The White family in Emmerdale: From Lawrence and Chrissie’s deaths to serial killer Lachlan and tragic Rebecca
Where the White family went, tragedy followed
The White family in Emmerdale appeared on screen between 2014 and 2018 and they certainly made their mark in the village during those years!
With Lawrence White at its head, the family took over Home Farm. Daughter Chrissie was engaged to Robert Sugden and her son from a previous relationship, Lachlan, came too. Younger sister, Rebecca landed in 2016.
Tragedy seemed to follow them around, so it hardly seems surprising that the death of Rebecca White has just been announced on screen. Her dad and sister are already gone and her nephew is in prison for multiple murders. Let’s just hope young Seb can escape the family curse!
Here’s what happened to the Whites – and where the actors are now.
Emmerdale: What happened to the White Family?
Lawrence White in Emmerdale played by John Bowe
Head of the family Lawrence White was born in Emmerdale (then known as Beckindale) in 1943. Lawrence was gay and had an affair with Edna Birch’s husband. She reported them to the police and Lawrence was put in prison where he was subjected to brutal aversion therapy that changed him forever.
He later met and married a woman named Ellen and they had two children, Chrissie and Rebecca. He built up a fortune with a farm machinery business. Lawrence first returned to the village when he was tracked down by Paddy and Sandy wanting to help Edna move on.
Lawrence then bought Home Farm and moved in with his family. He struck up a friendship with Bernice Blackstock and eventually they got engaged.
Although they married, it was a sexless union and Lawrence gave his blessing for her to have affairs to satisfy that side of things. Chrissie was disgusted when she found out and even more so when it led to the revelation Lawrence was not her biological dad. Chrissie tracked down a man named Ronnie Hale who she believed to be her father, but was in fact, Lawrence’s old lover.
By January 2018 Lawrence had had enough of life in the village and decided to emigrate to Australia. However, he never made it that far.
Chrissie White played by Louise Marwood
Robert’s fiancée was smitten with her man, but had no idea what a conniving and double-crossing schemer he really was. He was also having an affair with Aaron Dingle behind her back and killed Katie Sugden on his and Chrissie’s wedding day to protect his secret.
The wedding went ahead and Chrissie and Robert settled into married life. But soon Chrissie discovered not only had Robert set-up a robbery at Home Farm, he was also cheating on her.
When he refused to sign the divorce papers, Chrissie poured petrol everywhere and set fire to his car. But as Robert put the fire out to rescue Adam Barton who was sleeping nearby, they had no idea the fire had spread to some gas cannisters which then exploded. The explosion hit a helicopter which then crashed into the town hall where Debbie Dingle and Pete Barton were getting married. The explosion resulted in the deaths of Ruby Haswell and Val Pollard and Chrissie became a village pariah.
After receiving a suspended sentence, Chrissie began a fling with Robert’s brother Andy Sugden. She later found out Lawrence was not her real dad and her and Lachlan were thrown out of Home Farm. Fuming Lachlan shot his grandad in the stomach and Chrissie scrambled to cover up the crime. She framed Andy after discovering him cheating with Bernice Blackstock.
In 2018, Chrissie planned to move to Australia with her family, but tragedy struck…
Lachlan White played by Thomas Atkinson
Lachlan, nicknamed ‘Lucky’ by his mum proved to be an extremely disturbed young man. This first became apparent when he befriended Jacob Gallagher and grew close to his mum, Alicia. Lachlan then sexually assaulted Alicia who called the police.
Lawrence and Chrissie immediately defended him, but then Chrissie found evidence and realised he was guilty. She called the police herself and Lachlan went to prison.
Lachlan then continued to show psychopathic tendencies when he shot Lawrence in the stomach. They family covered it up and framed Andy for it. But his worst crimes were yet to come…
Rebecca White played by Emily Head
Rebecca White arrived in Emmerdale in 2016 unannounced and in a helicopter. She promptly slapped Robert round the face! But it turned out she and Robert were working together to find out if Rebecca was Lawrence’s biological child.
Rebecca made a move on Robert – who was involved with Aaron Dingle – and their affair was revealed by twisted Lachlan in the pub on Rebecca’s 30th birthday. But Rebecca knew that Lachlan had shot Lawrence and framed Andy Sugden and she soon manipulated Lachlan into admitting it.
With Lachlan behind bars and Chrissie furious because she had been the one to cover it up, the sisters’ feud intensified. Rebecca then had a fling with Ross Barton and Robert Sugden. She fell pregnant with Robert’s baby.
When baby Seb arrived, Rebecca and the rest of the Whites decided the only way to keep Robert out of their lives was to leave for Australia.
The deaths of Lawrence and Chrissie White in Emmerdale
Lachlan did not want to leave so he told Robert about it, who kidnapped Seb. The White family gave chase, but Lachlan grabbed the wheel and steered the car to hit a lorry head-on. Lawrence was sitting in the back seat with no seatbelt on and was catapulted through the back windshield. Chrissie was also killed.
What happened to the rest of the White family in Emmerdale, Rebecca and Lachlan?
Rebecca suffered permanent brain damage after the accident. And for Lachlan it was the start of his road to becoming a serial killer.
His best mate Gerry knew the truth about what had happened in the car, so Lachlan killed him. He also murdered a conman posing as Gerry’s uncle.
Lachlan then kidnapped Rebecca after she found Liv Flaherty and Robert unconscious in Mill Cottage following Lachlan’s attempt to gas them. He kept her in a deserted chalet and also told her the truth about the car crash.
It looked like he had killed Rebecca when he strangled her. But it was eventually revealed to viewers that Rebecca was alive and in a remote cottage, being kept by a retired nurse. Rebecca got free and managed to find Aaron, Victoria and Robert.
After Lachlan tried to get Belle to run away with him, she managed to get away and was accidentally run over by Robert. Lachlan was arrested and taken to prison, where he currently remains.
Rebecca White’s death
After rekindling things with Ross Barton, Rebecca went to live with him and Seb in Liverpool. Not much else has been said about them since other than the odd mention when his son Moses goes to visit.
However now Ross is back in town and has revealed the shocking news that Rebecca is dead. She apparently went in for routine surgery and her heart stopped. Seb has gone to live with Rebecca’s aunt in Bristol and we are all totally shocked.
What are the White family cast members up to now?
Louise Marwood
Louise, who played Chrissie, is currently still acting and in 2022 appeared in Coronation Street as Camilla. She has also been open and honest about a cocaine addiction that “completely decimated my life”.
According to MailOnline, Louise endured four different rehab stints after leaving Emmerdale. She turned her experience into one-woman show, Rita Lynn: Lifecoach, for which she started a GoFundMe page.
She told the tabloid outlet: “Having completely decimated my life, this appeal is asking for the opportunity to put my life back together again.
“I want to carry a story of strength and hope to the addict that still suffers while busting wide open the chaos that addiction causes to your life and everybody that you drag down with it.
“I was very unwell for a very long time and because of that I want to use my platform to help other people and that’s what I’m asking for the opportunity to do, really.”
She added she is “much better” but “not perfect” and still progressing.
Emily Head
Emily Head, who played Rebecca, is also still acting. Since leaving Emmerdale, Emily appeared in The Inbetweeners: Fwends Reunited TV special. She famously played Carli D’Amato in The Inbetweeners from 2008 until 2010 and in the subsequent movie.
In 2020 she appeared in an episode of Life and in 2021 she played Colette Andrews in The Syndicate. Emily also starred in Acorn TV show Whitstable Pearl in 2022.
Tom Atkinson
Tom Atkinson, who played Lachlan has since been seen playing Nick in Netflix show Sex Education.
He has also appeared in a series of shorts since his Emmerdale departure, as well as a number of theatre productions. Most recently he was in an episode of Hulu mystery series Black Cake in 2023.
John Bowe
Lawrence actor John Bowe was also still acting until 2021. Since Emmerdale John has appeared in the 2019 film Remember Me and TV series The Singapore Grip.
However, in November 2021 he put out a series of tweets announcing his retirement from acting. He also became an outspoken critic of the ongoing restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, despite initially supporting the measures and also ‘nearly dying’ of the illness himself.
Emmerdale usually airs weeknights on ITV at 7.30pm.
Classic Emmerdale usually airs every weekday on ITV3 at 6am and 6.30am, plus 1.40pm and 2.10pm.
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