Emmerdale legend's will exposed after 30 years in ITV soap and tragic death

Emmerdale fable Steve Halliwell, who played Zak Dingle connected the ITV soap for 30 years, near conscionable £63,000 successful his volition aft his decease successful December aged 77

Emmerdale fable Steve Halliwell, famed for his relation arsenic Zak Dingle, passed distant successful December astatine the property of 77. The actor, who graced the ITV soap for 3 decades, near down a volition amounting to £63,000, with his widow Valerie and 40-year-old girl Charlotte named arsenic beneficiaries.

The Sun has reported that during his clip connected Emmerdale, Steve could person been earning up to £200,000 annually. With stars of the amusement perchance making £2,000 per episode, and Steve having appeared successful astir 2,500 episodes arsenic the beloved Zak Dingle, his net were significant.

In a touching tribute, Emmerdale is acceptable to clasp an on-screen ceremonial for Steve aboriginal this year. Emmerdale shaper Sophie Roper shared with The Mirror successful July: "The Dingles person been astatine the bosom of our amusement for 30 years now, and volition proceed to beryllium so."

"We mislaid Steve recently, truthful we're going to beryllium marking Zak's passing successful the coming months with a Dingle funeral."

"It volition beryllium precise hard for a batch of radical who enactment connected the amusement and evidently a batch of our viewers who person grown and emotion Zak for many, galore years - but it volition beryllium a hugely fitting tribute for a large character," reports the Express.

Emmerdale expressed its sorrow implicit Steve's decease successful December 2023 done a poignant statement. A spokesperson for the soap stated: "It is with heavy sadness and a dense bosom that Emmerdale tin corroborate that Steve Halliwell, our beloved Zak Dingle, has peacefully passed away.

"All our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and loved ones done this precise hard time, and we'd petition that their privateness is respected arsenic they grieve for his loss.

"Steve volition everlastingly beryllium synonymous with Emmerdale. The arrogant defender and caput of the Dingle family. Heart and humour successful each helium did, it has been and ever volition beryllium intolerable not to grin erstwhile you deliberation of him."

John Whiston, Managing Director of Continuing Drama, added his dependable to the tributes, stating: "Steve Halliwell was 1 of those uncommon quality beings who was arsenic fantastic disconnected surface arsenic on.

"To millions of Emmerdale viewers, helium was the brawny but crafty Dingle patriarch who led the clan with a beardown fist and a lukewarm heart.

"To everyone who worked connected Emmerdale, helium was a much-loved person and colleague, the undoubted begetter of the show, but besides its amusive mischievous uncle. We volition miss him enormously."