- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Ernest Briggs
- Nickname
- Briggsy
- Height5′ 7½″ (1.71 m)
- Born in South London on Sept 5, 1935, to Ernest and Rose Briggs, Johnny had a younger sister, Barbara, who died in 1955 at age 15. As a boy, he sang soprano in a church choir and during World War II he was evacuated to the safety of the English countryside. Back in London he won a scholarship, at age 12, to the Italia Conti Stage Academy. Among his classmates were Nanette Newman and Anthony Newley. A scattering of parts followed in movies, stage plays and TV shows. In 1953 Johnny began two years of service in Germany with the Royal Tank Regiment. He then resumed his acting career.
In 1961 he married Caroline Sinclair and they had two children, Mark and Karen, before divorcing in 1975. In 1975 Johnny married schoolteacher Christine Allsop and they've had four children: Jennifer, Michael, Stephanie, and Anthony. British audiences know him best as 'Mike Baldwin', the part he played on the Coronation Street (1960) TV series for almost 30 years beginning in 1976. American audiences are more likely to remember him as the young sailor who was stripped to the waist and flogged in 1962's Damn the Defiant! (1962)! Though working less frequently these days, Johnny remains an avid golfer.- IMDb Mini Biography By: dinky-4 of Minneapolis - Johnny was born in Battersea, London always wanted to go on the stage and was educated at the Italia Conti Stage School where a fellow pupil was Jill Gascoigne. He was a member of Colyers Wood Youth Club where he met Gareth Hunt. He made a London Wesr End appearance at the Cambridge Theatre in 1947 as a member of the Italia Conti Stage School then spent time with repertory companies in Nottingham and Northampton before spending 2 years doing national service in the army as a tank driving instructor. He then went back into repertory theatre and did a few small film parts then a major role in the television series 'No Hiding Place' and some 20 films including 'The Wild and the Willing' and 'H. M. S. Defiant'- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tonyman 5
- When he was 12 he won a scholarship to the Italia Conti stage school and sang in opera while he was there, His first big film role was in Cosh Boy in 1952, After doing his national service in the Royal Tank Regiment acted with several repertory companies and had many parts in films and television and became nationally known playing Detective Sgt Russell in No Hiding Place, He married in 1961 and has a son, His hobbies are golf and cooking.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Tonyman 5
- SpousesChristine Allsop(May 14, 1977 - 2006) (divorced, 4 children)Caroline Hover(July 1961 - 1975) (divorced, 2 children)
- ParentsErnest BriggsRose Briggs
- When he played 'Mike Baldwin' on Coronation Street (1960) he did his very first scene with Barbara Knox. In his very last scene when his character 'Mike Baldwin' dies on the cobbles on Coronation Street, Barbara Knox also appears.
- He was made an M.B.E. (Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the 2007 Queen's New Years Honours List for services to entertainment.
- He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 at the British Soap Awards.
- Reached number 35 in the UK singles chart with a version of Frank and Nancy Sinatra's "Somethin' Stupid", a duet with his Coronation Street (1960) co-star Amanda Barrie.
- Is one of 8 Coronation Street (1960) actors to win the Lifetime Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards. The others are William Roache, Barbara Knox, Elizabeth Dawn, Betty Driver, William Tarmey, Helen Worth and Anne Kirkbride.
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