Rest in peace, Jon Don Baker, who passed away at the age of 89 today. Baker was the star of such luminous movies as Mitchell and Final Justice, both of which received the MST3K treatment they richly deserved. In fact, Defector paid tribute to Baker and the MST3K Mitchell episode in an article they released today:
“Baker plays Mitchell as a sarcastic, hung over, bumbling-yet-competent cop in a way that feels real; the character is as fully inhabited as its obvious inspiration, Gene Hackman’s Popeye Doyle in The French Connection, but the movie around it is much goofier. It’s great, in a way. Audiences had previously cheered Baker as the lawbreaking sheriff in Walking Tall, but in Mitchell he is never anything but deeply unpleasant to watch—unless a dude and some robots are making fun of him constantly.”
“Mitchell” Is Part Of Joe Don Baker’s Legacy, For Better Or Worse | Defector. (2025, May 15). Defector.com. https://defector.com/mitchell-is-part-of-joe-don-bakers-legacy-for-better-or-worse
Now, BUZZ OFF, KID!!!
