John Dair

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 lived in 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 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 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 Year Title Role Notes1979 Porridge Crusher 1983 Yellowbeard Big John 1989 Batman Vinnie Ricorso 1990 Chicago Joe and the Showgirl John 1991 Hear My Song Derek 1996 Loch Ness Macleish 1999 Captain Jack 1st Quaker Man (final film role)