Baker’s breakthrough came with Walking Tall (1973), where he starred as a tough sheriff. He went on to appear in 57 films, including Mitchell, Charlie Varrick, and Mud, for which he won a Robert Altman Award.
He made Bond history by playing both a villain and an ally—first as arms dealer Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights (1987), then as CIA agent Jack Wade in GoldenEye (1995) and Tomorrow Never Dies (1997).
His TV credits include Eischied, Edge of Darkness (earning a BAFTA nomination), and appearances in Gunsmoke, Mission: Impossible, and more.
“Joe Don touched many lives with his warmth and compassion,” said his obituary. Though he had no children, he is survived by family in Groesbeck and close friends who “will miss him eternally.”
His funeral will be held on May 20 in Mission Hills, California.
