Coronation Street legend Johnny Briggs, who played Mike Baldwin, has died at 85.
A father-of-six, Johnny was surrounded by family when he died after a long illness on Sunday.
The actor starred in 2,349 episodes of the popular ITV soap and was a major character for 30 years.
Johnny helped pull in 21 million viewers in the 1980s when womanising factory owner Mike had an affair with Deirdre Barlow, played by the late Anne Kirkbride.
He famously clashed with Bill Roache's character Ken Barlow over the affair.
The love triangle between the three gripped viewers and was a long-running ratings winner as it carried on for years.
Having joined the soap in 1976, Johnny finally retired with the death of his popular character in 2006.
The onscreen death saw Mike collapse in the street after a heart attack following a battle with Alzheimer's disease, dying in the arms of Ken.
The year after his retirement, Ken was made an MBE, collecting his medal at Buckingham Palace from the Queen.
He made one final appearance on the cobbles, returning as a ghost in a 2012 Corrie sketch to raise money for Text Santa.
A graduate of the Italia Conti Academy, Johnny also also had roles in several Carry On films.
Along with Coronation Street he appeared in a number of other iconic TV shows including Crossroads, The Saint, The Persuaders, No Hiding Place and Thick As Thieves.
In a statement on Sunday his family said: “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of our father, Johnny Briggs.
“He passed away peacefully this morning after a long illness, with family by his side. He was 85.
“We politely ask for privacy at this time, so that we can quietly grieve as a family and remember the wonderful times we had with him. Thank you.”
In his personal life, Johnny was married twice.
He was wed to first wife Caroline Sinclair from 1961 to 1975 and Christine Allsop from 1977 to 2006.
The London-born actor split his time in later life between a home in Portishead, North Somerset, UK, and a house in Florida.
Coronation Street's Antony Cotton said "we all adored him" as he paid tribute to Johnny.
"Johnny Briggs was a complex character, on and off screen, and we all adored him," he tweeted.
"Feel lucky that I got the chance to work with him in the factory. I am, and will always be, a Baldwin's Casual.
"Night night Mr Baldwin, I've left you a bottle of Scotch in the filing cabinet..."
Piers Morgan also paid tribute on social media.
He tweeted: "RIP Johnny Briggs, 85. Coronation Street legend who played rogueish Mike Baldwin for 30yrs. Great character on & off screen."
