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John Bindon

John 'Biffo' Bindon was a British actor and bodyguard (most notoriously for Led Zeppelin on their 1977 US tour, which he was subsequently sacked from for violent behaviour) with close links to the London underworld and a celebrated party trick; "I'd hang five half-pint beer glasses on me manhood. Everyone would ask how it's done beforehand so I'd put them out of their misery and thread my old chap through the handles of the glasses". The son of a London cab driver, Bindon was sentenced to Borstal twice in his youth and gained his nickname 'Biffo' from his propensity for starting fights. Spotted by Ken Loach in a London pub, Bindon got his acting break with the 1967 film Poor Cow. Roles in classic British films like Performance, Get Carter and Quadrophenia would follow, with Bindon often typecast as a gangland heavy. In 1968, Bindon met Vicki Hodge, a baronet's daughter turned model and actress, who introduced him to British aristocracy. This led to close and controversial links with Princess Margaret and her holiday hideaway of the Caribbean island resort of Mustique. Bindon and his alleged relationship with Princess Margaret is a major plot element in the 2008 crime film The Bank Job. Also in 1968, Bindon was awarded the Queen's Award for Bravery for diving off Putney Bridge into the River Thames to rescue a drowning man - although some said he had pushed the man in and only rescued him when a policeman appeared. In 1979, Bindon stood trial for the murder of London gangster John Darke. Bindon's successful defence (bolstered by a character witness appearance from actor Bob Hoskins) argued that Darke's death was in self-defence, saying Bindon was in fear of his life as he was being blackmailed about losing drug money and cocaine worth thousands of pounds. Despite being acquitted, Bindon struggled to find work in the entertainment industry as his reputation was now tarnished. He died of an AIDS-related illness in 1993, having spent the later years of his life as a virtual recluse in Belgravia.

Personal information

Birthday

1943-10-04

Birth Place

London, England, UK

Movies and TV shows :

11 Harrowhouse

11 Harrowhouse

1974

5.7

Movie
Barry Lyndon

Barry Lyndon

1975

8.0

Movie
Dead Cert

Dead Cert

1974

4.3

Movie
poster

Department S

1969

4.9

TV
Every Home Should Have One

Every Home Should Have One

1970

4.6

Movie
Get Carter

Get Carter

1971

7.0

Movie
Her Majesty's Pleasure

Her Majesty's Pleasure

1973

0.0

Movie
Inspector Clouseau

Inspector Clouseau

1968

5.0

Movie
Jake's End

Jake's End

1982

0.0

Movie
Juggernaut

Juggernaut

1974

6.1

Movie
Man in the Wilderness

Man in the Wilderness

1971

6.2

Movie
No Sex Please: We're British

No Sex Please: We're British

1973

5.1

Movie
Performance

Performance

1970

6.7

Movie
poster

Play for Today

1970

6.1

TV
Poor Cow

Poor Cow

1967

6.4

Movie
poster

Public Eye

1965

7.8

TV
Quadrophenia

Quadrophenia

1979

7.0

Movie
poster

The Gold Robbers

1969

6.7

TV
The MacKintosh Man

The MacKintosh Man

1973

6.1

Movie
Trial by Combat

Trial by Combat

1976

7.7

Movie