RIP Joe Don Baker aka Jack Wade aka Brad Whitaker

Joe Don Baker has passed away at the age of 89. Thinking of his family and friends during this difficult time.

Joe Don Baker (February 12, 1936 – May 7, 2025) was an American actor, known for playing “tough guy” characters on both sides of the law. He established himself as an action star with supporting roles in the Westerns “Guns of the Magnificent Seven” (1969) and “Wild Rovers” (1971), before his breakthrough role as real-life Tennessee Sheriff Buford Pusser in the film “Walking Tall” (1973).

Joe Don Baker appeared in three Bond films. First as a villain Brad Whitaker in “The Living Daylights“ (1987) when Timothy Dalton was James Bond and Baker was Bond’s (Pierce Brosnan) ally and CIA contact Jack Wade in “GoldenEye” (1995) and “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997).