Actor Joe Don Baker, best known for starring in the film Walking Tall and appearing in three James Bond movies, has died at the age of 89, his family announced in a Legacy.com obituary.

"It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Joe Don, a noted member of the Performing Arts Community, who left us on 5/7/2025 at the age of 89," the obituary states.

"As we say goodbye to Joe Don, we hold onto the memories and the love he shared with us," the obituary continued. "Though he may no longer be with us in body, his spirit will always remain, a guiding light in the lives he touched. Rest in peace, Joe Don. You will be dearly missed but never forgotten."

Baker rose to fame after landing the role of Curly, the younger brother of Steve McQueen's titular character in the 1972 western film Junior Bonner, one year before playing Sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1973 film Walking Tall, which was later remade to star Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson in 2004. The Texas native later played arms dealer Brad Whitaker in the 1987 James Bond film The Living Daylights starring Timothy Dalton, a role that was brought back in the 1995 and 1997 films GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies when Pierce Brosnan played the iconic character.

Baker won the Robert Altman Award at the Independent Spirit Awards for his role in the 2012 film Mud acting alongside Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon, Sam Shepard and Sarah Paulson and was nominated for best actor by the British Academy of Television for his role in the 1985 for the six-episode drama serial Edge of Darkness and Best Supporting Actor for the 1997 television film George Wallace.

Bret Saunders