Joe Don Baker, Rugged Star of ‘Walking Tall,’ Dies at 89
Initially, Baker gained widespread recognition in 1972 with his role as the shrewd businessman brother of an aging Arizona rodeo rider (Steve McQueen) in Sam Peckinpah’s movie “Junior Bonner” (1972). Later on, he played a cruel mob assassin named Molly in Don Siegel’s film “Charley Varrick” (1973), which featured Walter Matthau as the lead actor.