Coronation Street star John Savident has died aged 86, it has been confirmed.
The actor was known for his booming voice while playing butcher Fred Elliott on the ITV soap.
Fred is well remembered by fans for his friend Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) declaring her love for him just as he was due to marry Bev Unwin (Susie Blake).
A statement from his agent to the PA news agency 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.’
In 1994, Savident arrived on the cobbles and quickly became a fan favourite.
Coronation Street’s John Savident died aged 86 on Wednesday – the actor who played butcher Fred Elliott is survived by his wife and two children (pictured in Corrie in 1995)
The actor was known for his booming voice while playing butcher Fred Elliott on the ITV soap, (pictured on This Morning in 2012)
The actor is survived by his wife Rona Hopkinson (pictured on Wish You Were Here in 2008) and their two children – he and Rona married in 1961
His storylines involved his disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals.
A secret son, Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), also arrived on the show and the two later developed a close bond as they worked as butchers together.
Savident’s character was killed off in 2006, suffering a stroke on the day he was supposed to marry Bev (Susie Blake). His final episode was watched by 11 million viewers.
The actor is survived by his wife Rona Hopkinson – who he married in 1961 and their two children.
ITV Executive Producer for Continuing Drama Iain MacLeod said: ‘Everyone at Coronation Street is deeply saddened to learn of John Savident’s death. As Fred Elliott, John firmly established himself in the pantheon of Coronation Street greats.
‘His peerless comic timing, combined with a deep pathos arising from his outstanding dramatic skill, made Fred an unforgettable, iconic character that provided great joy to viewers for many years.
‘On behalf of everyone here, I would like to extend condolences to John’s family and close friends at this sad time.’
His Coronation Street co-star Sue Nicholls said in tribute: ‘I am very sad to hear of John’s passing. My memories of working with you dear John on the street are a joy, and always will be. God bless you and thank you for being in my life. Much love to you and your friends and family.’
A statement from 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’ (pictured on the set of Coronation Street)
One of Savident’s last known public appearances was at the Gala Bingo Christmas Party in Manchester in November 2013, (pictured)
Along with his work in Coronation Street, Savident appeared in several stage shows and appeared on shows including Holby City and The Bill.
He had a small role in Stanley Kubrick’s classic A Clockwork Orange in 1971 as conspirator Dolin.
Savident also made an appearance in the 1995 adaptation of Othello with Laurence Fishburne as the title character.
The actor endured a tumultuous period in his personal life when he was stabbed in the neck by a man he met in a gay bar in December 2000.
Michael Smith, 30, was convicted of an unrelated robbery at Manchester Crown Court at the time.
Smith, of Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, was jailed after being convicted of attacking Savident.
He had overpowered the burly actor and held a knife to his throat as he threatened him: ‘I bet you have never met a schizo before.’
Savident had met Smith in Manchester’s Gay Village after making a personal appearance for World Aids Day on the evening of November 30, and invited him home to talk about the theatre.
It was alleged that once at the star’s flat, the pair continued chatting into the early hours before Smith attacked Savident in his bedroom.
But Smith claimed that ‘discussions about the theatre’ was merely a euphemism for sex and that he had attacked Savident in self-defence after he made sexual advances towards him.
Giving evidence during the week-long trial, Savident described how he had made his way to Napoleon’s Bar – Manchester’s longest established gay night-spot – to see the owner, a friend of some 17-years’ standing.
The actor said he was approached by Smith, who claimed to be a drama student, and the pair chatted for up to three hours.
He had a small role in Stanley Kubrick’s classic A Clockwork Orange in 1971 as conspirator Dolin
John (left) also made an appearance in the 1995 adaptation of Othello
Savident’s character was killed off in 2006, suffering a stroke on the day he was supposed to marry Bev (Susie Blake, pictured). His final episode was watched by 11 million viewers
As the bar closed, he invited Smith back to his flat, near the Granada Studios complex where Coronation Street is filmed, to continue their conversation.
But he told the court that when he went into his bedroom to plug his mobile phone in to charge, he was shoved face down into his bed at knifepoint.
‘I was totally surprised,’ Savident said. ‘I suddenly felt somebody come up behind me and whizz me round so I was face down on the bed and then I felt a prick on my throat.’
The actor added: ‘He said to me something like, ‘I bet you have never met a schizo before’, which was really quite frightening.’
Smith demanded valuables and the keys to Savident’s classic Morgan sports car. But a struggle ensued and the actor’s neck was pierced twice.
Despite being only one centimetre wide and deep, one of the wounds missed the main artery in Savident’s neck by less than an inch and sliced straight through a minor blood vessel, causing him to bleed profusely.
The Guernsey-born actor lost around two pints of blood as he lay on his bed while Smith searched his flat.
‘It was like a scene from Bates Motel,’ he told police, referring to the hotel scene in Alfred Hitchcock’s film Psycho.
As Smith went downstairs to Savident’s garage the star stumbled to his front door and locked his attacker out before phoning the emergency services.
‘I have been stabbed,’ he told the operator.
‘Where have you been stabbed?’ he was asked, before replying: ‘I don’t know, but I am dying.’
But despite feeling faint and fearing for his life, Savident still pleaded with the operator: ‘You have got to keep this out of the papers.’
He added: ‘I am John Savident. I play Fred Elliott in Coronation Street.’
Savident held his head in his hands as the court heard him panicking as Smith returned but, unable to get in, he soon gave up and fled.
The actor passed out shortly after letting police into his home. He came round in Manchester Royal Infirmary, where he was treated and discharged that afternoon.
Fred is well remembered by fans for his friend Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls) declaring her love for him just as he was due to marry Bev (pictured with Sue in 2000)
His storylines involved his disastrous love life, including three marriages and several failed proposals (pictured in 2006)
Smith was arrested that morning in Manchester’s Canal Street district, his clothes soaked in Savident’s blood.
He was charged with wounding Savident with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm and robbing him of his wallet, credit cards, a silver money clip and cash, a Jorge Jensen watch and ring, keys and an invitation to Coronation Street’s 40th birthday party.
At the end of the week-long trial at Manchester Crown Court, the jury took little more than two hours to find him guilty of both counts.
Jailing Smith for seven years for the attack on the soap star, Judge Harold Singer said Savident could have bled to death had the knife severed a major blood vessel.
He added that sentences Smith had received in the past – he had more than 60 previous convictions – had been ‘somewhat baffling’.
In 1994, Smith was jailed for 11 months for robbing someone after tying them up and pressing a knife to their throat. The following year, he was handed a four-year prison sentence for another knifepoint robbery.
Savident chose to depart Coronation Street to spend more time with his family.
Discussing his departure with The Mirror, he said: ‘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.’