Why did Joe Don Baker leave Walking tall? Buford Pusser friendship explored as actor passes away

The Walking Tall films, which were influenced by the life of Tennessee sheriff Buford Pusser, profoundly impacted the 1970s film industry and American pop culture. Joe Don Baker’s performance in the original 1973 film as Pusser brought the Walking Tall action to life, but Baker decided against playing Pusser in the sequels.

This was largely influenced by his great admiration and friendship toward the actual Buford Pusser, who, unfortunately, died in a car accident on August 21, 1974 — mere hours after signing a deal to act in the first sequel. Rather than proceeding with the role, Baker chose to honor Pusser’s legacy.

This decision enabled Bo Svenson to take over the role in the later films. Keith Phipps writes for The Reveal and points out this quote:

“On August 21, 1974, Buford Pusser signed a contract to play himself in the first Walking Tall sequel. That night, he died in a single-car accident… Instead of overshadowing the subsequent Walking Tall films, Pusser’s real-life death intertwined with the films’ paranoid core narrative.”

Baker’s exit was less about any career shifts but rather a reverential act for his friend, which greatly impacted the film franchise as well as its audience.

While the legacy of Pusser is celebrated, it is also controversial.

“There is a small percentage of the county which idolizes him, another small group which thinks he should be punished as a murderer, and a lot of people who don’t really have an opinion but who think the things that happened were unfortunate,” described Bruce Hurt, publisher of Selmer’s Independent Appeal, reflecting on the mixed sentiments of McNairy County.

Regardless of the Waking Tall franchise divisions and of Pusser's story mixed with Baker’s performance, the franchise still stands as a cultural milestone.

Buford Pusser: The man behind the legend

Like many legendary tales, Buford Pusser’s life came with outrageous controversy and unmatched courage. His towering height of 6 ft 6 inches earned him national attention for his brutal policing of the moonshiners, gamblers, and corrupt officials in McNairy County, Tennessee. Pusser gained national notoriety for brutally fighting moonshiners.

His most infamous moment is considered to be the violent scuffle with the owner of the plantation club, which led to him losing a part of his arm, which ultimately became the focus of the Walking Tall film series and his supposed sacrifice in the unyielding fight against crime. The story exhibited classic American folk hero discrepancies, leading Midwestern civilians to mourn his untimely demise.

The cultural impact of Walking Tall

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The Walking Tall films contributed to the emergence of the gritty vigilante archetype during the 1970s, influencing later crime and action dramas. Apart from the original trilogy, the franchise was adapted into a 2004 reboot with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, along with a television series that didn’t last long.

Buford Pusser’s house, along with the museum celebrating his life in Tennessee, draws in a steady stream of visitors, maintaining the intricate legacy of a figure who blurred the confines of a lawman and a legend. The movies provoke ongoing debates regarding justice, ethics, and the sociocultural fabric of the American South in a tumultuous period.

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