Emmerdale legend James Hooton's voice cracks as he discusses co-star's heartbreaking death
ok.co.ukEmmerdale actor James Hooton, famed for his role as lovable Sam Dingle, was deeply touched during his appearance on ITV's Loose Women as he paid homage to his late co-star and "good friend" Steve Halliwell, who played his on-screen dad on the ITV soap.
James appeared on the panel show with co-star Sam Hall, who plays his on-screen offspring Samson, and together they delved into their latest dramatic plot which sees Samson wrongfully pin a stabbing on Matty Barton (played by Ash Palmisciano), resulting in Matty's wrongful imprisonment.
But the mood on Loose Women turned sombre when they honoured Steve, who played Emmerdale's cherished Zak Dingle and was the soap's second longest-serving cast member until his death in December last year.
He joined the show October 1994 and went on to be solid fan favourite for just shy of three decades. The adored actor passed away at the age of 77 in December 2023, leaving behind a legacy of laughter and love. "He was making us laugh to the end, the most amazing father and grandfather you could ever wish for," his family said in a heartfelt statement.
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