Here is a list of all Emmerdale characters who first appeared in 1972.
| Character | Actor(s) | Duration | Status |
| Annie Brearly | Sheila Mercier | 1972-1994, 1995, 1996, 2009 | Living in Spain |
| Jack Sugden | Andrew Burt Clive Hornby |
1972-1973, 1976 1980-2008 |
Died of a heart attack in 2009 |
| Amos Brearly | Ronald Magill | 1972-1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995 | Retired to Spain with new wife Annie Sugden in 1995, following the funeral of Annie's son Joe.(It can be presumed by viewers that Amos has died in Spain as it has been implied in recent years that Annie now lives alone and nothing has been mentioned of Amos (and therefore his death has not however been confirmed, but the actor, Ronald Magill, died in 2007 and it remains to be seen if and when the producers will acknowledge Amos' fate; It has been speculated that they may do so for the 40th anniversary of the show in 2012, for which Annie may make another guest return). |
| Joe Sugden | Frazer Hines | 1972-1983, 1984, 1986-1994 | Killed in a car crash in 1995 |
| Henry Wilks | Arthur Pentelow | 1972-1991 | Died of a heart attack in 1991 |
| Matt Skilbeck | Frederick Pyne | 1972-1989 | Running a farm in Norfolk |
| Sandie Merrick | Jenny Mayors-Clark Jane Hutcheson |
1972 1980-1989 |
Unknown, presumably in Scotland |
| Jackie Merrick | Unknown Ian Sharrock |
1972 1980-1989 |
Killed in a shooting accident in 1989 |
| Marian Rosetti | Gail Harrison Debbi Blythe |
1972-1973, 1974, 1975 1987-1988 |
Unknown, arrested after husband's death in 1991 |
| Tom Merrick | Dave Hill Edward Peel Jack Carr |
1972 1980-1982 1985-1986, 1988 |
Unknown, presumably in Scotland |
| Janie Harker | Diane Grayson Lesley Duff |
1972-1974, 1986 | Unknown |
| Pat Sugden | Lynn Dalby Helen Weir |
1972 1980-1986 |
Killed in a car accident in 1986 |
| Sam Pearson | Toke Townley | 1972-1984 | Died in his sleep in 1984 |
| Frank Blakey | Eric Allan | 1972-1974 | Unknown |
| Peggy Skilbeck | Jo Kendall | 1972-1973 | Died of a subarachnoid haemorrhage in 1973 |
| Harry Jameson | John Glyn-Jones | 1972-1973 | Unknown |
| Bart Ansett | Trevor Ray | 1972-1973 | Unknown |
| PC Ball | Christopher Wray | 1972-1973 | Unknown |