In Memoriam
Joe Don Baker actually had a heck of a career, even if we'll always remember him as Mitchell.
You guys watch Joe Don Baker movies?
—Mike Nelson
Yes, and so do you. You may not realize it, but he was actually an extremely prolific actor who, you know, was also a big beefy guy. He was over six feet tall and hefty, and he had a Texas accent, and that’s going to typecast you regardless of what talent you do or don’t have. He regretted not getting better roles, but honestly some of his movies are actual classics. The kind you’d be actively angry to see with puppets in the corner, because why aren’t they going after movies that deserve it? Like a lot of other Joe Don Baker movies?
After attending North Texas State College (now University of North Texas) on, yes, an athletic scholarship and getting a degree in business administration, Baker did a two-year stint in the Army. From there, he moved to New York and became a lifelong member of the Actors Studio. He admired Robert Mitchum—the two would actually both appear in Cape Fear, the remake—and Spencer Tracy. He appeared on Broadway in Marathon ‘33, the Tony-nominated autobiographical play by June Havoc. Then, he made the move to Hollywood.
Mostly, he made turkeys. However, there are a few movies he’s in that will make anyone with a decent knowledge of film sit up and take notice. He is uncredited, but he’s in Cool Hand Luke. Charley Verrick, where he is second-billed. Junior Bonner, where he is fifth-billed but behind, you know, Ida Lupino. He worked with some of the greats, and apparently Steve McQueen repeatedly kept him from punching Sam Peckinpah, whom he found insufferable. He later said he was joking about threatening the MST3K guys, but he seemed completely serious about wanting to strangle Peckinpah.
Heck, there are a few films he appeared in that resonate with me as a Gen-Xer. He played Winona Ryder’s father in Reality Bites, which really does have such a bizarre assortment of people. He was in Mars Attacks!, ditto. He was two different characters in the James Bond franchise, if that’s more your speed. He played Joe McCarthy once and was in the original Fletch and played Totally Not Babe Ruth in The Natural, and he said he wanted to play the actual Babe Ruth. It would’ve been interesting casting, all things considered.
And, yes, the turkeys. Mitchell, which was theatrical release despite looking like it was made for TV. Final Justice, because why not send Joe Don Baker to Malta? Leonard Part 6. Doubtless others. You kind of feel bad for the guy, especially if he was trying to be funny by his reaction to Mitchell on MST3K. Maybe he was; maybe he wasn’t. But to be fair to him, it’s impossible to tell if anyone has talent by watching them in Mitchell. Not even Spencer Tracy would have managed it.
About the writer
Gillian Nelson
Gillian Nelson is a forty-something bipolar woman living in the Pacific Northwest after growing up in Los Angeles County. She and her boyfriend have one son and one daughter, and she gave a child up for adoption. She fills her days by chasing around her kids, watching a lot of movies, and reading. She particularly enjoys pre-Code films, blaxploitation, and live-action Disney movies of the '60s and '70s. She has a Patreon account.
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Department of
Conversation
I don’t think I would entirely blame him for not wanting to be remembered for movies made fun of on MST3K. When the material suited him, he was quite good. (And in point of fact, neither the NY Times or Hollywood Reporter obits mention Mitchell.)
Sure. They’re real journalists there.
Baker had a real physical presence and he knew how to use it — he is menacing as hell in Charley Varrick and perfectly cast in Mud, even without any lines and in his 70s he just exudes patriarchal danger. But he could also turn that to less intimidating ends, I love Junior Bonner and he is great in it as a guy who has rejected the cool Steve McQueen still contains and is selling cars like a schmuck, and his private eye in Cape Fear is a drunk hoot. I didn’t realize he wanted to play Babe Ruth and he would’ve been a hell of a Ruth, and this makes me think of a potential comparison — John Goodman. Anyway, Baker ruled and this is a good tribute to a man who rightfully pushed back on being remembered as a joke.
Thank you kindly! I find his career fascinating; he really thought Walking Tall would be a breakthrough for him.
my my MY MY GOOOOOOOOD!