Johnny Briggs (actor)


John Ernest Briggs, is an English actor. He is best known for his role as Mike Baldwin in the soap opera Coronation Street, in which he appeared from 1976 to 2006 and again in 2012 in the Text Santa special as a ghost. He received a lifetime achievement award at the 2006 British Soap Awards for his thirty years of contribution to the soap.

Career

A graduate of the Italia Conti Academy stage school, where he was a contemporary of Lorna Fendall and Anne Hart, Briggs also had roles in a number of other British shows including Crossroads, The Saint, The Persuaders!, Thick as Thieves and No Hiding Place, as well as several Carry On films.
In 2005 Briggs announced his intention to leave the role of Mike Baldwin. He cited the hectic filming schedule as the main reason for his departure from Coronation Street. After appearing in 2,348 episodes, his final scenes in the show were recorded on 13 March and broadcast on Friday 7 April 2006, when his character collapsed and died in the arms of Ken Barlow in the street after suffering a heart attack.
His most recent theatre appearance was at the Manchester Opera House 2007 pantomime in which he played the father of Cinderella alongside former co-star Tina O'Brien.
Despite suggesting he was to retire from acting after leaving Coronation Street, Briggs has made appearances in both Agatha Christie's Marple and Holby City in 2007, as well as the short-lived ITV soap opera Echo Beach. In 2012 he also appeared in a Coronation Street sketch to raise money for the charity Text Santa.

Personal life

Briggs lives in an apartment in Portishead Quays, Portishead, North Somerset, UK and a house in Florida, USA. He is a keen golfer.

Selected filmography