Joe Don Baker, actor who wielded a big stick in 'Walking Tall,' dies at 89
Los Angeles TimesThursday, May 15, 2025 at 5:33:06 PM
Joe Don Baker, the tough-guy actor who became famous for his role as real-life sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1973 revenge drama *Walking Tall*—where he famously wielded a wooden club to clean up corruption—has passed away at 89. Over nearly five decades, Baker carved out a niche playing gruff, no-nonsense characters in films like *Mitchell* and James Bond’s *The Living Daylights*.
What This Means: Baker was a quintessential '70s action star whose larger-than-life roles left a mark on Hollywood, especially in the vigilante justice genre. His death isn’t just a loss for fans of classic cinema—it’s a reminder of an era when gritty, unpolished heroes ruled the box office. If you’ve ever seen a cop take justice into their own hands on-screen, chances are Baker helped pave the way.
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