Joe Robinson (actor)

Joseph Robinson (31 May 1927 – 3 July 2017) was an English actor and stuntman born in Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland. He was a champion professional wrestler, as were his father Joseph and his grandfather John. His brother, Doug Robinson, was also an actor and stuntman.

Professional wrestling
Robinson initially embarked on a career in wrestling as 'Tiger Joe Robinson' and won the European Heavyweight Championship in 1952. At the same time, he was also interested in acting and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After injuring his back wrestling in Paris he decided to concentrate on acting. Joe Robinson's daughter Polly Robinson (Hardy-Stewart) has also continued the family's success in martial arts by winning the junior Judo championships in the 1980s.

Acting
Robinson also claimed he turned down the role of the Rank Organisation's Gongman.

Robinson's first role came in the keep-fit documentary Fit as a Fiddle and in the same year, 1952, he followed it up with a part as Harry 'Muscles' Green in the musical Wish You Were Here in the West End of London.

He made his film debut in 1955's A Kid for Two Farthings, in which he wrestled Primo Carnera. Other big-screen appearances include 1961's Carry On Regardless, of the British institution the Carry Ons.

His film and television career really took off in the 1960s and in 1962 he appeared in British classic The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner alongside appearances in The Saint and The Avengers in 1963.

in 1960 was invited to Rome where he appeared in five muscle-bound Italian epics, including Taur the Mighty (1963), Thor and the Amazon Women (1963) and Ursus and the Tartar Princess (1961). According to the book Tarzan of the Movies by Gabe Essoe, Robinson played the role of Tarzan in obscure Italian-made films (Taur, il re della forza bruta and Le gladiatrici); the use of the Tarzan character, however, was unauthorised and the character's name had to be changed to Thaur before the film was allowed for public release. He also appeared in Barabbas and Erik the Conqueror both in 1961.

With his younger brother Doug who was a movie stuntman and Honor Blackman, he co-authored Honor Blackman's Book of Self-Defence in 1965 (Joe was also a judo champion and black belt at karate). The year after he appeared in an episode of the sitcom Pardon the Expression which referenced this book.

His final big-screen appearance was in the 1971 James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever in which he plays diamond smuggler Peter Franks. Robinson claimed that he was a contender for the Red Grant role in From Russia with Love. Though he did not get it, Connery recommended him for the role in Diamonds are Forever.

Retirement
Robinson retired from acting, and lived in Brighton, where he opened a martial arts centre, conducting classes in Wadō-ryū style karate and Judo. In March 1998 the 70-year-old Robinson hit the headlines after fighting off a gang of at least eight muggers single-handed when he was attacked after alighting from a bus in Cape Town; the gang struck with baseball bats and knives, but the 6 ft 2 inch-tall Robinson overpowered two with flying kicks, karate-chopped another, and broke the arm of a fourth with a punch- the rest fled. Robinson suffered "only minor cuts and grazes" and continued to enjoy his holiday.

Death
Robinson died in Brighton, East Sussex on 3 July 2017, at the age of 90.