Joe Don Baker, the actor best known for playing Sheriff Buford Pusser in the 1973 movie 'Walking Tall,' dies at 89. His career spanned nearly 50 years.

Baker, whose acting career lasted nearly five decades, "was a beacon of kindness and generosity," his obituary reads

His performance as a crusading Southern sheriff made him a star after a decade under the radar in character parts. He went on to play a wide range of roles.