Robert Baker was a martial artist and actor who appeared in two of Bruce Lee’s films, Fist of Fury and The Way of the Dragon. He was also one of Lee’s students in his fighting style, Jeet Kune Do. Baker died of a heart attack at the age of 52 in Los Angeles, California, USA. This article will explore his life, career, and cause of death.
Early Life and Training
Baker was born on May 18, 1940 in California, USA. His father was a signwriter who repaired damaged aeroplanes during World War II. Baker left school at 15 without passing any O-levels. He developed an interest in martial arts and studied various styles, including karate, judo, and kung fu.
He met Bruce Lee in 1967 at the Long Beach International Karate Championships, where Lee gave a demonstration of his skills. Baker was impressed by Lee’s speed and power and asked him to be his teacher. Lee agreed and invited Baker to join his private classes in Los Angeles. Baker became one of Lee’s closest students and friends, and learned his philosophy and techniques of Jeet Kune Do.
Acting Career and Collaboration with Bruce Lee
Baker made his acting debut in 1972, when Lee recruited him to play the role of Petrov, a Russian strongman and martial artist, in Fist of Fury (also known as The Chinese Connection or The Iron Hand). The film was set in Shanghai in 1908 and featured Lee as Chen Zhen, a student of Huo Yuanjia who seeks revenge for his master’s death. Baker’s character was one of Chen’s opponents, who fought him in a dojo. The fight scene between Lee and Baker was a mixture of action and humor, as Lee used various tactics to overcome Baker’s size and strength, such as biting his leg, boxing his face, and kicking his head.
Baker also had a minor role as a thug in Lee’s next film, The Way of the Dragon (also known as Return of the Dragon or Revenge of the Dragon). The film was set in Rome and featured Lee as Tang Lung, a martial artist who helps his relatives defend their restaurant from a crime syndicate. Baker’s character was one of the henchmen who attacked Tang at the airport.
Baker also appeared in several documentaries about Lee’s life and film career, such as Bruce Lee: The Legend (1977), Bruce Lee: The Man and the Legend (1973), and Bruce Lee: A Warrior’s Journey (2000).
Cause of Death
Baker died on April 14, 1993 in Los Angeles, California, USA. According to Dead or Kicking website, his cause of death was a heart attack. He was 52 years old.
Baker’s death was not widely reported by the media at the time. However, he is remembered by many fans of martial arts films as one of Bruce Lee’s students and co-stars. He is also credited for introducing Jeet Kune Do to Europe, where he taught several students after moving to England in 1974.
Baker’s legacy lives on through his films and documentaries, which are still available to watch online or on DVD. He is also honored by the Robert Baker Memorial Fund, which supports martial arts education and research.
