Soap opera actor most well known for playing Fred Elliott on Coronation Street (CS), John Savident, has passed away. He died on Wednesday, February 21 at 86 years of age. The cause of death is not known as of this writing.
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John Savident’s “Coronation Street” Beginnings
Savident began working on Coronation Street in 1994 and it wasn’t long before he became a fan favorite of the show.
He played a butcher who was involved in a number of storylines, and his character had several failed proposals and three marriages.
John left the soap in 2006 when his character died after suffering a stroke on the very day he was to marry Bev Unwin (Susie Blake). As he passed away, Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) admitted she still loved him, even though she turned down his proposal of marriage, some years earlier.
As per the Daily Mail, Savident’s last Coronation Street episode was watched by 11 million fans.
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ITV’s Executive Producer for CS, Iain MacLeod, released a statement saying that everyone at the soap is “deeply saddened” to learn about Savident’s passing. He adds that John firmly established Fred Elliott as one of CS’s greats. MacLeod goes on to say that Savident’s peerless comic timing in combination with deep pathos rising from his incredible dramatic skill made Fred Elliott an iconic and unforgettable character that brought joy to fans for many years.
John Savident’s Other Accomplishments
John also performed in the political comedy, Yes, Minister, as well as Stanley Kubrick’s Clockwork Orange, and the biopic, Gandhi. In addition, he was in the 1993 Oscar-nominated film, The Remains Of The Day, and starred in Doctor Who, Middlemarch.
In 1986, Savident appeared in the first staging of the Phantom of the Opera, playing Monsieur Firmin, a part he reprised at the Royal Albert Hall concert film in 2011. John was married to Rona Hopkinson, a theatre director, and the couple shared two children together.
On behalf of everyone here, we extend our condolences to John Savident’s family, friends, loved ones, and fans. Continue to visit CTS regularly for more Coronation news, spoilers, information, and updates.
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