Pat Roach

Pat Roach, a beloved figure from Birmingham, England, stood tall at six feet, five inches, boasting broad shoulders and a robust physique that made him an imposing presence. Known for his fierce dedication to wrestling, Roach competed under the moniker "Bomber" Roach and once held both the British and European Heavyweight Wrestling Championships.

His foray into acting began with a small role in Stanley Kubrick's Barry Lyndon (1975), which paved the way for his popularity in various film roles as a menacing enforcer or warrior. Roach is especially remembered for his portrayal of the formidable German guard who engages in a fierce brawl with Harrison Ford in Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), only to meet his end at the hands of a spinning plane propeller.

Beyond that, he encountered Sean Connery as a near-fatal threat in Never Say Never Again (1983), fought alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conan the Destroyer (1984), and returned as a fierce Indian guard in Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), where he ultimately met a tragic demise in a rock crusher. His filmography also includes appearances in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), Red Sonja (1985), and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991).

In addition to his screen career, Roach managed a gym in Birmingham and ran a used appliance business while remaining approachable and friendly with fans, often taking time to chat, sign autographs, and pose for photos. He gained further fame on television, portraying the lovable giant Brian 'Bomber' Busbridge in the series Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1983). Sadly, Roach passed away from cancer on July 17, 2004, at the age of 67, just before he was set to return for the show's fifth series.