Brother of actor/stunt man Doug Robinson
Doug and Joe Robinson taught actress Honor Blackman Judo self-defense tactics for her part in "The Avengers" (1961). The two brothers appeared as foils in many pictures for her 1965 book 'Honor Blackman's Book of Self-Defence'.
Hit the headlines in 1998 when he fought off a gang of eight muggers single-handed. The 70-year-old former bodybuilder and Italian epic star was getting off a bus in Cape Town, South Africa when the gang struck with baseball bats and knives. 6 ft 2 ins Joe poleaxed two with flying kicks, karate-chopped another in the chest and broke the arm of a fourth. The rest fled!
Was offered the part of the Rank Gong Man, but feared being typecast in that role and declined. The job went to Ken Richmond - another wrestler.