CORONATION Street legend Johnny Briggs – famous for playing wheeler dealer lothario Mike Baldwin – has died aged 85.
The actor played the role for 30 years and is best remembered for his famous bust up with Ken Barlow, played by Bill Roache, after he had an affair with his wife Deirdre, played by the late Anne Kirkbride.
Johnny joined the soap in 1976 and went on to appear in 2,349 episodes before he left the show in 2006.
In a statement his family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father, Johnny Briggs.
“He passed away peacefully this morning after a long illness, with family by his side. He was 85.
“We politely ask for privacy at this time, so that we can quietly grieve as a family and remember the wonderful times we had with him. Thank you.”
His character, Mike, had been suffering with Alzheimer’s for months and collapsed in the street after a heart attack, dying in the arms of Ken.
Father-of-six Johnny was married twice, to Caroline Sinclair from 1961 to 1975 and Christine Allsop from 1977 to 2006.
The keen golfer split his time between a home in Portishead, North Somerset, UK, and a house in Florida.
