George Baker (British actor)
A stalwart of British film and television, equally convincing as a Roman emperor and a dogged English detective.
1931–2011 (age 80)·English actor and writer·Birthday: April 1·The Silent Generation
Biography
With a patrician bearing and a voice of measured authority, George Baker served as a dependable pillar of British acting for over half a century. His career began in the 1950s with military roles that suited his officer-like demeanor, but his range proved far wider. He achieved international recognition for his chillingly nuanced portrayal of the aging, depraved Emperor Tiberius in the landmark BBC series 'I, Claudius', a performance of quiet, sinister power. Later, he found a different kind of fame as the beloved, methodical Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford in the long-running 'The Ruth Rendell Mysteries', bringing a warmth and intelligence to the screen that made him a fixture in British living rooms. Beyond acting, Baker was also a playwright and novelist, and his personal life—including his marriage to actress Louie Ramsay, who played his on-screen wife on Wexford—added to his enduring image as a gentleman of the profession.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
George was born in 1931, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1931
#1 Movie
Frankenstein
Best Picture
Cimarron
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1931Born
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1936Started school
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1944Became a teenager
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Could drive
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1949Could vote
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1952Turned 21
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1961Turned 30
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 40
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 50
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1991Turned 60
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
2001Turned 70
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 80
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the complex Emperor Tiberius in the acclaimed BBC historical drama series 'I, Claudius'.
- Played Chief Inspector Reginald Wexford in the television adaptations of Ruth Rendell's novels for 14 years.
- Appeared in numerous James Bond films, including 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' and 'The Spy Who Loved Me'.
- Authored several novels and stage plays, including 'The Fatal Spring'.
Did You Know?
He was a prisoner of war during the Korean War after being captured during his national service.
He was married to actress Louie Ramsay, who played his character's wife, Dora Wexford, on television.
He turned down the role of Doctor Who in 1970, which was then offered to Jon Pertwee.
He founded the touring theatre company The New Shakespeare Company in 1975.
“An actor is a kind of tightrope walker, always balancing between truth and technique.”
