15 Facts About Dave Courtney

David John Courtney was an English self-proclaimed gangster who became both an author and an actor.

Dave Courtney went to Adamsrill primary school in Sydenham, South East London.

Dave Courtney often bragged about supposed connections with gangsters such as Reggie Kray and Lenny McLean, although he was nine years old when Kray was imprisoned.

Dave Courtney claimed to have been involved in debt-collecting, minding clubs, assault, contraband, and murder.

Dave Courtney spent time in Belmarsh Prison as a high-security prisoner, as described by ex-prison guard Jim Dawkins in his book The Loose Screw.

Dave Courtney claimed to have been shot, stabbed, had his nose bitten off, and stated that he has had to kill to stay alive.

Dave Courtney said that a car crash he was involved in on the M20 was an attempt on his life by "someone who had a grudge against him".

Largely making a living from television documentaries and personal appearances, Dave Courtney ran his own website, was involved in charity work and worked on the films Six Bend Trap and Clubbing to Death alongside Craig Charles and Huey Morgan.

Dave Courtney was featured in the 2008 film The Dead Sleep Easy, filmed on location in Mexico.

Dave Courtney starred in and produced his own film, Hell to Pay, and took on the leading role of Mad Dave opposite Manish Patel in the low-budget British film Triads, Yardies and Onion Bhajees.

Dave Courtney collaborated again with Liam Galvin on the 2010 film Killer Bitch and the 2016 film Mob Handed.

Dave Courtney appeared in the film Mother's Child, as club owner Mr Townsend alongside Alex Reid.

Dave Courtney made his final cinematic appearance in 2022, portraying John Saviour in Legacy.

In June 2004, Dave Courtney was cleared of beating his girlfriend Jennifer Lucrea Pinto during a row over her lesbian lover.

On 22 October 2023, Dave Courtney was found dead at his home Chestnut Rise, Plumstead, having shot himself.