Emmerdale actor Frazer Hammill took his own life after arrest over s.e.x assault
Actor Frazer Hammill d.i.e.d in December and his inquest was held in April, where it was revealed that he was found d.e.a.d in his own home the day after being arrested
Frazer Hammill appeared in TV shows including Emmerdale and Happy Valley(Image: Tommo Bayliss/YouTube)
Emmerdale and Happy Valley actor Frazer Hammill’s arrest the day to before his d.e.a.t.h was connected to a report of s.e.x.u.a.l assault.
The 41-year-old was found d.e.a.d in his own home in December 2025, having taken his own life just one day after being arrested and questioned by Lancashire Police, an inquest has heard.
Lancashire Police today confirmed they had arrested and questioned Hammill and later released him on bail. The police statement said: “On December 17th last year we received a report of a s.e.x.u.a.l assault on a woman in her 40s.
“The assault was reported to have happened on December 14th. Following enquiries a man in his 40s from Doncaster was arrested on our behalf by South Yorkshire Police on December 29th. He was interviewed and bailed later the same day.”
Frazer Hammill in a play at the New Vic theatre(Image: Stoke Sentinel)
It continued: “On December 30th we were notified by South Yorkshire Police that the man had sadly been found d.e.a.d. A decision was made to close our investigation, and the victim was made aware.”
An inquest into Hammill’s d.e.a.t.h yesterday revealed that he left a note for his neighbour, telling them not to enter his home but to contact the police. Area coroner, Louise Slater, concluded the actor’s medical cause of d.e.a.t.h was “1a hanging”. She added: “Frazer Hammill passed away at his home on December 30. He was a single man, an actor, and very close to his family members.”
When police and paramedics arrived at Hammill’s flat just after 2pm he could not be resuscitated and his time of d.e.a.t.h was recorded at 2.13pm.
The coroner said Frazer had left further notes for his family and friends. “Therefore, I am satisfied that this was a deliberate act and Frazer had put thought, planning and intention into his actions,” she concluded.
An inquest was held into Hammill’s d.e.a.t.h yesterday(Image: John Godber Company/YouTube)
The inquest also heard a statement from Hammill’s sister Caroline, who said she was in “complete shock” after his d.e.a.t.h. She said none of the family were aware that he was “feeling low enough to end his life” and that he seemed happy.
Custody officers told Doncaster Coroner’s Court that Hammill was in “good spirits” when he left the station following his arrest. They said they had no concerns for his safety or mental well-being.
Hammill appeared in Emmerdale as a prison guard and in Happy Valley as a detective constable. He was also Kev in Abraham’s Point, the titular role in the Heart of Thomas Hardy, Luke in Shed Convention and Jonathan O’Malley in Last Laugh.
