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Leeds Live
Entertainment
Victoria Scheer

Emmerdale's Peter Martin's real life and playing character Len Reynolds

It's been nearly 16 years since Len Reynolds was killed off in ITV soap Emmerdale.

Played by actor Peter Martin, Leonard "Len" first came to the village following his wife Eileen's death. He was involved in a number of plotlines including love stories with Pearl Ladderbanks and Edna Birch.

Len stayed a regular on the soap up until 2007 when he died from a heart attack aged 70, while attending Emmerdale's 500th birthday party. He was found by Sandy who initially thought Len was just asleep and tried to wake him until he checked Len's pulse.

Read more: Emmerdale's Lisa Riley showered with praise after posting 'honest' picture of beauty routine

Producers had originally planned on axing the character way before 2007 but the Reynolds patriarch remained on the show longer than any other family member. Peter requested to leave the show so he could take on a role in the stage production of Dad's Army.

Since leaving the Dales, Peter has enjoyed various appearances in shows and films but has kept his private life out of the spotlight. Below is everything we know about the actor.

Rise to fame

Peter was born in 1934 in Gainsborough and rose to fame in the 80s after appearing in TV ads for Jewsons Hardware. He later landed roles in First of the Summer Wine and The Beiderbecke Tapes.

He also starred in sitcom The Royle Family as Joe Carroll and later joined the Emmerdale cast as Len Reynolds in 2001. Other projects he has been a part of include film Brassed Off, series All Creatures Great and Small and Chucklevision.

Peter also appeared in ITV's Coronation Street three times but in different roles. His most recent on-screen appearance was for comedy film Walk like a Panther with Stephen Graham and missing Otley actor Julian Sands.

Peter also regularly worked small parts on Victoria Wood television programmes beginning in 1980 with play Nearly a Happy Ending (1980) and ending with an episode of Dinnerladies (1998) in 2000. Not much is known about his personal life and the actor has kept well out of the spotlight over the last few years.

As ever, we'll continue to bring you the big Emmerdale news about what is happening in the village and away from it. You can visit our Emmerdale homepage to find the latest gossip about the soap and its stars.

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