Joe Robinson
Encyclopedia
Joe Robinson is an English actor and stuntman born in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. 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.
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 Robinsons daughter Polly Robinson (Hardy-Stewart) has also continued the families success in martial arts by winning the junior Judo championships in the '80s.
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
movies and in 1960 was invited to Rome
where he appeared in five muscle-bound Italian epics, including "THAUR THE MIGHTY" (1963), "THOR AND THE AMAZON QUEEN" (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 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
. 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.
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, (having been trained by Joe this is obviously Journalistic lecense. Joe would never advise kicking higher than the thigh in real combat and certainly not a flying kick - stuff of the movies!) karate-chopped another in the chest and broke the arm of a fourth, while 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.'
Professional wrestling
Robinson initially embarked on a career in wrestling as 'Tiger Joe Robinson' and won the European Heavyweight ChampionshipEuropean Heavyweight Championship
The European Heavyweight Championship is a top title competed for throughout the European Union's professional wrestling circuit.The title would be defended in many promotions in Europe, and other versions of this one title also appeared in certain promotions...
in 1952. At the same time, he was also interested in acting and studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
The Royal Academy of Dramatic Art is a drama school located in London, United Kingdom. It is generally regarded as one of the most renowned drama schools in the world, and is one of the oldest drama schools in the United Kingdom, having been founded in 1904.RADA is an affiliate school of the...
. After injuring his back wrestling in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
he decided to concentrate on acting.
Joe Robinsons daughter Polly Robinson (Hardy-Stewart) has also continued the families success in martial arts by winning the junior Judo championships in the '80s.
Acting
Robinson's first role came in the keep-fit documentary Fit as a FiddleFit as a Fiddle
Fit as a Fiddle, an album by Natalie MacMaster, was released in 1997 on the Rounder Records label.-Track listing:# "Strathspeys & Reels" – 4:20#*"John Campbell's" #*"Miss Ann Moir's Birthday" #*"Lady Georgina Campbell"...
and in the same year, 1952, he followed it up with a part as Harry 'Muscles' Green in the musical Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here (musical)
Wish You Were Here is a musical with a book by Arthur Kober and Joshua Logan and music and lyrics by Harold Rome. The musical was adapted from Kober's 1937 play, Having Wonderful Time, and revolves around a summer camp for adults.-Synopsis:...
in the West End of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
He made his film debut in 1955's A Kid for Two Farthings
A Kid for Two Farthings (film)
A Kid For Two Farthings is a 1955 film, directed by Carol Reed. The screenplay was adapted by Wolf Mankowitz from his own novel of the same name.-Plot:...
, in which he wrestled Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera
Primo Carnera was an Italian boxer, nicknamed the Ambling Alp, who became the world heavyweight champion.-Biography:...
. 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
The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner
"The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner" is a short story by Alan Sillitoe which was set in Irvine Beach, and published in 1959 as part of a short story collection of the same name. The work focuses on Colin, a poor Nottingham teenager from a dismal home in a blue-collar area, who has bleak...
alongside appearances in The Saint
The Saint (TV series)
The Saint was an ITC mystery spy thriller television series that aired in the UK on ITV between 1962 and 1969. It centred on the Leslie Charteris literary character, Simon Templar, a Robin Hood-like adventurer with a penchant for disguise. The character may be nicknamed The Saint because the...
and The Avengers
The Avengers (TV series)
The Avengers is a spy-fi British television series set in the 1960s Britain. The Avengers initially focused on Dr. David Keel and his assistant John Steed . Hendry left after the first series and Steed became the main character, partnered with a succession of assistants...
in 1963. With his younger brother Doug and Honor Blackman
Honor Blackman
Honor Blackman is an English actress, known for the roles of Cathy Gale in The Avengers and Bond girl Pussy Galore in Goldfinger .-Early life:...
, he co-authored Honor Blackman's Book of Self-Defence in 1965 (Joe was also a judo
Judo
is a modern martial art and combat sport created in Japan in 1882 by Jigoro Kano. Its most prominent feature is its competitive element, where the object is to either throw or takedown one's opponent to the ground, immobilize or otherwise subdue one's opponent with a grappling maneuver, or force an...
champion and black belt at karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
). The year after he appeared in an episode of the sitcom Pardon the Expression
Pardon the Expression
Pardon The Expression! was an ITV sitcom made by Granada Television, that was first broadcast from Wednesday 2 June 1965 to Monday 27 June 1966. The sitcom was one of only four spin-offs from the highly popular soap opera Coronation Street. Pardon the Expression itself had a spin-off: Turn out the...
which referenced this book. During this time he was also a popular stunt-arranger, working on several James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
movies and in 1960 was invited to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he appeared in five muscle-bound Italian epics, including "THAUR THE MIGHTY" (1963), "THOR AND THE AMAZON QUEEN" (1963) and "URSUS AND THE TARTAR PRINCESS" (1961). Other notable big-screen appearances include 1961's Carry On Regardless
Carry On Regardless
Carry on Regardless was the fifth in the series of Carry On films to be made. It was released in 1961. By now a fairly regular team was established with Sid James, Kenneth Connor, Charles Hawtrey, Joan Sims and Kenneth Williams all having appeared in previous entries. Hattie Jacques - who was...
, of the British institution the Carry Ons
Carry On films
The Carry On films are a series of low-budget British comedy films, directed by Gerald Thomas and produced by Peter Rogers. They are an energetic mix of parody, farce, slapstick and double entendres....
. According to the book Tarzan of the Movies by Gabe Essoe, Robinson played the role of Tarzan
Tarzan
Tarzan is a fictional character, an archetypal feral child raised in the African jungles by the Mangani "great apes"; he later experiences civilization only to largely reject it and return to the wild as a heroic adventurer...
in obscure Italian-made films (Taur, il re della forza bruta and Le gladiatrici); 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
Diamonds Are Forever (film)
Diamonds Are Forever is the seventh spy film in the Eon Productions James Bond series, and the sixth and final Eon Productions film to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. The film is based on Ian Fleming's 1956 novel of the same name, and is the second of four James Bond films...
. Robinson claimed that he was a contender for the Red Grant role in From Russia with Love
From Russia with Love (film)
From Russia with Love is the second in the James Bond spy film series, and the second to star Sean Connery as the fictional MI6 agent James Bond. Released in 1963, the film was produced by Albert R. Broccoli and Harry Saltzman, and directed by Terence Young. It is based on the 1957 novel of the...
. Though he did not get it, Connery recommended him for the role in Diamonds are Forever.
Retirement
He is now retired and living in BrightonBrighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
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
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
when the gang struck with baseball bats and knives. 6 ft 2 ins Joe poleaxed two with flying kicks, (having been trained by Joe this is obviously Journalistic lecense. Joe would never advise kicking higher than the thigh in real combat and certainly not a flying kick - stuff of the movies!) karate-chopped another in the chest and broke the arm of a fourth, while the rest fled.
Reminiscing about his career in The Daily Mail recently, Robinson spoke on the subject of Laurence Olivier
Laurence Olivier
Laurence Kerr Olivier, Baron Olivier, OM was an English actor, director, and producer. He was one of the most famous and revered actors of the 20th century. He married three times, to fellow actors Jill Esmond, Vivien Leigh, and Joan Plowright...
'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.'
Championships and accomplishments
- British Wrestling FederationProfessional wrestling in the United KingdomProfessional wrestling in the United Kingdom spans over 100 years but became popular when the then new Independent Television station - ITV began showing it in 1955 firstly on Saturday afternoons and then also in a late night mid week slot...
- European Heavyweight Championship (1 time)