Skip to content 
The film follows Gidget as she tries to prove herself among a group of surfers while navigating friendship, young love, and growing up. The movie, which also starred James Darren and Cliff Robertson, helped introduce surf culture to a wider audience and inspired several sequels and television adaptations.
Joby Baker later appeared alongside Elvis Presley in the 1965 musical comedy Girl Happy, playing the role of Wilbur.
The film stars Presley as Rusty Wells, a singer hired by a wealthy businessman to keep an eye on his daughter during her spring break trip to Fort Lauderdale. As Rusty tries to protect her from trouble, he unexpectedly finds himself developing feelings for her.
Featuring romance, comedy, and musical performances, the movie also starred Shelley Fabares and Mary Ann Mobley, and became one of Presley’s well-known musical films of the 1960s.
Throughout his acting career, Baker built an extensive television résumé. He appeared in popular shows including The Donna Reed Show, The Twilight Zone, and Good Morning, World. He was also known for starring in the short-lived sitcom The Good Guys with Bob Denver.
After stepping away from acting, Baker focused on his passion for art. He became an accomplished painter, creating colorful works that were displayed in galleries and collected by art lovers.
In his personal life, Joby Baker married Dory Previn, and the couple eventually left Los Angeles for a quieter life on a farmhouse in Southfield, according to Deadline.
The couple remained together until Previn’s death in 2012. Baker is survived by his daughters, Fredricka Baker and Michelle Wayland, his son Scott Zimmerman, as well as his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.