JOE ROBINSON

Probably still the deadliest exponent of the Martial Arts in Britain today (he holds an 8th Dan in Judo and a 5th Dan in Karate), Joe Robinson comes from a family of championship wrestlers who eventually moved into the entertainment industry.

Both his father Joseph Robinson Senior and grandfather John were World Champions. Following in their footsteps, Joe junior won the Wrestling European Heavyweight Championship in 1952, beating Axel Cadier in London, when he was billed as ‘Tiger’ Joe Robinson. After injuring his back wrestling in Paris, ‘Tiger’ Joe decided to concentrate on acting, and after a few bit-parts in films his first leading role came in the keep-fit documentary Fit As A Fiddle (1952). Joe also played Harry ‘Muscles’ Green in the West End stage musical Wish You Were Here (1952).

By way of RADA, Joe was eventually cast by director Sir Carol Reed for the pivotal lead role of Sam in the magical film A Kid For Two Farthings (1955) in which he wrestled the gigantic Primo Carnera. About this time Joe found his impressively muscular frame (he has a 50-inch chest) much in demand in 60’s Italian cinema, appearing in many ‘sword and sandal’ epics such as King of Brute Force (1962), Ursus and the Tartar Girl (1962), and also opposite Anthony Quinn and Jack Palance in Richard Fleischer’s affecting and memorable epic Barabbas (1962). 

But probably Joe’s best-remembered role is as the deadly diamond smuggler Peter Franks in Diamonds Are Forever (1971) opposite Sean Connery’s James Bond, where the two big men battle it out to the death in a moving lift, in one of the best fight scenes in the entire Bond series.

 Joe Robinson - Photo by Graham Rye
VITAL STATISTICS
Eyes Blue
Hair Blond
Height 6 feet 2 inches
Weight 220 lbs
Waist 38  inches
Chest 50 inches
Inside Leg 33 inches

Joe with Honor Blackman and Brother Doug
A Kid For Two Farthings

Joe delivers a drop-kick to Primo Carnera in A Kid For Two Farthings
  • Holds 8th Dan in Judo
  • Holds 5th Dan in Karate
  • Self-defence and fitness trainer    [among others, taught Honor Blackman judo for her role in TV’s The Avengers; during 1994 coached New York police  in self-defence seminars]
  • Co-author of 'Honor Blackman's Book of Self-Defence'
with Sid James in A Kid For Two Farthings

With Sid James in
 A Kid For Two Farthings
with Diana Dors in A Kid For Two Farthings

With Diana Dors in
A Kid For Two Farthings
Joe Robinson aged 19
Joe Robinson aged 19
Publicity portrait for A Kid For Two Farthings
Publicity portrait for
A Kid For Two Farthings
Joe Robinson close-up for Barrabas
Joe in close-up for Barabbas
Joe Robinson as the Italian Tarzan
Joe as the Italian Tarzan
Joe & Daughter Polly Robinson (Hardy-Stewart) 
Joe throws his daughter, British Women’s Judo Champion 1990, Polly Robinson (Hardy-Stewart) 

With Honor Blackman
with Carol Reed & Diana Dors in A Kid For Two Farthings
With Carol Reed and Diana Dors in A Kid For Two Farthings
A Kid For Two Farthings
Publicity shot  for
A Kid For Two Farthings
with Anthony Quinn in Barrabas
Joe helps Anthony Quinn from the river in Barabbas
Joe Robinson in Italy
Joe flexes in Italy
.

ALL PROFESSIONAL

ENQUIRIES FOR

JOE ROBINSON

WELCOME

Please contact Graham Rye

editor@007magazine.co.uk

007 MAGAZINE

 

FILM, TV & STAGE APPEARANCES INCLUDE:

  • A Kid for Two Farthings (1955)           (Dir: Carol Reed)                       [played lead opposite Diana Dors]

  • Fighting Mad (1957)
  • The Flesh Is Weak (1957)
  • Strange Awakening (1958)
  • Sea Fury (1958)                                   [with Stanley Baker]
  • Murder Reported (1958)
  • Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960)    [Hammer Horror]
  • Tarzan, re de la forza bruta (1960) (Taur The Mighty)                             (Italian independent movie)            [title role]
  • Bulldog Breed (1960)                          (Dir: Robert Asher)                        with Norman Wisdom
  • Carry On Regardless (1961)              (Dir: Gerald Thomas)

  • Fury of the Vikings (1961)               [with Cameron Mitchell]

  • Barabbas (1962)                                   (Dir: Richard Fleischer)                   with Anthony Quinn and Jack Palance [speaking/action part as a gladiator]

  • King of Brute Force (1962)
  • Ursus & The Tartar Girl (1962)          [lead with Yoko Tani]
  • The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1962)                                 (Dir: Tony Richardson)                   [co-starring part as Roach]             with Sir Michael Redgrave and         Tom Courtenay
  • Thor and the Amazon Women (1963) [title role]
  • Doctor In Distress (1963)                   (Dir: Ralph Thomas)                       with Dirk Bogarde
  • Diamonds Are Forever (1971)           (Dir: Guy Hamilton)                    [played villain Peter Franks and featured (in one of the two best fight scenes in the Bond series) with Sean Connery]
  • Diamonds On Wheels (1974)             (Dir: Robert Stevenson)                  [for Walt Disney]

 

TV

  • Hancock's Half Hour (1959)             [with Tony Hancock]

  • The Avengers (1963)                         [with Patrick Macnee & Honor Blackman]

  • The Saint (..Plays With Fire) (1963) [with Roger Moore]

  • Cat's Eyes (1986)                                [with Jill Gascoigne]

 

THEATRE

  • As You Like It (1959)                             [played Charles the wrestler]          with Barbara Jefford and Maggie Smith at The Old Vic

 
Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds Are Forever

5
Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds Are Forever
   
Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds Are Forever
. .
Diamonds Are Forever Diamonds Are Forever

     

Diamonds Are Forever (1971)   

Photo by Graham Rye Photo by Graham Rye Photo by Graham Rye
Photo by Graham Rye Photo by Graham Rye Photo by Graham Rye Photo by Graham Rye