---
name: "Joe Don Baker"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/joe-don-baker"
fi1m_id: "joe-don-baker"
imdb_id: "nm0000833"
tmdb_id: 10671
wikidata_id: "Q962579"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "12 February 1936"
died: "7 May 2025"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 11
average_fi1m_score: 73
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 11
updated: "2026-10-04T21:35:05.079088+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Joe Don Baker

## Identity

Joe Don Baker

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/joe-don-baker
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** joe-don-baker
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000833
- **TMDB ID:** 10671
- **Wikidata ID:** Q962579
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Don_Baker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q962579, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000833/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10671

Actor. Born 12 February 1936 in Groesbeck, Texas, USA. Died 7 May 2025.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 12 February 1936, Groesbeck, Texas, USA
- **Died:** 7 May 2025
- **Active:** 1967–2013
- **Also known as:** جو دان بیکر, Джо Дон Бейкер
- **Frequently works with:** [Michael G. Wilson](https://film.one/person/michael-g-wilson.md), [Barbara Broccoli](https://film.one/person/barbara-broccoli.md), [Bruce Feirstein](https://film.one/person/bruce-feirstein.md), [Martin Campbell](https://film.one/person/martin-campbell.md), [Pierce Brosnan](https://film.one/person/pierce-brosnan.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 11 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 84 (1), 1980s 75 (4), 1990s 68 (5), 2010s 78 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 66 across 10 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 9 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 9 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 6, Crime 5, Thriller 5, Action 3, Adventure 3, Comedy 2
- **Screen time:** 20 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,317m across 9 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Don_Baker, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q962579, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000833/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/10671

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Mud*](https://film.one/film/mud.md) (78), [*Cape Fear*](https://film.one/film/cape-fear-1991.md) (71), [*The Natural*](https://film.one/film/the-natural.md) (67)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Joe Don Baker

> Joe Don Baker brought an imposing presence to men on both sides of the law. We rate him most highly when a part makes room for his intelligence and obvious enjoyment of acting, as *Edge of Darkness* does.

In *Edge of Darkness* (1985), Joe Don Baker’s Darius Jedburgh seems to be enjoying himself, a welcome quality in a six-part nuclear thriller. The flamboyant CIA agent gives Baker room to be clever as well as imposing. We warmed to him because the pleasure in his acting stopped the series’ seriousness becoming oppressive. Director Martin Campbell lets its fears unsettle us, while Bob Peck gives the story its personal force. Baker is one reason to stay with it when the writing grows needlessly obscure.

The sheriff Buford Pusser in *Walking Tall* (1973) and the mob hitman Molly in *Charley Varrick* (1973) show how readily he could be put on either side of the law. The former was his breakthrough as a lead, but the tough-guy casting that followed could be restrictive. *Mitchell* (1975) belongs to that period of typecasting. His physique and Southern drawl made him an obvious choice for such parts; the risk was that they would be all a film asked of him.

In *The Underneath* (1995), we found Baker good company as Clay Hinkle even when the film itself left us cold. Soderbergh’s film has intelligent cutting and handsome lighting, but its central man offers little to care about. Baker belongs to a supporting cast that fares better, alongside William Fichtner’s threatening Tommy Dundee and Adam Trese’s quietly aggrieved David. We should not pretend that his contribution cures the film’s central weakness. Baker gives us a reason to keep watching without making this a film we can warmly recommend.

His Bond casting makes the two sides of his screen presence plain: Brad Whitaker is a villain in *The Living Daylights* (1987), Jack Wade a CIA ally in *GoldenEye* (1995). Wade draws on elements of Jedburgh, taking something of that earlier performance into another thriller. Such casting makes sense, though it can encourage us to settle for the familiar bulk and manner. We prefer the parts that ask more of him than looking capable of violence. Start with *Edge of Darkness*, and allow for a thriller that occasionally makes its story harder to follow than it needs to be.

## Biography

Joe Don Baker was an American actor. Born in Groesbeck, Texas, he attended North Texas State College on a sports scholarship, served in the US Army and trained at the Actors Studio in New York before beginning his screen career in the mid-1960s.

He gained prominence with leading roles in *Walking Tall* (1973) as Sheriff Buford Pusser and *Charley Varrick* (1973). Baker appeared in three James Bond films, playing villain Brad Whitaker in *The Living Daylights* (1987) and CIA agent Jack Wade in *GoldenEye* (1995) and *Tomorrow Never Dies* (1997). Other credits include *Cape Fear* (1991), *Mars Attacks!* (1996) and *Mud* (2013). He received a BAFTA television nomination for his performance in the BBC serial *Edge of Darkness* (1985).

Baker died in Los Angeles on 7 May 2025.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, theguardian.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (11)

- *Mud* (2013), Fi1m 78, as King — [page](https://film.one/film/mud.md)
- *Tomorrow Never Dies* (1997), Fi1m 64, as Wade — [page](https://film.one/film/tomorrow-never-dies.md)
- *Mars Attacks!* (1996), Fi1m 66, as Glenn Norris — [page](https://film.one/film/mars-attacks.md)
- *GoldenEye* (1995), Fi1m 78, as Jack Wade — [page](https://film.one/film/goldeneye.md)
- *The Underneath* (1995), Fi1m 62, as Clay Hinkle — [page](https://film.one/film/the-underneath.md)
- *Cape Fear* (1991), Fi1m 71, as Claude Kersek — [page](https://film.one/film/cape-fear-1991.md)
- *The Living Daylights* (1987), Fi1m 74, as Brad Whitaker — [page](https://film.one/film/the-living-daylights.md)
- *Edge of Darkness* (1985), Fi1m 88, as Darius Jedburgh — [page](https://film.one/tv/edge-of-darkness.md)
- *Fletch* (1985), Fi1m 71, as Chief Jerry Karlin — [page](https://film.one/film/fletch.md)
- *The Natural* (1984), Fi1m 67, as The Whammer — [page](https://film.one/film/the-natural.md)
- *Cool Hand Luke* (1967), Fi1m 84, as Fixer — [page](https://film.one/film/cool-hand-luke.md)

## Complete filmography (80)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Mud* (2013), as King — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/mud.md)
- *Strange Wilderness* (2008), as Bill Calhoun
- *The Dukes of Hazzard* (2005), as Governor Jim Applewhite
- *The Commission* (2003), as Rep. Hale Boggs
- *Joe Dirt* (2001), as Don, Brandy's Dad (uncredited)
- *Vegas, City of Dreams* (2001), as Dylan Garrett
- *Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris Duke* (1999), series, as Buck Duke
- *Poodle Springs* (1998), as P.J. Parker
- *Tomorrow Never Dies* (1997), as Wade — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/tomorrow-never-dies.md)
- *George Wallace* (1997), as Big Jim Folsom
- *George Wallace* (1997), series, as Big Jim Folsom
- *To Dance with Olivia* (1997), as Horace
- *Mars Attacks!* (1996), as Glenn Norris — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/film/mars-attacks.md)
- *The Grass Harp* (1996), as Sheriff Junius Candle
- *The Siege at Ruby Ridge* (1996), as Gerry Spence
- *The Siege at Ruby Ridge* (1996), series, as Gerry Spence
- *Felony* (1996), as Donovan
- *GoldenEye* (1995), as Jack Wade — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/goldeneye.md)
- *Congo* (1995), as R.B. Travis
- *Panther* (1995), as Brimmer
- *The Underneath* (1995), as Clay Hinkle — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/the-underneath.md)
- *Ring of Steel* (1994), as Man in Black
- *Reality Bites* (1994), as Tom Pierce
- *Complex of Fear* (1993), as Det. Frank Farrel
- *The Distinguished Gentleman* (1992), as Olaf Andersen
- *Citizen Cohn* (1992), as Sen. Joseph McCarthy
- *Cape Fear* (1991), as Claude Kersek — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/cape-fear-1991.md)
- *The Children* (1990), as Cliffe Wheater
- *Criminal Law* (1989), as Detective Mesel
- *Defrosting the Fridge* (1989), as Hunter McCall
- *Leonard Part 6* (1987), as Snyderburn
- *The Killing Time* (1987), as Carl Cunningham
- *The Living Daylights* (1987), as Brad Whitaker — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-living-daylights.md)
- *The Abduction of Kari Swenson* (1987), as Sheriff Onstad
- *Getting Even* (1986), as King R. Kenderson
- *Edge of Darkness* (1985), series, as Darius Jedburgh — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/edge-of-darkness.md)
- *Fletch* (1985), as Chief Jerry Karlin — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/fletch.md)
- *Screen Two* (1985), series, as Hunter McCall
- *Final Justice* (1984), as Deputy Sheriff Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III
- *The Natural* (1984), as The Whammer — Fi1m 67, [page](https://film.one/film/the-natural.md)
- *Joysticks* (1983), as Joseph Rutter
- *Wacko* (1982), as Dick Harbinger
- *Power* (1980), series, as Tommy Vanda
- *Eischied* (1979), series, as Earl Eischied
- *To Kill a Cop* (1978), series, as Chief Earl Eischied
- *To Kill a Cop* (1978), as Chief Earl M. Eischied
- *The Pack* (1977), as Jerry
- *Speedtrap* (1977), as Pete Novick
- *The Shadow of Chikara* (1977), as Wishbone Cutter
- *Checkered Flag or Crash* (1977), as Walkaway Madden
- *Mitchell* (1975), as Mitchell
- *Framed* (1975), as Ron Lewis
- *Golden Needles* (1974), as Dan Mason
- *The Outfit* (1973), as Jack Cody
- *Doc Elliot* (1973), series, as Aaron Hickey
- *Charley Varrick* (1973), as Molly
- *Walking Tall* (1973), as Buford Pusser
- *That Certain Summer* (1972), as Phil Bonner
- *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, as Leonard Collier Cord
- *Junior Bonner* (1972), as Curly Bonner
- *The Valachi Papers* (1972), as Irish member of Valachi gang (uncredited)
- *Welcome Home, Soldier Boys* (1971), as Danny
- *Mongo's Back in Town* (1971), as Mongo Nash
- *Wild Rovers* (1971), as Paul Buckman
- *Adam at Six A.M.* (1970), as Harvey Gavin
- *Guns of the Magnificent Seven* (1969), as Slater
- *The Mod Squad* (1968), series, as Willie Turner
- *Lancer* (1968), series, as Day Pardee, Santee, Clovis Horner
- *The Outsider* (1968), series, as Billy Joe Corey
- *Cool Hand Luke* (1967), as Fixer — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/cool-hand-luke.md)
- *The High Chaparral* (1967), series, as Yuma
- *Judd, for the Defense* (1967), series, as Merl Varney
- *Ironside* (1967), series, as Eric Blair
- *Mission: Impossible* (1966), series, as Frank Kearney — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md)
- *Felony Squad* (1966), series, as Shep Taubs
- *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Alex Drake
- *Honey West* (1965), series, as Rocky Hansen
- *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as Tom Lightfoot
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Luke Harper
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Woody Stoner, Tom Butler

## Gallery

- ![Joe Don Baker](https://film.one/media/person/9917/gallery-82fdcf0f8659.jpg) Joe Don Baker — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8f/Joe_Don_Baker_%22Mitchell%22_%281977_CBS_press_photo%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Joe Don Baker](https://film.one/media/person/9917/gallery-8d0b6678ed6b.jpg) Joe Don Baker — Image via TMDB
- ![Joe Don Baker](https://film.one/media/person/9917/gallery-6cd5a9491f27.jpg) Joe Don Baker — Image via TMDB

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/joe-don-baker