Joe Don Baker, ‘Walking Tall’ Star and James Bond Regular, Dies at 89

Character actor Joe Don Baker, best known for his roles in countless action films and comedies, passed away at 89 on May 7th. Born in Texas in 1936, His most famously starred in wrestler-turned-sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1973 film Walking Tall, and appeared in three James Bond films during the Pierce Brosnan era. His other credits include Fletch, Congo, Mars Attacks, Reality Bites, and Cape Fear (1991). Baker also worked in television, with credits in Edge Of Darkness and In the Heat of the Night. The veteran actor retired in 2012 after starring in  the 2012 film Mud with Matthew McConaughey. Funeral services are scheduled for May 20th in Mission Hills, California. (Variety)