Sydenham’s Jason Statham may well have given the performance of his hard man acting career in Paul Feig’s stellar comedy Spy, which is out Friday (June 5).

He plays Rick Ford, a CIA agent with a wealth of experience which he’s not shy on telling everyone about yet doesn’t necessarily ring true.

In an already hilarious film, starring established comic actors like Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne and Melinda Hart, big Jase threatens to steal the show with hitherto untapped comic abilities.

In honour of the man who in his youth made the English national diving team and trained at Crystal Palace, we take a look back at some of his biggest – and most explosive - roles.

P.S. Expect some violence and strong language.

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The Expendables (and the Expendables 2 and 3)

Hollywood’s biggest action stars of past and present unite in Sly Stallone’s Expendables movies but that doesn’t faze The Stath.

Alongside the likes of Arnie, Mickey Rourke, Chuck Norris, Jet Li, Van Damme, Bruce Willis and loads more besides, Jason Statham holds his own as the sharp-tongued but loyal loose cannon knives expert Lee Christmas.


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Fast and Furious 7

After an uncredited cameo in the franchise’s six instalment, Statham is the big baddie in the totally OTT joyride that is Fast and Furious 7.

He plays Deckard Shaw (presumably the producers thought Rockard Shaw was a step too far) who is out for revenge against Vin Diesel and co for putting his bro in a coma. It’s currently the fourth highest grossing film of all time. 

Here’s Statham brawling with The Rock:

The Transporter

Produced by Luc Besson and released in 2002, pounding action flick The Transporter was Statham’s route to Hollywood riches and spawned another string of sequels.

He plays Frank, the best in the business for ‘transporting’ packages for different clients. Following a strict set of rules, Frank manages to keep out of trouble. One day when he breaks one of them rules, which lands him in a spot of bovver.

The Mechanic

Statham is Arthur Bishop, an Assassin, trained to a strict code. After his close friend is murdered, he wants those responsible dead, and his professionalism and detachment instantly goes out of the window.

Snatch

After a modelling career and appearances in music videos for the likes of The Shamen and Beautiful South, Statham got his first acting gig in a small role Guy Ritchie’s breakthrough Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels in 1998.

But it wasn’t until the director’s next film Snatch, 2000, that Jason Statham got a meaty role. He plays wheeler dealer, wideboy Turkish who has to persuade Brad Pitt’s gypsy boxer to throw a fight in order to avoid becoming pig feed.

A barrage of classic cockney lines followed and a star was born.