Joe Don Baker, best known for roles in Walking Tall and three James Bond films, passed away on May 7, 2025, at age 89. Born in Groesbeck, Texas, he was a college football player and U.S. Army veteran before launching his acting career in New York.
Baker portrayed both a Bond villain (The Living Daylights, 1987) and ally (GoldenEye, 1995; Tomorrow Never Dies, 1997). He appeared in 57 films, earning acclaim for roles in Mitchell, Charlie Varrick, George Wallace, and Mud.A life member of the Actor’s Studio, Baker also starred in numerous TV series and received several award nominations, including a BAFTA nod. Though he never had children, he is survived by relatives in Groesbeck and close friends.
A funeral service will be held on May 20 at Utter McKinley Mortuary in Mission Hills, California.
