as an Uber on a night out. The Paris-based journalist Peter Allen, among the sources for the book, says many of Andrew's problems reflect on his "flawed character". "He's been afforded every type of privilege, all his life, while displaying very poor judgement and getting into highly compromising situations." Known as "Baby Grumpling" in his early years, Andrew was claimed to have moved people from jobs because one was wearing a nylon tie, and another because he had a mole on his face. Diplomats, whose cause Andrew was meant to be advancing, nicknamed him "His Buffoon Highness" because of all the gaffes. There are details of his unhappy knack of getting involved with all the wrong people in his money-making ventures, from Libyan gun runners and relations of dictators to a Chinese spy. "This book appears to seal the fate of Andrew if he was ever hoping to be reinstated officially into the working royals," says royal commentator Pauline Maclaran. "The public will be wanting to see some clear action on the King's part I think — particularly as Andrew's connections to Epstein are raked over again," says Prof Maclaran. If this seems like a torrent of bad news, the book also raises some deeper questions about what lies behind Prince Andrew's character. There are suggestions of an often lonely and isolated figure, obsessed with sex but much weaker at relationships. Sources from his time in the navy saw his "bombastic" exterior as concealing a much more vulnerable and socially awkward figure, whose upbringing had made him unsure how to behave. He showed authentic courage when he flew helicopters in the Falklands war and he was remembered as being willing to "muck in" during that stressful time, when crews were living on canned food rather than fine dining. On his fascination for sex, an unnamed source claims Andrew lost his virginity at the age of 11, which the same source likens to a form of abuse. One of his former naval colleagues went from seeing Andrew as "immature, privileged, entitled" to having a more sympathetic view of a character of "loneliness and insecurity", a public figure who was uncertain about how he fitted in with other people, and had ended up with the "wrong sort of friends". Top of that list must be Jeffrey Epstein. Lownie's book offers meticulous detail of the connections between Prince Andrew and the US financier and sex offender, establishing links that went back to the early 1990s, earlier than had previously been established. It is also strong on the unbalanced nature of their relationship, with a friend of Andrew's describing the prince's dealings with Epstein as "like putting a rattlesnake in an aquarium with a mouse".
Express Tribune
07-08-2025
- Express Tribune
Ozzy Osbourne's final chapter revealed in BBC's emotional documentary ‘Coming Home'
Ozzy Osbourne's extraordinary life is set to be honoured in a moving new BBC documentary, Coming Home, capturing the heavy metal icon's final years with rare intimacy. The film, which has been years in the making, follows Ozzy's journey from global stardom back to his roots, culminating in his last-ever performance in Birmingham. Originally developed as Home to Roost in 2022, the series was conceived as a spiritual follow-up to MTV's chaotic mid-2000s hit The Osbournes. However, following Ozzy's passing, the project was reimagined into a more poignant documentary chronicling his return to the UK and his farewell to fans. Filmed over three years, Coming Home features contributions from Sharon Osbourne and their children Jack and Kelly, offering an emotional, behind-the-scenes look at the family's final chapter together. The film concludes with Ozzy's astonishing final concert in Birmingham, where he reunited with Black Sabbath just two weeks before his death. It was a performance many thought impossible given his health struggles, but it became a triumphant goodbye in the city where it all began. Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning for Documentaries, described the film as 'an intimate glimpse' into the Osbourne family's private world. She added, 'We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family. The film features family moments, humour, reflection and shows the enduring spirit that made Ozzy a global icon. We hope it brings comfort and joy to Ozzy's fans and viewers as they remember and celebrate his extraordinary life.' Coming Home is produced by Expectation, the company behind Clarkson's Farm, alongside JOKS Productions. It promises to be a raw and heartfelt portrait of a man who defied expectations until the very end.
Express Tribune
07-08-2025
- Express Tribune
Polish mountain hosts Chopin fest
A few hundred people gather in front of a large white tent in the peaceful spa town of Duszniki-Zdroj, nestled on the Polish-Czech border. Inside, the Warsaw National Philharmonic Orchestra is preparing to open the 80th edition of the International Chopin Piano Festival. "I've loved Chopin for so many years!" said Erin Gao, a 33-year-old from China, who travelled to hear the composer's works while vacationing in Europe. Mike Righton, a 73-year-old from Texas, shared that enthusiasm. "This is my fifth year here. I love this festival - there are lots of concerts, and the place is very pretty," he said. Organisers expect around 2,000 spectators over the nine-day event that runs until August 9 in this town of just 4,000 residents, where Frederic Chopin's legacy is visible everywhere. "Above all, this festival brings together true enthusiasts of Chopin's music," said Piotr Paleczny, the festival's artistic director. Streets are adorned with posters and statues of the composer and shops welcome tourists with souvenirs bearing his image. It was here in 1826, when the town was part of Germany and known as Bad Reinerz, where a 16-year-old Chopin gave his first concert abroad. That performance inspired the creation of the festival, which has attracted many of classical music's biggest names since its founding in 1946. One of this year's performers is Warsaw-born pianist Julia Lozowska, 23. "I grew up with Chopin. I love many other composers, of course, but he's the one I understand best," she said. Among the festival's headliners is Aristo Sham, 29, a prodigy from Hong Kong and winner of the 2025 Van Cliburn Competition. He is launching his world tour in Duszniki-Zdroj. "To play in the same venue as him, to follow in his footsteps - it's a huge honour and privilege," Sham said after a rehearsal, his eyes resting on a bust of Chopin. "Here, we're in a musical cocoon, just playing music in an enchanting setting for an incredibly enthusiastic audience."
