Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the charismatic Thurman Case in "Desire in the Dust" in 1960. During World War II, he served in the United States Marine Corp. Upon returning to civilian life following the end of the war, he returned to his native California. Using the benefits of the G.I. Bill, he earned a degree in theatrical arts at University of California at LA. Following graduation, he began his acting career appearing in stock companies. While participating in a local football game, he was discovered by film coordinator Richard Talmadge, who was impressed by his blonde good looks, slim physique, and stealth, arranging for him to begin a career in the film industry. From there, he would appear in over 55 features, often typecast in supporting character roles as henchman, cowboys, policemen, retail clerks, doctors, military men, prizefighters, bellhops, doormen, waiters, chauffeurs, playboys, neighbors, landlords, sidekicks, best friends, blue-collared guys, authority figures, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "The Black Arrow" in 1948, "Knock on Any Door" in 1949, "The Flame and the Arrow" in 1950, "The Happy Time" in 1952, "Cell 2455, Death Row" in 1955, "Baby Face Nelson" in 1957, "The Badlanders" in 1958, "Guns of the Timberland" in 1960, "PT 109" in 1963, "The Karate Killers" in 1967, "Diamonds Are Forever" in 1971, "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf" in 1974, and "Zero to Sixty" in 1978. During the advent of television, he flourished as a household name appearing in such syndicated sitcoms as "I Married Joan," "The Lineup," "Navy Log," "State Trooper," "The 20th-Century Fox Hour," "Maverick," "The Restless Gun," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Twilight Zone," "M Squad," "Peter Gunn," "Whispering Smith," "Coronado 9," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Wagon Train," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Daniel Boone," "Laredo," "The Munsters," "Star Trek," and "Wonder Woman". During his career, he was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was the official stand-in for Marlon Brando and William Shatner, had been a cousin of fellow character actress Barbara Baxley, was a supporter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, presided as a chairman for his local charters of the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity, and he was one of the founders of the organization Stunts Unlimited. Upon retiring in 1980, Baxley spent the remainder of his life being a regular attendee at autograph conventions, painted in oils, and was a generous benefactor for several libraries and hospitals, until his death from the complications of undisclosed causes.