CineScope
John Bindon picture

John Bindon

Acting
Known For

50 Years Old

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.

Born

London, England, UK on 4th October 1943

Died

10th October 1993

All Credits

Playhouse Image
Playhouse
Magger
Play for Today Image
Play for Today
Jumbo
Public Eye Image
Public Eye
Builder
The Gold Robbers Image
The Gold Robbers
Terry Lardner
Department S Image
Department S
Greer
Barry Lyndon Image
Barry Lyndon
Recruiting Soldier
The Ten Commandments Image
The Ten Commandments
Denis Garvey
Juggernaut Image
Juggernaut
Driscoll
Quadrophenia Image
Quadrophenia
Harry
Inspector Clouseau Image
Inspector Clouseau
Bull Parker
Get Carter Image
Get Carter
Sid Fletcher
Performance Image
Performance
Moody
The MacKintosh Man Image
The MacKintosh Man
Buster
Man in the Wilderness Image
Man in the Wilderness
Coulter
Poor Cow Image
Poor Cow
Tom
No Sex Please: We're British Image
No Sex Please: We're British
Pete Hunter
11 Harrowhouse Image
11 Harrowhouse
Second Guard
Every Home Should Have One Image
Every Home Should Have One
Strongman at Party
Dead Cert Image
Dead Cert
Walter
Trial by Combat Image
Trial by Combat
2nd Reagan Brother
Her Majesty's Pleasure Image
Her Majesty's Pleasure
Jumbo
Jake's End Image
Jake's End
Magger