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Pat Roach

Actor

Pat Roach

Born May 19, 1937 in Birmingham, England, UKDied July 17, 200426 films

Proud and passionate Angle, Pat Roach, was born and raised in Birmingham, England and grew to be a mountain of a man standing at six feet, five inches tall, with doorway-wide shoulders and a barrel chest.

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Pat wrestled competitively under the name of "Bomber" Roach, and at one time held both the British and European Heavyweight Wrestling Championships. While still in the wrestling game, Roach broke into acting with a bit part in the Stanley Kubrick film Barry Lyndon (1975). He quickly became popular as an enforcer or warrior figure and appeared on-screen with some of Hollywood's biggest names. Many people would remember him as the muscle-bound, bald German guard who hands out a beating toHarrison Ford in Les aventuriers de l'arche perdue (1981), before being cut down by a spinning plane propeller.

In other film roles, Roach nearly eliminates 007 Sean Connery in the Bond film Never Say Never Again (1983), in dual roles as a resurrected demon and as a fierce warrior, he fought Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Conan sequel Conan the Destroyer (1984), and was back as a ferocious Indian guard pummeling poor Harrison Ford once again in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), before falling into a rock crusher.

He also appeared in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Red Sonja (1985) and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991). Apart from his film activity, Pat ran a gymnasium in Birmingham, operated a used appliance business in the local markets and was known as a warm-hearted and genial man who was happy to chat with admiring fanatics, sign autographs and pose for photographs.

Roach was also very popular with English television audiences for his portrayal of gentle giant "Brian 'Bomber' Busbridge" in the series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983) and was scheduled to appear in the fifth series of the show, when he died of cancer on July 17, 2004. He was 67 years old. - IMDb Mini Biography

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The best way into Pat Roach's work
Barry Lyndon posterFirst watchBarry Lyndon19758.0as TooleAn Irish rogue uses his cunning and wit to work his way up the social classes of 18th century England, transforming himself from the humble Redmond Barry into the noble Barry Lyndon.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

26 films as actor
  1. TBAWe Could Be Heroes
  2. 2003CrustThe Bull
  3. 1997Kull the ConquerorZulcki
  4. 1996The Portrait of a LadyStrongman
  5. 1994Blobbyvision
  6. 1991The Storyteller: Greek Myths - Perseus & the GorgonAtlas
  7. 1991Robin Hood: Prince of ThievesCeltic Chieftain
  8. 1990The Big ManBilly
  9. 1990Wings of Fame
  10. 1989Indiana Jones and the Last CrusadeGestapo
  11. 1989The Return of the MusketeersFrench Executioner
  12. 1988WillowGeneral Kael
  13. 1987Harry's KingdomJoe Robinson
  14. 1985Red SonjaBrytag
  15. 1984Conan the DestroyerMan Ape / Toth-Amon
  16. 1984Indiana Jones and the Temple of DoomChief Guard
  17. 1984The Zany Adventures of Robin HoodLittle John
  18. 1983Never Say Never AgainLippe
  19. 1981Clash of the TitansHephaestus
  20. 1981Raiders of the Lost ArkGiant Sherpa / 1st Mechanic
  21. 1981The Monster ClubGreat Uncle
  22. 1980PasmoreBruiser
  23. 1980Rising DampRugby Player
  24. 1979Unidentified Flying OddballOaf
  25. 1977Give Us a Kiss, ChristabelPat Chain
  26. 1975Barry LyndonToole