John Savident

John Frederick Joseph Savident (21 January 1938 – 21 February 2024) was a British actor, known for his numerous television roles, including his portrayal of butcher Fred Elliott in the soap opera Coronation Street from 1994-2006. He was also known for his performance as Monsieur Firmin in the West End cast of The Phantom of the Opera. He was in the episode The Double Death of Charlie Crippen in the spy-fi series Department S. His other credits include The Avengers (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971), The Professionals (1978), Blake's 7 (1979), Yes Minister (1980), Gandhi (1982), The Remains of the Day (1993) and Middlemarch (1994).

Early life Savident was born 21 January 1938 in Saint Peter Port, Guernsey,

Career Savident created the role of Monsieur Firmin in the original production of Phantom of the Opera, which opened on 9 October 1986 at Her Majesty's Theatre in Haymarket, London. He appeared as the renegade scientist Egrorian in a 1981 episode of the cult science fiction TV series Blake's 7. He also had other television appearances in Danger Man, The Saint, Callan and Doctor Who. He made his first appearance on the show in 1994 and his character quickly became popular with viewers.

In December 2005, Savident announced that he was to leave Coronation Street citing undisclosed "personal reasons". His character died of a stroke nine months later, in October 2006. He later revealed that he had retired from the show "because he wanted to spend more time with his family in Hertfordshire".

Later work Savident was one of the readers on the BBC's online Advent Calendar in December 2006. That year, he appeared in the pantomime Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs as the henchman at Manchester Opera House, alongside his former Coronation Street co-star Suranne Jones, as well as Justin Moorhouse and an all-star seven dwarves including Warwick Davis.

In 2007, he was touring as the lead in a production of Hobson's Choice. He appeared on Loose Women on 19 March 2009 to discuss his part as Sir Joseph Porter in the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta HMS Pinafore, which toured the United Kingdom during the spring and summer of 2009.

He guest-starred in the Christmas special episode of Holby City in 2012, playing patient Rupert Pool. He voiced the character Pendle in the Doctor Who audio-drama Order of the Daleks.

Personal life and death Savident married Rona Hopkinson in 1961; they had two children.

Savident died on 21 February 2024, aged 86.

Filmography

Robbery (1967) – Policeman with Dog (uncredited) The White Bus (1967) – Supporter Armchair Theatre: Compensation Alice (1967) – Cecil The Saint (1968) – Frank Lomax The Avengers (1968) – Henry Winthrop Inadmissible Evidence (1968) – Mr. Watson Department S (1968) - Captain Svenoski Nearest and Dearest(1969) – Landlord Otley (1969) – Businessman Before Winter Comes (1969) – British Corporal Battle of Britain (1969) – RAF Officer (uncredited) Codename (1970) – Largo (Episode: The Alpha Men"} Waterloo (1970) – Muffling A Family at War (1970-1972, TV Series) – George Askew Doomwatch (1971) - Minister of Health (Episode: "The Web of Fear") The Raging Moon (1971) – Fete Guest A Clockwork Orange (1971) – Conspirator Dolin Man of Straw (1972, TV series) – Von Wulchow Tightrope (1972) – Forrester Penny Gold (1973) – Sir Robert Hampton Hitler: The Last Ten Days (1973) – Hewel Diamonds on Wheels (1974) – Steward Butley (1974) – James (uncredited) QB VII (1974) – Anaesthetist Galileo (1974) – Second Senator Looking For Clancy (1975) – Sir John Kernan Trial by Combat (1976) – Oliver Griggs – Police Commissioner Raffles (1976) (plus TV series The Manhunt) Mr. Justice Raffles – Daniel Brigstock (1 episode) Just William (1977 TV series) (1977) – Mr. Bumbleby (Series 2 - Episode 14 - William and the Tramp) Rachel and the Beelzebub Bombardiers (1977) – Captain Verney, MP 1990 (1977) – Dan Mellor The Professionals (1978) – Robert Plumb (1 episode) Blake's 7 (1979) – Samor Yes Minister (1980) – Sir Frederick 'Jumbo' Stewart Blake's 7 (1981) – Egrorian Doctor Who: The Visitation (1982) – The Squire (1 episode) Gandhi (1982) – Manager of the Mine Blackadder (pilot) (1982) – King of England Oliver Twist (1982, TV Movie) – Mr. Fang The Wicked Lady (1983) – Squire Thornton The Crystal Cube (1983) – The Bishop of Horley The Cleopatras (1983) – Pythagoras Never the Twain (1984) – Series 3 Episode 2, Mr Wilde The Bill (1984, TV Series) – Video shop owner Little Dorrit (1987) – Tite Barnacle A Summer Story (1988) – A Bank Clerk Camping (1990) – English camper Mountains of the Moon (1990) – Lord Murchison Impromptu (1991) – Buloz Hudson Hawk (1991) – Auctioneer Mr. Bean Takes an Exam (1991) – examination invigilator Jeeves and Wooster (1992) (TV Series) Series 3, Episode 2 – Edgar Gascoyne Bickersteth, 8th Duke of Chiswick Brain Donors (1992) – Edmund Lazlo Mrs 'Arris Goes to Paris (1992) – Mr Armont The Remains of the Day (1993) – Doctor Meredith Tom & Viv (1994) – Sir Frederick Lamb Coronation Street (1994–2006) – Fred Elliott (1,065 episodes) Middlemarch (1994) – Raffles Othello (1995) – 2nd Senator Loch Ness (1996) – Dr. Binns Sharpe – Sharpe's Regiment (1996) – Maj. Gen. Sir Barstan Maxwell Hotel Babylon (2009) – Tristam Calder The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall (2011) – Monsieur Firmin Holby City (2012) – Rupert Pool