Tall, broad-shouldered character actor with a distinctive Texan drawl first made his mark in supporting roles within the realm of Westerns, both on television and in film, during the mid-1960s. He garnered attention for his portrayal of Steve McQueen's younger brother in the 1972 film Junior Bonner, before landing the lead role of Buford Pusser in the unexpected hit Walking Tall (1973). This allegedly true tale chronicled a Southern sheriff's courageous confrontation of corruption and gangsters, armed with a large wooden club and an unyielding attitude. Baker's subsequent performance as a ruthless hitman, Molly, in Don Siegel's bank heist drama Charley Varrick (1973) further solidified his reputation as a versatile and talented actor.
Baker's next few film appearances were somewhat forgettable, until he landed the role of police detective Earl Eischied in the 1978 film To Kill a Cop. This character would later be reprised in the short-lived television series Eischied (1979). Since then, Baker has consistently demonstrated his ability to excel in a wide range of roles, from comedy to drama, and from lawmen to military men, politicians, and beyond.
Keep a watchful eye out for Baker in his notable roles, including a nosy police chief in the 1985 film Fletch, a megalomaniacal general in The Living Daylights (1987),a redneck father in Mars Attacks! (1996),and as intelligence operative Jack Wade in the 007 films Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) and GoldenEye (1995).
