Chris Fountain was born on September 3, 1987 – meaning the former Tommy Duckworth star turns 35 today.
To commemorate his milestone birthday, Daily Star has decided to take a look inside his life since getting axed from the cobbled streets of Coronation Street back in 2013.
The English actor hasn’t just appeared in Corrie though – in fact, he has enjoyed a glowing career as a music producer and DJ, as well as portraying Damian Jones in Emmerdale and Justin Burton in Hollyoaks.
READ MORE: Coronation Street’s Stephen ‘exposed’ as his wife arrives amid Audrey death theories
Not only this, but Chris was a runner up in the third series of ITV show Dancing on Ice back in 2008, and went on to win the Dancing On Ice Tour in the same year.
Although the actor has had a glowing career, he’s also had his fair share of drama – so let’s take a look inside his life.
Controversial music career
(Image: Mirror Screen Grab)
In 2013 Chris had an alter-ego dubbed The Phantom, and was a rapper for a short while before things turned sour after a video of him rapping an offensive rap came to light.
Wearing a Halloween mask, baseball cap, and a hoodie Chris released a track where he could be heard rapping: “I will f*** anybody up in the worst way, rape a bitch on her birthday.”
He continued in the track “I’m a motherf***ing demon, I’ll stab you in the face with a diseased needle.”
Sacked from soap after rape rap
After the rap surfaced online, Coronation Street suspended Chris and dubbed the revelation of the video as “shocking”.
At the time bosses said: “ITV find the language used and the views expressed in this video totally unacceptable.
“Chris Fountain has been suspended pending further inquiries into this matter.”
Speaking out at the time, Chris issued an apology where he said: “I would like to sincerely apologise for any offence I have caused.
“I am deeply ashamed by the lyrics and very much regret my behaviour.
“The videos were made over a year ago when I was experimenting with music and I’ve not done anything like it since, nor will I.”
Depression after axing
(Image: @fountain1987/Instagram)
Earlier this year Chris opened up about his Corrie axing when he appeared on the Mancs On The Mic podcast.
Hosted by former Corrie co-star Ryan Thomas and his brothers Scott and Adam, Chris spoke candidly about the incident that occurred 10 years earlier.
Speaking openly he said: “The context of the stuff that I said [in the video] was horrendous. I would never think to say that to anybody.
“But 24-year-old me was just thinking ‘I want to rap.’ I was just trying to do what everyone else was doing.”
(Image: @fountain1987/Instagram)
Opening up about his mental health he said: “I’ve been in some very dark, horrible places to the point where I realised I needed to start changing the way I was thinking – otherwise I might not have been here.
“I didn’t really understand mental health that much back then. I’d never been this discombobulated before.
“I was meant to go on This Morning and then that got cancelled because they didn’t want me on there. Then I parted ways with my agent. Then there was no work.
“It was just this constant thing. Then after a while I was like ‘I think I’m depressed, I think I’m going through depression here.’
“Then it got to a point where this isn’t just sadness now. This is something else. My whole body is f*****. My head just feels like a swamp. Even to this day now, I don’t think I’m the same person now that I was before.”
Turning his life around
(Image: @fountain1987/Instagram)
With his controversial rap firmly in the past, 10 years on from the incident Chris is doing well for himself.
Looking healthier and fitter than ever, the former soap hunk often updates his fans on Instagram.
Recently he has been living it up in Ibiza for a friend’s stag-do and enjoying the summer sunshine.
His Instagram account, which has more than 100,000 followers, has a bio which reads: “Actor/DJ/Producer/Dreamer.”
(Image: @fountain1987/Instagram)
Commenting on his recent topless snap, fans of Chris were quick to gush over how well he looked.
“Looking well bro, hope you’re alright. It’s so good to see you smiling kidda x,” penned one.
Another said: “Lovely smile you have there @fountain1987 it’s lovely to see you so happy xx.”
While a third added: “Don’t look back, look forward! Where to next.”
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday on ITV at 8pm
For more of the latest showbiz news from Daily Star, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here.
READ NEXT:
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
