Graeme Hawley was born on 28th November, 1973 in Coventry. He is an English actor who played DC Crowe in Emmerdale, and two parts in Coronation Street: election candidate Desmond Worthing in May 2001 and the regular part of John Stape from first appearing in May 2007 and played the role until January 2008. He returned later in the year in July and appeared until January 2009. The character was brought back on a premanent basis in April.

Graeme left the series at the conclusion of the character's killer storyline in June 2011. However, he had returned for a week in October, where he left for good when John was killed off.