Johnny
Briggs was born in Battersea in the south of London on September 5 1935.
Johnny won a scholarship to the Italia Conti Stage Academy aged 12 in 1947, his
fellow academicians included Anthony Newley, Millicent Martin and Nannette Newman.
Johnny Briggs made his professional debut as the boy soprano in The Italian
Opera Company in London, he also appeared in the film Quartet with
George Cole in 1948.
Johnny's
theatre work includes: Sauce Tartar (with Audrey Hepburn), La Boheme,
Tosca, Rigoletto, Dial M for Murder, Boeing,
Boeing, Wait Until Dark, Doctor in the House, The Kitchen
and Parcel Post. In 1953 Johnny served his two years National Service with
the Royal Tank Regiment as a gunner and as a driving instructor. Sadly, when Johnny
returned to the UK from Germany in 1955 after completing his National Service
he learnt that his 15 year old sister Barbara had died from a brain haemorrage.
Johnny
Briggs has had a successful career in films, and has worked alongside many
of the world's most famous actors. Johnny appears in the 1960 film Dr in Love
starring Leslie Phillips, and with Tommy Steele in Light Up the Sky,
and Sir Norman Wisdom in The Bulldog Breed. In 1962 Johnny made The
Wild and the Willing starring Dirk Bogarde, and in the 1964 film 633 Squadron
he is Lt Jones. Numerous other films followed in the late 1960s and early
1970s.
Johnny
Briggs made his television debut in 1960 in The Younger Generation, a Granada
Television drama, with John Thaw and Judy Cornwell. Johnny's other television
appearances include: No Hiding Place as Detective Sergeant Russell,
The Plane Makers, Department S, Private Eye, Softly Softly,
Mogul, The Persuaders, Love Thy Neighbour, Man About the
House and in 1975 Johnny worked on the serial Crossroads as Clifford
Leyton.
Johnnie's
most famous television character is of course Mike Baldwin in Granada Television's
Coronation
Street. Johnny Briggs made his debut as Mike Baldwin in Granada Television's
Coronation Street on October 11 1976, a role he would play for the next
30 years. Mike Baldwin bought a burnt-out warehouse in Coronation Street,
and after renovations it became the Baldwin's Casuals factory, he already
had a factory in London, which would now be run by an old school friend. Baldwin
also bought number 5 Coronation street.
Johnny
Briggs has been in showbusiness for the best part of sixty years, he will be 70
this year (2006), and thought it was the right time to retire. For the past few
years Johnny, who suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) has spent the
first few months of the year in Florida, to escape from the British winters. Johnny
found the Alzheimer's storylines in Coronation
Street very challenging to play, but was very pleased with the
writing and direction, and hopes they did the storyline justice. Johnny plans
to take things a bit easier and play lots of golf.
