Steve Halliwell is a British actor who is best known for playing Zak Dingle in Emmerdale for over 25 years.
Along with his work on the British soap, Halliwell has also appeared in shows such as Crown Court, Threads, and Cracker. From where he was born and raised to his country music career, here are five fast facts about the actor.
Who Is Steve Halliwell?
He was born on March 21 in Bury, Lancashire, England to parents Fred and Jenny Halliwell. He was also raised with his older brother, Clive. Prior to becoming an actor, he worked as an apprentice engineer and also had jobs in cotton and paper mills. He then trained at the Mountview Theatre School.
Soap Career
The actor got the role of Zak Dingle in Emmerdale in 1994 and has been on the show ever since. He is currently the second longest-serving cast member on the soap.
He’s With the Band
Halliwell and his Emmerdale co-stars, Billy Hartman and Alun Lewis, formed a country-rock trip in the ‘90s called The Woolpackers. They released albums and their single, “Hillbilly Rock, Hillbilly Roll” was a hit in the UK in November of 1996.
Health Issues
After nearly 15 years on Emmerdale, Halliwell announced he was taking five months off from the show for health reasons back in September of 2018. It was later revealed he took a break because he had to have heart surgery and have a pacemaker fitted. The good news is he returned to the show just a few months later and is doing better than ever.
Getting Personal With Steve Halliwell
Halliwell was previously married to his childhood sweetheart, Susan, but they split due to the actor’s struggles with alcoholism and depression. He met his second wife, Val, in the ‘80s and they had a daughter named Charlotte in 1984. Val already had two boys from a previous relationship. Val and Halliwell split for some time in the ‘90s due to his drinking issues, but they reunited in the 2000s.
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