In a floral tribute sent to Stanley Baker's funeral, Zulu leader Chief Mangosuthu Buthelezi who had worked with him in Zulu (1964) described him as "the most decent white man I have ever met".
In May 1972 he was one of the co-organisers of the Great Western Bardney Pop Festival in Lincoln.
In November 2006 a Lounge dedicated to his life and work was opened by his widow, Lady Ellen Baker and his sons at Ferndale Rugby club in the village of his birth.
Turned down many Hollywood offers during the 1950s because he wanted to keep the British film industry going. Nevertheless he was much in demand for American films. The producers of Helen of Troy (1956) were so desperate to cast him that they did not mind which part he played.
With the success of Concrete Jungle (1960), Baker all but displaced his polar opposite Dirk Bogarde to become Britain's most popular star. However, Zulu (1964) was his last huge success. His career was damaged by the commercial failure of Sands of the Kalahari (1965) and Robbery (1967), although the latter received favourable reviews.