Joe Baker; English Comedian Had Many Roles in Movies, TV

Joe Baker, 73, a popular English comedian who took motion picture character roles after moving to Hollywood in 1975, died May 16 in Los Angeles.

The son of British vaudevillians, Baker performed pantomime and stand-up in London clubs and cabarets, and acted in such West End stage shows as “Joey, Joey” and “The Great Grimaldi.” He starred in his own BBC TV shows, “The Joe Baker Show,” “Baker’s Half Dozen,” “My Man Joe,” and became a favorite of Prince Charles on the children’s show “Crackerjack.”

In the United States, Baker appeared on television’s “The Rich Little Show,” “Coach” and in dozens of commercials.

Baker had roles in such motion pictures as “Waxwork,” “Bugsy,” “Robin Hood: Men in Tights,” “Dumb & Dumber” and “Art House.” He was also the voice of Lon in the animated 1995 feature film “Pocahontas.”