Stevan “Mr Escape” Baker 79 of Irving passed away Sept.17, 2017 at his residence

He was born July 26, 1938 in East St. Louis IL to Joseph and Cleo M (Spacklin) Baker.
 

He married Julia Veltri in 1971 and she survives She was his wife and assistant during his career. He is also survived by one brother and one sister. He was preceded in death by his parents and one son.

He graduated from Castro Valley High School in CA.

He was a veteran of the US Airforce for 4 years including during the Cuban missile crisis.

He was a member of the Church of God intercontinental, SAG-AFTRA Labor Union, Stuntman’s Association and Magic Castle.

Steve was known professionally as Mr. Escape.  He authored 3 books on the art of escape and was in several movies including "McLintock", "How the West Was Won" and "It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World". He appeared on one episode of MindFreak and later was escape consultant for Andrew Basso on a TV Special he was doing in Italy.

In the 1970s and 80s, Steve Baker was all over TV with his fabulous escapes. His career started a few years earlier when he hung upside down in front of the Tribune Tower Building in Oakland CA to recreate Houdini's Upside Down Strait Jacket Escape. Steve freed himself from the jacket in record time and it began his full time career in 1967.

Steve was a favorite of Dick Clark the TV celebrity and producer. In the 70s, Dick Clark invited Steve to present many daring escapes on his various TV shows. His very first was on Dick Clark LIVE Wednesday on NBC. Steve presented a thrilling version of Houdini's Water Torture Cell Escape.  He followed that appearance up with his Coffin of Death, and then a return visit had him doing a Double Hanging Strait Jacket Escape. Steve also did a challenge escape from a device created by one of the home viewers.

In the 1980s, Dick Clark had a show in CBS called Dick Clark LIVE, and Steve was again, brought on to do numerous escapes. Among those were his Tug of War Rope Tie, his Water Tank of Death, and a very thrilling original escape he called Death Race.

Memorials can be directed to the funeral home.

A private family burial will be held at a later date.

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