Emmerdale superfans can never forget iconic character Terry Woods who was at the centre of some mega storylines.
The character was played by Scottish actor Billy Hartman for an impressive 16 years. Some of Terry's most shocking moments include his affair with Viv Windsor, his stroke, and turbulent relationship with Dawn Hope.
Deena Payne, who played Viv Hope, and Billy were both killed off in early 2011. Terry Woods died on January 13th after attempting to rescue Viv from the burning post office. But what happened to actor Billy Hartman after leaving the soap and what is he doing now?
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Before joining the soap, Billy and his Emmerdale co-stars Steve Halliwell and Alun Lewis were part of UK 1990s country rock trio The Woolpackers. Some may also not know that Billy was part of an American horror film back in 1986 called Slaughter High, before he made a name for himself in soapland.
The actor also appeared in The Bill, Heartbeat, and had a role on the West End in The Hired Man musical. In 1995 he began playing Terry Woods in Emmerdale. In 2013 Billy played the role of Graham O'Reilly in Casualty, and in 2015 he starred in Gypsy at The Savoy Theatre.
More recently, the actor had a role in Keeping Faith in 2019. Earlier this year Billy landed the theatre role of Jack Fleming in Rebus: A Game Call Malice. The play tells of a splendid dinner party concludes with a game created by the hostess. A murder in a stately home needs to be solved. Suspects, clues and red herrings await. But the dinner-party guests have secrets of their own, threatened by the very game they are playing.
Billy Hartman's love life
On-screen Terry's love life was turbulent to say the least and it seems his personal life away from the camera's is not too dissimilar. Actor Billy Hartman has suffered a real-life heartache after splitting with his glamorous wife, Karen Hartley, their seven-year marriage hit the rocks when Scots-born Billy signed a new contract with the soap.
The pair fell out over Karen's demands to start a family, the freelance make-up artist was hoping Billy would quit the show and make a fresh start with her by moving into a luxury home they had bought in London, the former model had already planned a nursery for the baby she longed to have.
However, the show's gruelling schedule meant Billy spent most nights at his flat in Leeds, so he could be close to where the programme is filmed. An insider revealed at the time: "Karen is devastated because she really thought that this new house would be a fresh start for her and Billy.
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"They had discussed the redecoration together but Karen has had to put that on hold because she can't afford to do it on her own. She has been in tears all week while moving in her belongings. Karen was so excited about their future together. It's so sad that it has ended this way."
The Hartmans released a joint statement about the collapse of their marriage at the time, it read: "We are both extremely sad but we wish everyone to know that we remain very good friends. Other than that, we believe this is a private matter."
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