Johnny Briggs

He was awarded the M.B.E. (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2007 Queen's New Years Honours List for his services to entertainment.

He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award in 2006 at the British Soap Awards.

In 1975 Johnny married schoolteacher Christine Allsop and they've had four children: Jennifer, Michael, Stephanie, and Anthony.

In 1961 he married Caroline Sinclair and they had two children, Mark and Karen, before divorcing in 1975.

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.

In 1953 Johnny began two years of service in Germany with the Royal Tank Regiment. He then resumed his acting career.

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.