Jerry Baker was a close childhood friend of Travis Freeman, the real-life inspiration behind the film 23 Blast. In the movie, Jerry is portrayed by Bram Hoover and is depicted as a key figure in supporting Travis after he loses his sight due to a rare bacterial infection. Jerry helped Travis overcome depression and encouraged him to return to playing football despite his blindness
. Tragically, Jerry Baker's life took a difficult turn after high school. He was involved in a roofing accident that left him paralyzed from the waist down and caused severe brain damage. Following the accident, he faced numerous health challenges including infections, leg amputations, and multiple surgeries. Unfortunately, he struggled with substance abuse and ultimately died in 2007 at the age of 26 due to complications related to the accident
. Jerry Baker left behind a daughter named Kailee and his mother, Vicki. Despite his tragic end, Travis Freeman has spoken about how instrumental Jerry was in his life and believes Jerry would have been proud of the film honoring their friendship
