Robert Gerald Crampton, born on April 28, 1930, in Fulham, was the eldest of five siblings. His father, an amateur boxer, taught Gerry and his brothers the art of boxing. Gerry also developed a passion for swimming and learned to dive on his own.
Leaving school at the age of 14, Gerry became a butcher's boy before returning to London in 1945. He started working at Ealing Studios as a sound assistant on David Lean's Great Expectations in 1946. Two years later, he was called up for his National Service and found himself working as a teletypist in the Royal Air Force.
Gerry's interest in bodybuilding led him to win Britain's Mr Body Beautiful title in 1956. This achievement opened doors for him in the film industry, and he met James Bond stunt coordinator Bob Simmons in 1960, who mentored him.
Crampton's breakthrough in films came when he appeared in the 1967 episode "Dead Man's Treasure" of The Avengers, playing the role of 1st Guest. His expertise in working in India, which began with Tarzan Goes to India in 1962, led him to return to the country 48 more times throughout his career, working on numerous Indian and British productions.
