John Dair

Born: 1933-03-03

John Dair (3 March 1933 – 25 November 2005) was a Scottish actor who was best known for his role as Harry Grout’s bodyguard "Crusher" in the sitcom Porridge and as Charlie Dawson in the drama Our Friends in the North. Although born in Dundee, Scotland, Dair was a resident of London, England, for many years. He drove mobile cranes and bulldozers on building sites and then worked as a singer, until he was offered the part in Porridge whilst performing at the Lyceum Theatre, London. He appeared in one of the most memorable scenes in the sitcom in which his character displays a "sense of humour failure" when a joke is repeated to him. He also had small parts in films, the most memorable of which was in Batman as crime boss Vinnie Ricorso, who is fatally stabbed in the throat with a quill pen by the Joker. In 1984, he appeared in the iconic music video for the Frankie Goes to Hollywood song "Relax" as a man dressed as a Roman emperor in a gay nightclub, and also had a part as a gambler in their No.1 selling single "Two Tribes" video directed by Godley & Creme. He also appeared in commercials including the acclaimed 1985 advertisement for Levi Strauss & Co. jeans with Nick Kamen that was set in a Laundromat. Dair died of lung cancer in 2005.


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as Ricorso
Released: 1989-06-21

Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis when a deformed madman calling himself "The Joker"...

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Loch Ness

as Macleash
Released: 1996-08-23

Dr. Dempsey, an American scientist, is sent to Scotland to disprove the existence of the Loch...

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Yellowbeard

as Big John
Released: 1983-06-24

For years Yellowbeard had looted the Spanish Main, making men eat their lips and swallow their...

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Porridge

as Sampson
Released: 1979-08-12

Times are hard for habitual guest of Her Majesty Norman Stanley Fletcher. The new prison...

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Hear My Song

as Derek
Released: 1991-12-27

Singer Josef Locke fled to Ireland 25 years ago to escape the clutches of the tax man and police...

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Chicago Joe and the Showgirl

as John
Released: 1990-05-16

During World War II, an American serviceman in London decides to impress his English girlfriend...

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Mr. Corbett's Ghost

as uncredited
Released: 1987-12-31

Mr Corbett is a cruel employer to Ben Partridge. One night on New Years Eve Ben is sent out to...

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Captain Jack

as 1st Quaker Man
Released: 1999-05-28

Rebellious and irreverent, Captain Jack is a man on a mission. Come hell or high water, he's...

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Sweet Nothing

as Fat Man
Released: 1990-09-23

A youth abandoned by his family joins a group of homeless people.

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The Detectives

as Masseur
First aired: 1993-01-27

The absurd adventures of two defective detectives, who - despite unbelievable incompetence -...

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Porridge

as Crusher
First aired: 1974-09-05

Porridge is a British situation comedy broadcast on BBC1 from 1974 to 1977, running for three...

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Jack the Ripper

as Isenschmid
First aired: 1988-10-11

Jack the Ripper is a 1988 two-part television film/miniseries portraying a fictionalized account...

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Our Friends in the North

as Charlie Dawson
First aired: 1996-01-15

An epic tale of a changing Britain over four decades, seen through the eyes of four friends.

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Filthy Rich & Catflap

as BBC barman
First aired: 1987-01-07

Richie causes trouble in his pursuit of TV fame with Eddie, his alcoholic minder, and Filthy,...

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