Emmerdale is this week paying tribute to the legendary

Steve Halliwell, who played Zak Dingle on the ITV soap.

Steve died aged 77 in December 2023. Now Zak is having

his farewell on screen. The episodes this week have been moving and emotional and fans have called the soap ‘respectful’ for the way they have handled Steve’s death.

It’s clear everyone on and off screen at Emmerdale, as well as millions of fans, will miss both Steve and Zak very much. But with the actor having been off screen for long stretches of time, viewers had already started to fear for Zak’s future before Steve passed away.

In real life, Steve underwent a secret health battle in 2018 after a mysterious absence from screens. And prior to this he had been open about his mental health struggles too.

Emmerdale star Steve Halliwell dies aged 77

The soap released a statement on December 15, 2023 confirming the Zak Dingle actor had died “peacefully”.

It said: “It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that Emmerdale can confirm that Steve Halliwell, our beloved Zak Dingle, has peacefully passed away.

“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.”

They continued: “Steve will forever be synonymous with Emmerdale. 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.”

His family also shared a moving tribute.

“He went to sleep, peacefully with his loved ones around him,” they said.

“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.”

A cause of death has never been confirmed for Steve.

Emmerdale star Steve Halliwell and his ongoing health battles

Steve was absent from Emmerdale in 2018 due to health concerns. After five months off screen the actor explained why Zak had really been missing. He was rushed to hospital for a life-or-death operation on his heart.

The Sun Online revealed that the Lancashire-born actor had a pacemaker fitted in September 2018, after suffering serious heart problems.

At the time the actor told the newspaper’s website: “I’m back at work in a few weeks and feeling fitter than ever after having a pacemaker fitted in September. It’s done me the world of good and I feel fantastic.”

He went on to say how understanding and “brilliant” his employers had been, revealing: “Emmerdale has been brilliant throughout and really looked after me.

“I did have to spend some time in hospital and it was really funny to see the entire Dingle clan around my bed. Everyone has been so considerate and I know it sounds a bit of a cliché, but we really are one big happy family.”

Steve and his mental health demons

The actor made no secret of the fact he had suffered with his mental health in the past. In 2003, Steve took a break from Emmerdale as he checked into rehab to get help for his alcohol issues.

In 2014 he told The Mirror: “There’s depression, drinking and having to fight your way out of situations. I’ve lived all those things – and more.”

Steve had also experienced other struggles in his life. He told TV Times in a past interview: “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.”

Before he won the role of Zak Dingle Steve was once homeless. He was also arrested for sleeping rough. He told the publication he was “so hungry and got very thin”.

Steve revealed: “Back then, it was illegal to be homeless and I was arrested for sleeping in an empty Government building.” He spent two weeks on remand in Ashford prison.

The actor was also arrested after a gang incident. He took the blame for a brick being thrown through an off-licence window. He then spent three months in a detention centre.

Worries for Zak Dingle in Emmerdale

Before Steve passed away in December, viewers had been concerned for Steve’s health. The character appeared less and less on screen and looked more and more frail.

Zak had spent much time in Scotland with granddaughter Debbie. He was last seen on screen back in June 2023 when he revealed his health was declining. Cain was the only one who knew about his dad’s health struggles after finding him on the floor unable to get up.

This sparked fears for Zak with fans commenting: “Zak is getting more and more frail,” and another adding: “Poor Zak’s a mere slip of a man compared to the beast he was when he first arrived in the village.”

A third viewer worried: “Zak looks extremely ill.”

Zak’s death in Emmerdale

Despite his passing December 2023, Emmerdale waited to pay tribute to Steve Halliwell on screen. They are now honouring his life as the Dingles celebrate 30 years in the village.

Earlier this month Cain went to Scotland after learning his dad was ill. He returned on Monday October 14 saying Zak was feeling much better.

However moments after his return, Debbie called and revealed Zak had died. He had been out poaching that morning and told Debbie it was the best morning ever. Zak then fell asleep in his chair and didn’t wake up.

As Cain broke the news to the Dingles on Tuesday October 15, there was not a dry eye in the house. Many fans called it the ‘best episode ever’. Bravo Emmerdale, bravo.