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, is also an actor and stuntman. Career. 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'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). The year after he appeared in an episode of the sitcom "Pardon the Expression" which referenced this book. During this time he was also a popular stunt-arranger, working on several James Bond films and 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). Other notable big-screen appearances include 1961's "Carry On Regardless", of the British institution the Carry Ons. 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. 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". Robinson also claimed he turned down the role of the Rank Organisation's Gongman. Retirement. He retired from acting, and lived in Brighton where he opened a martial arts centre. He conducted classes in Wadō-ryū style karate  and Judo. In 1998 he hit the headlines after fighting off a gang of eight muggers single-handed. The 70-year-old was alighting from a bus in Cape Town when the gang struck with baseball bats and knives. 6 ft 2 ins Robinson overpowered two with flying kicks, karate-chopped another in the chest and broke the arm of a fourth - the rest fled. Death. Robinson died at the age of 90 on 3 July 2017, in Brighton, East Sussex.