Actor, Groesbeck native Joe Don Baker dies at 89
Baker passed away on May 7, according to his obituary. He was born on February 12, 1936, and spent his early years in Groesbeck. He attended Groesbeck High School, excelling in both football and basketball. His athletic skills led him to secure a scholarship at North Texas State College, where he joined the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and graduated in 1958 with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration. He received the Distinguished Alumni award from his college in 1994, now renamed University of North Texas.
Baker served in the U.S. Army for a two-year period before moving to New York City, where he studied at the Actor's Studio and became a life member. During this time, he gained acting experience performing in the lively New York theater scene.
The obituary says Baker eventually moved to Los Angeles, where his acting career gradually took off. He started with small television parts and eventually progressed to major acting roles as leading man and later in life as a character actor.
During Baker's long career until his retirement in 2012, he performed in 57 movies – starring in 'Walking Tall', 'Mitchell' and more. He also landed co-starring roles and supporting parts in other mayor projects, including 'Charlie Varrick' and three James Bond films.
According to the obituary, Baker's film acting accolades include winning the Robert Altman Award for his role on 'Mud' and nominations for the for the miniseries 'George Wallace'. He performed in numerous television productions, including a starring role in the popular series 'Eischied', and an outstanding performance on the acclaimed British television production of 'Edge of Darkness', which earned him a Best Actor nomination from the British Academy of Television.
Baker's eleven-year marriage produced no offspring. He is survived by relations in his native Groesbeck, who will forever cherish his memory. He is mourned by a small but very close circle of friends who will miss him eternally.
The obituary says a funeral service to honor Baker's life will be held on Tuesday, May 20, at Utter McKinley Mortuary in Mission Hills, California at 10 a.m. Friends and family are invited to gather and share memories, celebrating the extraordinary life he led.
If you would like to plant trees Baker's memory, you can go here.
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