JD
John Dair
Actor
Born March 3, 1933Died November 25, 2005 (72 years)
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.
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.
Filmography
| 1999 | Captain Jack · as 1st Quaker Man |
| 1996 | Loch Ness · as Macleash |
| 1996 | Our Friends in the North (TV Series) · as Charlie Dawson |
| 1993 | Doctor Finlay (1993) (TV Series) · as Baillie Budge |
| 1993 | The Detectives (TV Series) · as Masseur |
| 1991 | Hear My Song · as Derek |
| 1990 | Chicago Joe and the Showgirl · as John |
| 1989 | Batman · as Ricorso |
| 1988 | Jack the Ripper (1988) (TV Series) · as Isenschmid |
| 1988 | London's Burning (TV Series) · as Mr. Bainbridge |
| 1987 | |
| 1987 | Body Contact · as Hood |
| 1987 | Filthy Rich & Catflap (TV Series) · as Bbc Barman |
| 1985 | Screen One (TV Series) · as The Fat Man |
| 1984 | The Bill (TV Series) · as Larry |
| 1983 | Up the Elephant and Round the Castle (TV Series) · as Mcgonegal |
| 1983 | Yellowbeard · as Big John |
| 1982 | Whoops Apocalypse (TV Series) · as Man |
| 1981 | The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (TV Series) · as Rich Merchant |
| 1979 | Porridge · as Sampson |
| 1978 | The Little and Large Show (TV Series) · as Cast |
| 1974 | Porridge (TV Series) · as Crusher |
| 1973 | Last of the Summer Wine (TV Series) · as Pub Patron |
| 1972 | Sykes (TV Series) · as Lighting Assistant |
| 1971 | The Onedin Line (TV Series) · as Queen Neptune |
| 1971 | The Two Ronnies (TV Series) · as Waiter |