Joe Don Baker, the rugged American actor best known for portraying real-life Sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1973 box-office hit Walking Tall, has died at the age of 89. His family confirmed his passing on May 7, according to Deadline. No cause of death was disclosed.

Baker became a pop culture icon through his powerful performance as Pusser, famously wielding a wooden club while delivering his own brand of frontier justice. The role turned Walking Tall into a major commercial success and cemented Baker’s reputation as a commanding screen presence.

Born in 1936 in Groesbeck, Texas, Baker was raised by his aunt after losing his mother at the age of 12. He attended North Texas State College on a sports scholarship, graduating in 1958, before serving two years in the U.S. Army. Following his military service, he studied at New York’s Actors Studio and began his acting career on stage and television, appearing in classic series such as Bonanza and Gunsmoke. His film debut came with an uncredited role in Cool Hand Luke (1967).

Baker rose to prominence through a string of Westerns, including Guns of the Magnificent Seven and Wild Rovers, before achieving stardom with Walking Tall. Over the decades, he demonstrated notable range in films such as Charley Varrick, Mitchell, The Natural, Fletch, and Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear.

In the James Bond franchise, Baker earned a rare distinction by playing both a villain and an ally. He portrayed arms dealer Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights and later appeared as CIA agent Jack Wade in GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies.

On television, Baker received critical acclaim and award nominations for his performances in Edge of Darkness and George Wallace. His later film credits included Mars Attacks!, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Mud. He retired from acting in 2012.

Joe Don Baker leaves behind a legacy defined by toughness, versatility, and memorable performances across film and television.