Joe Robinson

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For the American stand-up comedian see Joe Robinson (comedian)

Joe Robinson is an English actor and stuntman born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on 31 May 1927. His brother is also a stuntman and actor, Doug Robinson. The Robinson's were a famous family of wrestlers, Joe's father and grandfather were world champions. Robinson initially embarked on a career in wrestling as 'Tiger Joe Robinson' and won the European Heavyweight Championship in 1952.

He was also interested in acting and studied at R.A.D.A; after injuring his back wrestling in Paris he decided to concentrate on acting. 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. 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. With his younger brother Doug 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). During this time he was also a popular stunt-arranger, working on several James Bond movies and in 1960 was invited to Rome where he appeared in five muscle-bound Italian epics. Other notable big-screen appearances include British institution, the Carry Ons, Carry On Regardless, 1961. According to the book Tarzan of the Movies by Gabe Essoe, Robinson played the role of Tarzan in an obscure Italian-made film; the use of the Tarzan character, however, was unauthorized and the character's name had to be changed to Thaur before the film was allowed for public release. His final big-screen appearance in 1971's James Bond film Diamonds Are Forever.

He is now retired and living in Brighton where he opened a martial arts centre. In 1998 he hit the headlines after fighting off a gang of eight muggers single-handedly. The 70 year old was getting off a bus in Cape Town when the gang struck with baseball bats and knives. 6 ft 2 ins Joe poleaxed two with flying kicks, karate-chopped another in the chest and broke the arm of a fourth. The rest fled!

Reminiscing about his career in The Daily Mail recently, Robinson spoke on the subject of Laurence Olivier's alleged homosexuality saying 'my kids used to play with his kids at school and I taught him judo ... I have no idea if he was a homosexual... but he did once tell me I had lovely shoulders.'