Emmerdale original cast now from co-star's tragic death and Hollywood role

Daily Record

13-05-2025

The original cast of Emmerdale have been beamed into living rooms for more than 50 years but what happened to the cast members that first stepped foot in the village of Beckindale
For half a century, the Yorkshire-based soap has been a mainstay on our televisions, with its idyllic village setting playing host to an array of dramatic events and a revolving door of characters. However, before the Dingle family's antics became a central part of the narrative, a different set of villagers laid the groundwork for what the show is today.
The original Emmerdale line-up holds a special place in TV history, with many of the actors continuing their roles for extended periods. Some even went on to feature in other classic shows like Doctor Who and Only Fools and Horses.
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Let's take a trip down memory lane and see what became of the original cast from 1972.
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Jack Sugden - Andrew Burt
Andrew Burt was the first to portray Jack Sugden in the series, a role he held for four years until 1976. When the character made his return four years later, Clive Hornby assumed the mantle of Jack for the subsequent 28 years, reports Leeds Live.
Burt's career saw him grace several other classic TV shows, with appearances in Poirot, Doctor Who, Warship, The Legend of King Arthur, Campion, Oscar Charlie, I'm Alan Partridge and Doctors.
In his later life, Burt transitioned into counselling, becoming an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy. He opened his own practice before succumbing to lung cancer in 2018 at the age of 73.
Annie Sugden - Sheila Mercier
Sheila Mercier, who portrayed the matriarch of the infamous Sugden family, held her role for over two decades until 1997, making occasional guest appearances for the next 10 years until 2009. Emmerdale was Sheila's final acting role before she retired alongside fellow actor Peter Mercier.
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The actress, originally from Hull, passed away in 2019 at the impressive age of 100.
Frazer Hines played Joe Sugden
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Frazer Hines played Joe Sugden, Annie's second son. This Leeds-born actor started his career in a vastly different setting, sharing the screen with the legendary Charlie Chaplin in 'A King in New York'.
He continued to portray Joe until 1994, later appearing in 'Out of Sight', 'Two Days in the Smoke' and securing a role in 'Doctor Who'. Frazer has been battling bowel cancer since his diagnosis in 1999.
In 2010, he publicly shared his struggle after undergoing an intense surgery to remove the tumours. Now in his 80s, Frazer understandably doesn't act as much but made an appearance in 'Doctors' in 2024.
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Gail Harrison played Marian Wilks:
The first character ever seen on the show, famously riding a horse in the opening scene. She is best remembered for her romantic storyline with Jack Sugden.
After leaving the show six years later, Gail went on to feature in the sitcom 'Hi-de-hi' and made appearances in 'Only Fools and Horses' in 1989.
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Toke Townley played Sam Pearson
Sam Pearson, affectionately referred to as Grandad despite being Annie's father, was portrayed by Toke Townley. Tragically, he suffered a fatal heart attack during a filming hiatus in 1984 at the age of 71.
Townley also had roles in the British spy series The Avengers and featured in several films in the 1950s, including Lady Godiva Rides Again and Treasure Hunt.
Arthur Pentelow played Henry Wilks
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A retired factory owner who became the landlord of the village's renowned Woolpack pub for nearly two decades. Pentelow was deemed "an immediate choice" for the role of Wilks.
Although his character was based in Yorkshire, Pentelow hailed from Lancashire, across the Pennines. Prior to his acting career, he served in World War II, working on radar technology for the Royal Navy.
After the war, he returned home and embarked on his acting journey.
Pentelow was married with two sons, one of whom, Nick Pentelow, became the saxophonist for the band Wizard, known for their hit song 'I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day'.
Sadly, in 1991, Pentelow passed away after suffering a heart attack while driving to Leeds to film an episode of the soap.