Baker rose to prominence through Westerns including Guns of the Magnificent Seven and Wild Rovers, before achieving stardom with Walking Tall. His career showcased impressive range, with roles in Charley Varrick, Mitchell, The Natural, Fletch, and Martin Scorsese’s Cape Fear.

In the James Bond franchise, Baker uniquely played both villain and ally—arms dealer Brad Whitaker in The Living Daylights and CIA agent Jack Wade in GoldenEye and Tomorrow Never Dies. On television, he earned acclaim and award nominations for Edge of Darkness and George Wallace.

His later films included Mars Attacks!, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Mud. Baker retired from acting in 2012.