Emmerdale is set to say goodbye to the much-loved character Zak Dingle this week, following the death of actor Steve Halliwell. Steve, who played Zak on the popular Yorkshire-based soap for nearly 30 years, died at the age of 77 in December 2023.
The Dingle family, first introduced to viewers in 1994, has grown to become the largest family on the ITV show, with many generations represented. The upcoming episodes will see them reflecting on Zak's life as they come to terms with his death.
Steve joined the Emmerdale cast in October 1994 and remained a key figure within the Dingle family. Despite initially being intended as a temporary character, Zak became one of the most recognisable faces in the village. For the latest TV & Showbiz news, sign up to our newsletter.
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Off-screen, Steve led a colourful life, marked by both triumphs and trials that he channelled into his portrayal of Zak. His journey included periods of homelessness and even a stint in prison prior to achieving fame, reports Leeds Live.
Born in Lancashire in March 1946 to parents Jenny and Fred Halliwell, Steve was raised in Bury alongside his older brother Clive, who was two years his senior. In his early years, Steve trained as an apprentice engineer and held various jobs before enrolling at Mountview Theatre School to pursue his dream of acting, reports the Manchester Evening News. Before his role on Emmerdale, Steve struggled with alcoholism and depression, which cast a shadow over his life for five decades.
In a candid interview with TV Times, Steve Halliwell revealed the striking similarities between his own life and that of his on-screen character. He said: "Everything the Dingles had been through, I had too; trouble with the police, fighting, being evicted. And if there were any aspects of Zak's life I hadn't lived, I knew people who had."
The actor also opened up about his past struggles, including a time when he was homeless in London, which left him "very thin" due to severe hunger. He shared an incident where he was arrested for squatting in a government building, leading to his imprisonment at Ashford remand prison followed by probation.
Steve also spoke about a false accusation of theft that led to him spending three months in a detention centre. Despite these challenges, the role of Zak in Emmerdale allowed Steve to channel his energies positively. However, his fight with addiction saw him enter rehab in 2003, temporarily stepping away from the soap.
In 2018, the actor took a break from Emmerdale to receive heart surgery and have a pacemaker fitted. Following an extended absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Steve celebrated his return to the show in January 2021. Married at first to Valerie, Steve and his spouse went through a separation in the 90s but rekindled their relationship in the next decade. The actor was previously wed to his childhood sweetheart, Susan.
Steve's family includes three children; among them is his actress daughter Charlotte, born in 1984. Following in her father's footsteps, Charlotte has made her mark in show business and additionally established Interchange Performing Arts in 2017, a drama collective.
On December 15, 2023, ITV shared a touching announcement regarding Steve's death: "It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that Emmerdale can confirm that our beloved Zak Dingle, has peacefully passed away."
Further expressing condolence, the statement added: "All our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones through this very difficult time, and we'd request that their privacy is respected as they grieve for his loss. Steve will forever be synonymous with Emmerdale."
The tribute concluded by saying: "The proud defender and head of the Dingle family. Heart and humour in all he did, it has been and always will be impossible not to smile when you think of him."
Following the passing of Steve, his family issued a heartfelt statement: "He went to sleep, peacefully with his loved ones around him. He was making us laugh to the end, the most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for, family was everything to him.
"We would like to thank the wonderful staff at St James Hospital and the Wheatfield Hospice for their love and kindness in his final days. He didn't want sadness, just to rejoice in a life well lived."
