Joby Baker

Joseph N. "Joby" Baker (March 26, 1934 – June 22, 2026) was a Canadian-born American actor and painter. As an actor, he was best known for his lighthearted, low-key comedy roles, including the lead role in the short-lived sitcom Good Morning World. He relocated to the then-territory of Hawaii with his father when his mother died shortly after he was born. While in the U.S. Army, he entertained troops. Good Morning World ended after a single season in 1968. In 1960, he co-starred with Jack Lemmon and Ricky Nelson in The Wackiest Ship in the Army. He appeared in the Elvis Presley movie Girl Happy, When the Boys Meet the Girls (1965), and in all three Gidget movies.

In 1967, Baker was cast as a travelling magician, Dr. William Davis, in the episode "The Saga of Dr. Davis" on the syndicated series Death Valley Days, hosted by Robert Taylor. Judi Meredith played his wife, Jenny, whose death leads him to take an adopted son, Tad, on his remaining westward journeys. Baker began a long association with Walt Disney Studios where he appeared in The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin (1967), Blackbeard's Ghost (1968), and Superdad (1974). This was followed by a succession of character roles, including an appearance in an episode of the 1973 situation comedy A Touch of Grace and a stint as "Colonel Marvin" on the 1980 sitcom The Six O'Clock Follies. Baker was in Avalanche (1978).

Baker largely left acting after marrying Dory Previn in 1984; he felt that he did not have the temperament or personality to be a full-time actor. He illustrated The Dory Previn Songbook, published in 1995.

Baker, in 1984, stopped acting and established himself as a painter, sculptor and jewelry artisan. He and Previn moved to Southfield, Massachusetts. Baker was inspired by his wife, Previn. Previn died in 2012.

Baker died at a hospital in Yonkers, New York, on June 22, 2026, at the age of 92, ten days after his co-star Ronnie Schell from Good Morning World died, at the age of 94. crime film The Wackiest Ship in the Army Josh Davidson Richard Murphy War comedy-drama film 1961 Gidget Goes Hawaiian Judge Hamilton Paul Wendkos Romantic comedy musical film 1962 Hootenanny Hoot Steve Laughlin Gene Nelson Musical film 1963 Gidget Goes to Rome Judge Paul Wendkos Romantic comedy film 1964 Looking for Love Cuz Rickover Don Weis Romantic musical-comedy film

Girl Happy Wilbur Boris Sagal Romantic musical-comedy film When the Boys Meet the Girls Sam Alvin Ganzer Musical film 1967 The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin Bandido Leader James Neilson Western comedy film 1968 Blackbeard's Ghost Silky Seymour Robert Stevenson Fantasy comedy film

Self-Portrait Allan Maurice McEndree Drama film Superdad Klutch Vincent McEveety Comedy film 1978 Avalanche TV Director Corey Allen Disaster film 2024 Dory Previn: On My Way to Where Self Dianna DilworthJulia Greenberg Documentary film

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1952 The Red Skelton Hour Junior 2 episodes 1957 Studio One Trial spectator Episode: "The Defender, part 1" The West Point Story Cadet Monty Berrin Episode: "Dangerous Area" Bachelor Father Boy at Stage Door Episode: "Uncle Bentley Keeps His Promise" 1957-59Dragnet Guest starGuest starBob Tepps Episodes: 1958 The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show Quartet Member Episode: "Ronnie Makes a Record" The George Burns Show Self Episode: "George and the Private Eye" 1958-62 Alfred Hitchcock Presents ThorJimmy DolanVernon Episodes: 1960 Surfside 6 Bernie Bergen Episode: "Power of Suggestion" 1961 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Joby Episode: "The Fraternity Rents Out a Room" Cain's Hundred Larry Delby Episode: "King of the Mountain" Dr. Kildare Jerry House Episode: "A Million Dollar Property" The Roaring 20's Joby Price Episode: "Pinky Goes to College" Wagon Train Nathan May Episode: "The Bettina May Story" 1961-62 Bachelor Father Biff Merideth Episodes: 1962 Frontier Circus George Washington Jukes Episode: "Mighty Like Rogues" Gunsmoke Ky Episode: "Call Me Dodie" Perry Mason Kenneth Carter Episode: "The Case of the Bogus Books" Sam Benedict Nick Correa Episode: "Everybody's Playing Polo" 1962-63 Combat! Kelly Episodes: 1963 The Greatest Show on Earth Rick Andover Episode: "The Loser" The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Doc Carroll Episode: "The Cadaver" 1964 Ben Casey Harry Martin Episode: "The Evidence of Things Not Seen" 12 O'Clock High Lieutenant Blake Episode: "Golden Boy Had Nine Black Sheep" (Pilot) 1965 American Bandstand Self Episode: "Episode #8.27" The Loner Billy Ford Episode: "The Oath" 1965-66 The Dick Van Dyke Show Episodes: 1966 F Troop Mario Maracucci Episode: "La Dolce Courage" 1967 Death Valley Days Dr. William Davis Episode: "The Saga of Dr. Davis" Valley of Mystery Pete Patton Made-for-TV movie directed by Joseph Lejtes 1967-68 Good Morning World David Lewis Lead role 1968 Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In Self Episode: "Sally Field, Terry-Thomas, Joby Baker, Godfrey Cambridge, Jerry Lewis, John Wayne" 1969 Mannix Rudy Marin Episode: "The Sound of Darkness" 1971 Love, American Style Ted Segment: "Love and the Vacation" (S 3:Ep 8) 1972 The Streets of San Francisco Jamie Lane Episode: "The First Day of Forever" Assignment Vienna Russell Episode: "Queen's Gambit" 1973 A Touch of Grace Dickson Episode: "The Commercial" Cry Rape Jerry Cohen Made-for-TV movie directed by Corey Allen 1974 Run, Joe, Run Missionary 2 Episode: "Missionary" Barnaby Jones Joe Holland Episode: "Blueprint for a Caper" 1974-75 Police Story Episodes: 1975 Kate McShane Episode: "Publish or Perish" Medical Center Tony Tabor Episode: "The Silent Witness" 1976 Bronk Sgt. Ben Waite Episode: "The Deadlier Sex" Gemini Man Josef Episode: "Suspect Your Local Police" 1977 The City Mel Greenwall Made-for-TV movie directed by Harvey Hart Most Wanted Pete Kerman Episode: "The People Mover" 1977-82 Quincy, M.E. Various 4 episodes 1979 Stone Murray Weinstock 3 episodes Sex and the Single Parent Millard Made-for-TV movie directed by Jackie Cooper 1980 Jimmy B. & André Judge Tom Lucci Made-for-TV movie directed by Guy Green Nobody's Perfect Dixie Episode: "What's on Third?" The Six O'Clock Follies Col. Harvey Mann 6 episodes 1981 Simon & Simon Parker Stans Episode: "Details at Eleven" (Pilot) 1982 McClain's Law Dr. Lester Episode: "The Last Hero" 1983 Tucker's Witch Mickey Daugherty Episode: "Rock Is a Hard Place" 1984 The Paper Chase Police Detective Episode: "Burden of Proof"