He was best known for the title role in Harold Prince's revival of Candide, for which he received a Tony Award nomination, and his portrayal of Otto Kringelein in the international tour of Grand Hotel.

Mark Fredric Baker was born in Cumberland, Maryland, on October 2, 1946, to parents Francis Tweedie and Aretta Sue Swayne.

Baker made his professional acting debut portraying Linus Van Pelt in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown in a 1970 off-Broadway production.

[8] From 1990 to 1991, Baker appeared as Otto Kringelein in the Broadway international tour of Grand Hotel at venues throughout the United States, Canada and Japan, and received a Helen Hayes Award for his performance at the Kennedy Center.

[9] Other venues at which Baker has performed include The Public Theater and what was then referred to as the Martin Beck Theatre.