Dale Meeks

{{Short description|English actor (1974–2023)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Use British English|date=August 2016}} {{Infobox person | name = Dale Meeks | image = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1974|05|06|df=y}} | birth_place = [[South Shields]], [[Tyne and Wear]], England | death_date = {{Death date and age|2023|04|22|1974|05|06|df=y}} | death_place = [[South Tyneside District Hospital]], South Shields, Tyne and Wear, England | occupation = Actor, [[production designer]] | years_active = 1990–2023 }}

'''Dale Meeks''' (6 May 1974 – 22 April 2023) was an English television and theatre actor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Duke |first=Simon |date=23 April 2023 |title=Dale Meeks dies at 47 as tributes pour in for Emmerdale star |url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/dale-meeks-dead-emmerdale-actor-26764032 |access-date=23 April 2023 |website=ChronicleLive |language=en}}</ref>

==Acting career== Meeks was best known for his role as [[Simon Meredith (Emmerdale)|Simon Meredith]] in the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] [[soap opera]] ''[[Emmerdale]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sundaysun.co.uk/whats-on-newcastle-north-east/arts-theatre-newcastle-north-east/2005/07/18/let-them-eat-cake-79310-15750030/|title=Let them eat cake!|date=18 July 2005|newspaper=[[Sunday Sun]]|accessdate=23 November 2009}}</ref> and as the winner of ITV's ''[[Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes]]'' with [[Mark Charnock]] as the Blues Brothers.

Meeks also starred in ''[[Byker Grove]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/Giving-youth-a-chance-for.5186900.jp|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120913084418/http://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/Giving-youth-a-chance-for.5186900.jp|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 September 2012|title=Giving youth a chance for 30 years|date=20 April 2009|publisher=[[Shields Gazette]]|accessdate=23 November 2009}}</ref> as the leader of a gang from rival youth club [[Denton Burn]] for five series and played Hips in the BBC series ''[[Breeze Block (TV series)|Breeze Block]]''.

Meeks toured the UK with the musical ''[[Chicago (musical)|Chicago]]''<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/scotland/article607015.ece|title=The Review: She's cute, sassy — and all that jazz|date=22 October 2006|newspaper=[[The Times]]|accessdate=23 November 2009 | location=London | first=David | last=Pollock}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> and appeared in the [[West End theatre|West End]] production of ''[[Love Never Dies (musical)|Love Never Dies]]''.

== Death == Meeks died from [[heart failure]] at South Shields, South Tyneside District Hospital on 22 April 2023 at 5:34pm, at the age of 48.<ref name=BBC>{{Cite web|date=24 April 2023 |title=Dale Meeks: Ant and Dec lead tributes to Emmerdale and Byker Grove star, who has died aged 48|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-65371532|access-date=24 April 2023 |website=BBC News}}</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{IMDb name|id=0576137|name=Dale Meeks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Meeks, Dale}} [[Category:1974 births]] [[Category:2023 deaths]] [[Category:English male stage actors]] [[Category:English male child actors]] [[Category:English male soap opera actors]] [[Category:Male actors from South Shields]]