Steve Halliwell

English actor (1946–2023)

Susan Woods
​
​
(m. 1972, divorced)​
  • Valerie Kirkby
    ​
    (m. 1984)​
    • Children3

    Stephen Harold Halliwell (19 March 1946 – 15 December 2023) was an English actor, best known for portraying the role of Zak Dingle in the ITV soap opera Emmerdale, which he played from 1994 until his death in 2023.

    Early life

    Stephen Harold Halliwell was born on 19 March 1946 in Bury, Lancashire to parents Fred and Jenny Halliwell.[1] He had a brother, Clive, who was two years older.[2] Halliwell was an apprentice engineer and worked mainly in cotton and paper mills before drama training at the Mountview Theatre School.[3] He was a founding member of the Interchange Theatre in Bury.[3] Halliwell was once arrested for sleeping rough in an empty government building in London. He was sent to a prison in Ashford for two weeks and was later released on probation.[4] He also spoke openly about his experiences with depression throughout this period of his life.[5]

    Career

    During the first two decades of his career, Halliwell featured in a number of British television series, including Here I Stand, Threads, Cracker, Crown Court, G.B.H., Heartbeat and Coronation Street.[2] In 1994, he joined the cast of the ITV soap opera Emmerdale as Zak Dingle.[5] Together with Emmerdale co-stars Billy Hartman and Alun Lewis, he was a member of UK 1990s country rock trio the Woolpackers who released the single "Hillbilly Rock Hillbilly Roll" in November 1996.[2] In 2014, Halliwell released his autobiography titled If The Cap Fits: My Rocky Road to Emmerdale.[6] Halliwell remained in Emmerdale for 29 years, with his final scenes airing in June 2023.[7]

    Personal life and death

    Halliwell had a child with his then-partner whilst he was a student; the child, a daughter, was given up for adoption. In 1997 it was reported that Halliwell was searching for her.[8] Halliwell's first marriage to his childhood sweetheart Susan Woods in 1972 later ended in divorce.[9][10] He married Valerie Kirkby in 1984, and their daughter Charlotte was born the same year.[11] In 2003, Halliwell took a short break from Emmerdale for personal reasons. He later said that the break was due to staying at a rehabilitation centre for alcoholism.[5] In September 2018, Halliwell had to take five months off from Emmerdale for health reasons, which he later revealed was due to having a heart surgery and a pacemaker fitted.[5][12]

    Halliwell died on 15 December 2023, at age 77 after a period of ill health. [13] A statement from his family confirmed that he had "[died] peacefully with his loved ones around him".[14] Several of his Emmerdale co-stars paid tribute to him, including his character's on-screen niece Lisa Riley, who thanked him for "years of laughter" and noted that he was "adored, loved and respected by [the cast]".[15]

    Filmography

    Year Title Role Notes
    1977 Second City Firsts Stan Episode: "Daft Mam Blues"
    Here I Stand Ionian Episode: "The Gadfly"
    Crown Court P.C. Mack Episode: "Down Will Come Baby: Part 1"
    1978 Pickersgill People PC Donovan Dugdale Episode: "Under the Moon of Love"
    1983, 1989–1990 All Creatures Great and Small PC Goole 3 episodes
    1984 Coronation Street Mr. Toft Episode: #1.2382
    Crown Court Mr. Hedley Episode: "Burnt Futures: Part 1"
    Threads Information officer Television film
    1985–1986 The Practice Peter Bishop Regular role; 44 episodes
    1987 The Fourth Protocol Plastercast Courier Film
    1988 Coronation Street Paul Hindley 2 episodes
    Wipe Out CPO Ringer Series 1: Episode 1
    1989 First and Last Shop Assistant Television film
    1990 Children's Ward Mr. Jenks 2 episodes
    Shoot to Kill Sergeant Quinn Television film
    Stay Lucky Police Inspector Episode: "The Devil Wept in Leeds"
    1991 Coronation Street Returning officer Episode: #1.3221
    G.B.H Bubbles' friend Episode: "It Couldn't Happen Here"
    1993 Three Seven Eleven Architect 2 episodes
    Heartbeat Newsagent Episode: "Manhunt"
    1993–1994 Coronation Street Bob Cairns Recurring role; 8 episodes
    1993 ScreenPlay Brain Flannery Episode: "The Merrihill Millionaires"
    Cracker Fire Officer Episode: "To Say I Love You: Part 3"
    Comic Timing Sgt. Halliwell Episode: "That Nice Mrs. Merton"
    1994 Fair Game YHA Warden Television film
    1994–2023 Emmerdale Zak Dingle Regular role; 2,795 episodes
    1995 Elidor Mr. Brodie Series 1: Episode 5
    1996 The Woolpackers: Emmerdance Zak Dingle Video release
    1997 Emmerdale: The Dingles Down Under
    1999 Emmerdale: Don't Look Now! – The Dingles in Venice
    2010 Emmerdale: The Dingles – For Richer or Poorer
    2014 Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway Series 11: Episode 6
    Sources: [16][17]

    References

    1. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 30 June 2018.
    2. ^ a b c Saeyang, Shado (19 December 2019). "Five Fast Facts About British Soap Star Steve Halliwell". Soap Hub. Archived from the original on 28 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
    3. ^ a b Hayward 1994, p. 115
    4. ^ "Emmerdale's Zak Dingle star Steve Halliwell's colourful life off-screen from rehab to jail". Daily Mirror. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    5. ^ a b c d Woodcock, Zara (22 March 2021). "Emmerdale's Steve Halliwell's complicated life after soap – depression and booze battle". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 10 June 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2022.
    6. ^ Halliwell, Steve (2014). If The Cap Fits: My Rocky Road to Emmerdale. The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7509-5835-6.
    7. ^ Obituaries, Telegraph (17 December 2023). "Steve Halliwell, actor who found fame as the lovable, work-shy rogue Zak Dingle in Emmerdale – obituary". Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
    8. ^ "Emmerdale star hunts for his long lost daughter; Dingle is desperate to find tot given away 30 yrs ago". The Free Library. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 16 December 2023.
    9. ^ "Emmerdale's Steve Halliwell health: Cause of death and illness". Heart. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    10. ^ "Emmerdale's Steve Halliwell's two marriages, life with wife Valerie and battle with alcoholism away from Zak Dingle role". RSVP Live. 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    11. ^ Media, P. A. (15 December 2023). "Steve Halliwell, actor who played Emmerdale's Zak Dingle, dies aged 77". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    12. ^ Mapstone, Lucy. "Zak Dingle actor Steve Halliwell to return to Emmerdale after heart surgery". Irish Independent. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
    13. ^ "Steve Halliwell: Emmerdale's Zak Dingle actor dies aged 77". BBC News. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 15 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    14. ^ "A Statement about Steve Halliwell". ITV. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    15. ^ "Emmerdale actor Steve Halliwell dies after 29 years as Zak Dingle". ITV. 15 December 2023. Archived from the original on 22 December 2023. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
    16. ^ "Steve Halliwell at TV Guide". TV Guide. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.
    17. ^ "Steve Halliwell filmography". Mubi. Archived from the original on 18 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.

    Sources

    • Anthony Hayward (1994). Who's Who on Television. Boxtree Limited. ISBN 1-85283-936-8.

    External links

    • Steve Halliwell at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
    • Steve Halliwell discography at Discogs
    Authority control databases Edit this at Wikidata
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