THE bodyguard who inspired the Minder TV character Terry McCann has died aged 75, it was revealed last night.
Michael “Danny” Francis was a former boxer and one-time drug dealer.
The Londoner guarded stars including Paul McCartney, Cher and members of Led Zeppelin and Kiss.
McCann — played by the late Dennis Waterman in the 1980s — was based on his combination of brawn and charm.
Millions of ITV viewers loved the fictional bodyguard and his wheeler-dealer boss Arthur Daley — the late George Cole.
Gary Webster, 61, and Lex Shrapnel, 46, later played other minders in reboots of the hit show.
Waterman wrote of Francis in his autobiography: “If push came to shove, boy could he sort things out.”
Francis is survived by his wife June — who he married in 1970 — and their three children.
The show was set in working-class west London and was largely responsible for introducing the word “minder” into British slang.
Minder brought London’s criminal underworld to millions.
Waterman left the role in 1989 after his seventh series
He even sang the theme tune for the iconic telly show.
