Who was Coronation Street star John Savident?
The soap star is also remembered for his work in a very iconic film
CORONATION Street legend John Savident has died at the age of 86.
The actor was known for playing butcher Fred Elliott on the ITV soap in the 90s.
Who was John Savident?
John Savident was a British actor who was born on January 21, 1938,
He was best known for playing Fred Elliott on Coronation Street
I couldn’t go on any longer – the whole situation was becoming ridiculous and deeply distressing.
John Savident On Leaving Corrie
Born in the Channel Islands, Savident was a cop before becoming an actor.
He was seconded to the vice squad in Manchester, where he was scouted for Corrie by Granada.
After leaving the hit ITV soap, the actor guest-starred in the Christmas special episode of Holby City in 2012, playing patient Rupert Pool.
The talented star also voiced the character Pendle in the Doctor Who audio-drama Order of the Daleks.
Sadly on February 21, 2024, the iconic actor passed away.
His agent said: “We are sad to announce the death of the actor John Savident who died on Wednesday 21 February.
“He was a much-loved husband and father of two and will be sorely missed by all who knew him.”
What happened to Fred Elliot on Coronation Street?
John first stepped on the cobbles as butcher Fred Elliot in 1994 and quickly became a fan favourite.
His storylines involved his disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals.
His secret son, Ashley Peacock, also arrived on the show and the two later developed a close bond as they worked as butchers together.
However, Fred was killed off in 2006 after suffering a stroke on the day he was supposed to marry Bev Unwin.
After leaving Corrie, he told the Mirror: “It was the show itself that did for me – it was breaking my heart.
” I was becoming an absentee husband, father and grandfather by spending so many hours working on The Street.
“I couldn’t go on any longer – the whole situation was becoming ridiculous and deeply distressing.”
What else had John Savident starred in?
Before life on the cobbles, John enjoyed an impressive film career.
This included a role in the iconic cult classic movie, A Clockwork Orange in 1971.
He was also known for his performance as Monsieur Firmin in the West End cast of The Phantom of the Opera
The actor left life in the spotlight after he was stabbed at his Manchester flat in December 2000.
He had invited back Michael Smith, 30 – later jailed for seven years for the attack – to talk about theatre after they met in a nightclub.