Neighbours’ original cast now — working in pub, falling to death and co-star romance

Fans nationwide are gearing up for the return of iconic Aussie soap Neighbours — and we can’t wait.

The much-loved programme, which has been on telly screens since 1985, was initially cancelled by Channel 5 last year.

However, much to the delight of its viewers, new video-streaming service Amazon Freevee was confirmed to be bringing the Aussie soap back.

READ MORE: Neighbours return date confirmed as iconic soap set for major Amazon comeback next month

The show will pick up two years after viewers last saw the residents of the infamous Ramsay Street and Erinsborough.

And it’s fair to day plenty of characters have come and gone (including pop superstar Kylie Minogue and Barbie herself Margot Robbie) over the years.

But many of the show’s loyal legion of viewers will still remember the OG stars – from when the show first premiered in 1985.

But while characters have come and gone over the years, many viewers still remember the very original ones, from when the show first launched Down Under in the mid-1980s.

So with the soap making its TV comeback, Daily Star is taking a look at the lesser-known cast members that appeared on Neighbours back in the day.

Max Ramsay played by Francis Bell

Francis played patriarch Max for one year and appeared in 190 episodes – before bosses reportedly refused to renew his contact.

Max was the father of sons Shane and Danny, and the husband of Maria – with the family living on the famous street, Ramsay Street, that was named the character’s grandfather.

However, in 1994, he died aged 50 after falling from a block of flats in Auckland, New Zealand.

Prior to his tragic death, Francis’ agent Graham Dunster revealed that he had been hospitalised with depression.

Danny Ramsay, played by David Clencie

Danny was the first character ever, to speak in Neighbours when he made his debut on the soap’s first episode.

Played by David Clencie, Danny was the youngest son of Maria and brother to Shane – but a year since his first appearance, David left the programme.

After his neighbours stint came to an end, David began a career in real estate – and even helped flog former co-star Stefan Dennis’ pad.

However his personal life hasn’t been shy of controversy, as in 2014 he was arrested for assaulting his partner twice in one day – while under the influence of alcohol.

Danny, who has battled an addiction to alcohol, pleaded guilty and served three months.

Maria Ramsay, played by Dasha Bláhová

Czech-born Australian actress Dasha played mama Maria for just six months on Neighbours – before leaving the soap.

On the show, her character fell in love with Richard Morrison (Peter Flett) after her marriage broke down.

They then moved to Hong Kong, but the following year, she and Max got back together and were never seen again.

Dasha returned to her birth country in 1998 and again started appearing natively in film roles.

Shane Ramsay played by Peter O’Brien

Shane is the elder son of Max and Maria – with actor Peter O’Brien playing the character for just two years.

During his time on the show, he had a number of dramatic storylines, including facing a manslaughter charge and multiple car crashes.

Despite his short stint, Pete bagged a Logie Awards for his role on the show – one in 1987 for Most Popular Actor.

Peter went on to star in several shows across the pond in both the UK and US, like Queer As Folk and even teen drama Gossip Girl.

In 2022 though, following the news that Neighbours was being axed, Peter reprised his role of Shane.

Before then, the character hadn’t been seen since 1987, when he left to travel around Australia.

Julie Robinson, played by Vikki Blanche

Vikki Blanche was the first ever actress to play Julie Robinson on the soap – but after seven months, Julie Mullins took over the role.

10 years later the character, still played by Julie, was killed off in a tragic murder mystery weekend.

Following her stint on Neighbours, Blanche starred in The Flying Doctors, Col’n Carpenter and Phoenix in the 1990s.

Paul Robinson, played by Stefan Dennis

Stefan Dennis is the only OG cast member still on the show throughout its whole period on screen.

He made his debut back in 1985 playing Paul Robinson before taking a break from the show in 1992.

Taking a leaf out of fellow Neighbours star Kylie Minogue he also embarked on a short-lived music career – bagging a 20 UK top 20 single with Don’t It Make You Feel Good – that reached number 16 in the charts.

Stefan returned to Neighbours in 2004 though and has been on telly screens ever since, and has also been involved in some of the biggest storylines.

Plots including money laundering, a leg amputation and being held hostage have gripped viewers and cemented Stefan as one of the soap’s biggest stars.

Away from the show, and Stefan was previously linked to fellow Aussie star Natalie Imbruglia while they were both on Neighbours in the 1990s.

He eventually married wife Gail, who has made various appearances on the show, and the couple have two sons, Cameron and Declan, as well as a daughter Darci.

Jim Robinson played by Alan Dale

Alan Dale played the role of Jim Robinson for a whopping 860 episodes in the soap.

In 1993 though, Jim died on-screen from a heart attack – leaving fans devastated – but apparently Alan left the show over the pay he and the rest of the cast were getting.

Despite struggling to find acting jobs after leaving Neighbours, Alan headed across the pond and found mega success in America.

He’s featured in some of the biggest shows in the past 20 years, including Ugly Betty, Lost and 24, as well as blockbuster flicks like Star Trek: Nemesis, Captain America: The Winer Solider, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Star Trek: Nemesis.

He’s famous for always dying in his roles and in 2018, and after 25 years since his last appearance, Alan returned to Neighbours in the apt form of a ghost.

Scott Robinson, played by Darius Perkins

Scott is the youngest son of Jim and Anne, and is the brother of Paul and Julie.

Darius was the first to play the role of Scott in 1985 – but when Neighbours moved to Network Ten the role was recast.

Jason Donovan then landed the role – with a future episode featuring Scott and Charlene’s wedding bagging the highest-ever ratings for Neighbours.

After leaving Neighbours, Darius appeared on Aussie rival soap Home and Away playing Gary Samuels.

He also turned his hand to working behind the scenes for TV series Crashburn where he had a role in the art department.

In 2014, he returned to Neighbours in a small capacity, playing Marty Kranic for just under a year.

However, sadly, after a battle with cancer, Darius passed away in 2019 aged 54.

Des Clarke played by Paul Keane

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Bank manager Des, played by actor Paul Keane, appeared on telly screens for five years – before the character was written out.

Struggling with his sudden fame from the Aussie soap; Paul developed a drug issue which he battled for 10 years.

He also went on to quit acting completely shortly after his Neighbours stint, and it was also reported that Paul ended up working at a pub.

In 2022 though, Paul reprised the role of Des again for the final episode of the show in July.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk