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Art Baker (January 7, 1898 – August 26, 1966) was a film, television and radio actor of the 1930s, 1940s, 1950s and 1960s.

Born in New York City, he was most well known for his radio and television work which began in the mid-1930s. Baker, born Arthur Shank, appeared in over forty films including Alfred Hitchcock's Spellbound (1945), The Farmer's Daughter (1947), Frank Capra's State of the Union (1948), Any Number Can Play (1949) starring Clark Gable, and The Underworld Story (1950).

His tall, slim frame, snow white hair, smooth slightly nasal voice and a genial nature made him a natural for playing business tycoons, doctors, and senators in various movies. Baker grew up in New York and, after a number of different jobs, eventually became an actor.

He had four children, Virginia, who died of TB, Arthur (Bart), Robert and Dorothy by his first wife. They lived in Iowa.

Baker was best noted for his work on the television series You Asked For It, for which be became affectionately dubbed, "your Genii with the light, white hair," between December 1950 and January 1958, when he was succeeded by Jack Smith. He died of a heart attack in a bank in L.A. in 1966.

External links

• Art Baker at the Internet Movie Database
• Art Baker at Allmovie
• Art Baker at Find a Grave