Joe Don Baker, the Texas-born actor who played Sheriff Buford Pusser in Walking Tall and appeared in three James Bond films, died on May 7, 2025, at age 89. The Texas State Historical Association reports that he died of lung cancer at an assisted-living facility in Los Angeles. The Houston Chronicle, reporting the family’s announcement, said it did not give a cause of death.
How Joe Don Baker became known for Walking Tall
Baker was born in Groesbeck, Texas, on February 12, 1936. He graduated from North Texas State College—now the University of North Texas—in 1958 with a degree in business administration, served two years in the U.S. Army, and later studied acting at the Actors Studio in New York. His first film appearance was an uncredited part in Cool Hand Luke (1967).
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His breakthrough came six years later with Walking Tall (1973), in which he portrayed real-life Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser. Directed by Phil Karlson, the low-budget film became a word-of-mouth hit. The Texas State Historical Association reports a $500,000 budget and an eventual gross of $40 million; those are figures reported by the association, not independently audited figures established here.
Karlson described the film’s appeal as “a deep hunger to have a man in a movie who is big, powerful, and one people can look up to.” Baker’s imposing screen presence suited the role of a lawman taking on corruption, and the performance became the signature part of his career.
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Baker’s three James Bond appearances
Baker’s Bond roles gave him two sharply different identities on screen: first an antagonist, then a recurring CIA ally.
| Film | Year | Baker’s role |
|---|---|---|
| The Living Daylights | 1987 | Brad Whitaker, an arms dealer |
| GoldenEye | 1995 | Jack Wade, a CIA operative |
| Tomorrow Never Dies | 1997 | Jack Wade, a CIA operative |
The shift from Whitaker to Wade placed Baker on opposite sides of the Bond story: a villain in Timothy Dalton’s The Living Daylights, then a sardonic American intelligence contact in the two Pierce Brosnan films.
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Other notable work, including Edge of Darkness and Mud
Among Baker’s other prominent roles was CIA agent Darius Jedburgh in the BBC miniseries Edge of Darkness (1985), for which he received a BAFTA nomination. His later film credits included Mud (2012), which the Texas State Historical Association identifies as his final film credit.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What Baker’s family said
The Houston Chronicle quoted the Baker family describing him as “a beacon of kindness and generosity. … Throughout his life, Joe Don touched many lives with his warmth and compassion, leaving an indelible mark on everyone fortunate enough to know him.” The family statement, as reported by the newspaper, did not specify a cause of death.
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