John Dair

Actor · Died November 25, 2005, aged 72 · Dundee, Scotland, UK

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.

Where can I watch John Dair's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 3 of their 6 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (2).

Also on these channels

Cinemax1 title, show their title on Cinemax

Subscription and free streaming for John Dair's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

16 credits, 6 with a MovieCove page.

Captain Jack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)
as 1st Quaker Man
Loch Ness(1996)
as Macleash
Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films
Our Friends in the North (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)
Show 3 episodes · as Charlie Dawson
The Detectives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)
Show 1 episode · as Masseur
Hear My Song(1991)
as Derek
Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films
Sweet Nothing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)
as Fat Man
Chicago Joe and the Showgirl(1990)
as John
Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films
Batman(1989)
as Ricorso
Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films
Jack the Ripper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)
Show 2 episodes · as Isenschmid
Mister Corbett's Ghost(1987)
Actor
Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films
Filthy Rich & Catflap (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)
Show 1 episode · as BBC barman
Sharon and Elsie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)
Show 1 episode · as Mick Wainwright
Yellowbeard(1983)
as Big John
Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films
The Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)
Show 1 episode · as Café Owner
Porridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)
as Samson
Porridge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)
Show 1 episode · as Crusher

Career shape

Biggest box office

Hear My Song (1991)

$4.3M worldwide

Highest rated

Hear My Song (1991)

Midcredits 78^th

Film career

19891996

Peak 1989 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.