Dale Meeks, an Emmerdale actor who most recently appeared in the ITV thriller The Hunt for Raoul Moat, has passed away at the age of 47, his family has confirmed.
News of Meeks’s death was broken by a family member on Facebook on Sunday afternoon.
A cause of death has not been confirmed.
The actor played Simon Meredith in the ITV soap Emmerdale from 2003-2006.
Mr Meeks also starred in CBBC show Byker Grove and ITV true crime drama The Hunt for Raoul Moat, which aired just last week.
Meeks, a vocalist who was also an actor playing the Blues Brothers in the ITV Stars in Their Eyes Celebrity Special, was born in South Shields, Tyne and Wear.
He appeared on stage in plays including The Producers at the Royal Exchange Theatre in Manchester and A Christmas Carol at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in addition to his TV roles.
Additionally, he featured in the West End production of Love Never Dies and as Amos Hart in the UK tour of the popular musical Chicago.