
Actor Joby Baker, whose career began as a teenager in the 1950s and who co-starred opposite Elvis Presley, in 1965's Girl Happy, died on Wednesday, June 22, at the age of 92. The news was confirmed by his family to the industry paper Deadline and they shared he had died of natural causes in Mount Kisco, New York. His death came just 10 days after his Good Morning World co-star Ronnie Schell died on June 12.
Joby was a prolific comedian and actor from the early 1950s onwards, when he had small roles in The Red Skelton Hour, Studio One, and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show. He found huge fame in the 60s and 70s, appearing on shows such as The Dick Van Dyke Show and the Alfred Hitchcock Hour. However, it was his role as David Lewis in the CBS sitcom Good Morning World which really cemented his star status. He and Schell played a morning drive radio disc jockey duo and best friends. The show also starred Goldie Hawn.
On the big screen, he appeared in lighthearted comedic fare such as 1960’s The Wackiest Ship in the Army opposite Jack Lemmon and Ricky Nelson.
He also appeared in three Gidget movies, including the 1959 original, which starred teen icon Sandra Dee as the diminutive surfer title character.
In 1965, he played the role of Wilbur, the comic relief bass player in the pop band headed by Elvis Presley in the musical Girl Happy.
Around this time, he was also one of Walt Disney Studios’ go-to young actors and starred opposite Roddy McDowall in 1967’s The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin. In 1973, he appeared in Disney’s Superdad alongside Bob Crane and Kurt Russell.
In 1980, he put his comedic talents to further use and enjoyed a stint as Colonel Marvin on the sitcom Six O'Clock Follies.
His last credited role came in 1984 playing a police detective in an episode of The Paper Chase, a series about a bunch of Law students, their everyday lives and their effort to make it through Law School.
Outside of acting since the 1970s, he had enjoyed a successful career as a painter and sculptor, holding exhibitions in prominent galleries in Los Angeles, New York, and New England. His work would find its way into prominent private collections across the country.
He is survived by his daughters, Fredricka Baker and Michelle Wayland; Scott Zimmerman, whom he helped raise as a son; six grandchildren and a great-granddaughter.