Inside Emmerdale star Steve Halliwell's life as soap bids farewell to Zak Dingle

Emmerdale is preparing to bid farewell to the beloved character Zak Dingle this week, following the passing of actor Steve Halliwell.

Steve, who portrayed Zak on the popular Yorkshire-based soap for nearly 30 years, passed away at the age of 77 in December 2023.

The Dingle clan, first introduced to viewers in 1994, has grown to become the largest family on the ITV show, with numerous generations represented. The upcoming episodes will see them reflecting on Zak's life as they grapple with the news of his death.

Steve joined the Emmerdale cast in October 1994 and remained a central figure within the Dingle family. Despite initially being intended as a temporary character, Zak evolved into one of the most recognisable faces in the village.

Off-screen, Steve led a vibrant life, marked by both triumphs and trials that he channeled 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.

Before his role on Emmerdale, Steve struggled with alcoholism and depression, which cast a shadow over his life for five decades.

In an open conversation with TV Times, Steve shared his tumultuous past and its parallels to the on-screen drama of his character Zak Dingle: "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."

Halliwell opened up about the hardships he faced, including a period when he was forced to sleep rough in London, an experience which left him "very thin" due to extreme hunger.

The actor recounted a time when he was illegally squatting in a government building and ended up "arrested for sleeping in an empty government building," leading to his incarceration at Ashford remand prison followed by probation.

Steve also recalled his brush with the law over a theft he did not commit. He described how a gang he was once associated with was involved in a vandalism incident; when a "bearded youth running away" with stolen alcohol was reported, he "took the rap" and consequently spent three months in a detention centre.

Further interviews reveal that the role of Zak on Emmerdale provided Steve with a pathway to channel his energies positively. Nonetheless, his battle with addiction led him to check into rehab in 2003, temporarily stepping back from the soap.

In 2018, the actor took a break from the soap to undergo heart surgery and have a pacemaker fitted. After an extended hiatus during the coronavirus pandemic, Steve made a triumphant return to Emmerdale in January 2021.

Steve was married to his wife Valerie. The pair reportedly separated in the 90s but found their way back to each other in the 2000s. Previously, the actor had been married to his childhood sweetheart Susan.

Steve had three children, including his actress daughter Charlotte, born in 1984. Like her father, Charlotte has carved out a career in the entertainment industry and, beyond acting, she founded Interchange Performing Arts in 2017, a drama group.

On December 15, 2023, an ITV spokesperson announced Steve's passing with a heartfelt statement: "It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that Emmerdale can confirm that our beloved Zak Dingle, has peacefully passed away."

The statement continued, "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."

Concluding, the spokesperson added, "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."

Steve's family released a statement following his passing which read: "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."