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Where are the original Neighbours cast now? As Harold Bishop actor Ian Smith, 86, steps down after 37 years due to terminal cancer battle, a look at Ramsay Street's residents Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected] By CONNIE RUSK FOR MAILONLINE and JESSICA GREEN Published: 11:20, 3 December 2024 | Updated: 11:33, 3 December 2024 e-mail 1 View comments Ian Smith announced this week he is stepping down from Neighbours after being diagnosed with terminal cancer . The actor, 86, has become the show's most beloved character as Harold Bishop and joined two years after its first broadcast in 1987.
Ian said he was diagnosed with a 'very aggressive non-fixable' rare form of lung cancer, called Pulmonary Pleomorphic Carcinoma, a few months ago. Producers have said his character Harold will have a 'fitting send off' with his wife Madge (Anne Charleston) returning for his final scenes to honour his remarkable reign. As emotional Neighbours fans prepare for Harold's departure from Ramsay Street , take a look at where the original cast are now - from those who used the soap as a springboard for super stardom to others who turned their back on fame completely.
.. Ian Smith: Harold Bishop The soap opera icon, who has played Harold Bishop on the Australian series since 1987, says his prognosis is dire.
Pictured on the series in his hey day Harold is one of the show's most legendary characters. His relationship with Madge Bishop was a focus of numerous plots while his friendship with Lou, who nicknamed him 'jelly belly', often added comedy to the show. He was infamously killed off in 1991 - or so we thought - as he then made a miraculous return to appear in the show on and off from the nineties until 2015.
Harold returned with former co-star Anne Charleston for the soap's 30th anniversary. He recently returned in 2022 as a series regular and will continue to appear on screen until April, 2026. Earlier this year, the performer said that he didn't initially plan to return to the soap following his departure in 2015 but had become bored with retirement.
'I made the mistake of thinking I had retired,' he told The Radio Times in May. 'I thought I had made enough provisions, but no. I had about four wonderful things to do, but you can't do the same four things for the rest of your life,' he continued.
'And so I was getting a bit bored and while I was out fishing one day, the phone rang – it was Neighbours asking me if I would come back. 'I took all of a tenth of a second then said, "yes please!"' Pictured alongside Neighbours co-star Anne Charleston who played his wife Madge Bishop What is Pulmonary Pleomorphic Carcinoma? It is a rare and aggressive type of lung cancer that accounts for 0.1–0.
4% of all lung cancers. It's often resistant to conventional chemotherapy, and even with surgery and chemotherapy, some patients have a poor prognosis. Advertisement Read More Neighbours star Ian Smith - aka Harold Bishop - reveals tragic health battle Of his diagnosis, Ian said he has treatment, such as chemotherapy and immunotherapy, to prolong his life.
He told Australia's Channel 10: 'I found out a few months back that I have cancer. That I have a very aggressive non-fixable cancer and they expect me to ..
. they expect me to die. 'I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can.
If they can do that, I'm very happy. But I wake up every morning hoping there's no pain because I know that's the beginning of the bad part. 'I’ve had three chemos although the first one wasn’t chemo it was immunotherapy, which is reasonably new, to the medical world.
'I’ve really put my hand up I think just to be a guinea pig, plus the fact I don’t want to die, I want to stay alive with quality as long as I can and if they can do that, I’m very happy.' Neighbours' executive producer Jason Herbison said in a statement on the show's Instagram page. He wrote: 'The way the residents of Ramsay Street feel about Harold is how we all feel about Ian – we couldn’t love him more than we do.
'Despite the challenges he was facing with his health, he wanted to give Harold a proper send-off. 'It was a very emotional moment on set as we paid tribute to him and the incredible contribution he has made to the show.' Russell Crowe: Kenny Larkin Another Neighbour to hit the big time is megastar Russell Crowe, 60, who won an Oscar for his role in Gladiator in 2000.
But he first starred as ex-con Kenny Larkin in four episodes Russell pictured in Gladiator. This year the sequel was released, starring Paul Mescal Another Neighbour to hit the big time is megastar Russell Crowe, 60, who won an Oscar for his role in Gladiator in 2000. He is one of Hollywood's leading male stars but before he was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Ridley Scott, he played ex-con Kenny Larkin in four episodes in the Eighties.
His career shows no sign of slowing down and he's set to star in the action-packed Marvel film Kraven The Hunter, playing Aaron Taylor-Johnson 's ruthless father, Nikolai Kravinoff. Russell is estimated to have a staggering $120million net worth . The actor is also the lead singer for The Gentlemen Barbers, whose members he has been friendly with for 30 years after they worked alongside the A-list actor in his previous bands Thirty Odd Foot of Grunts and The Ordinary Fear of God.
Kylie Minogue : Charlene Robinson Kylie Minogue, 56, is arguably the show's most famous export. The wedding of Scott (Jason Donovan) and Charleen (Kylie Minogue) is one of the best-loved moments from Neighbours The songstress has been enjoying huge career success in recent years with the release of her album Tension and its lead single Padam Padam Kylie Minogue, 56, is arguably the show's most famous export after finding worldwide fame as a singer when she left the soap. She initially won hearts with her on-screen romance with Scott Robinson, played by Jason Donovan.
The Kylie and Jason public obsession reached fever pitch when the couple got together in real life and they had a hit record together, Especially For You. But superstardom beckoned for Kylie as she enjoyed hit after hit on the music charts. The songstress has been enjoying huge career success in recent years with the release of her album Tension and its lead single Padam Padam.
Kylie's most recent known romance was her five-year relationship with magazine chief Paul Solomons which ended in 2023 (pictured in 2020) She has now followed it up with the sequel album Tension II which she will promote on her upcoming Tension Tour next year. Speaking to The Sun in October, Kylie admitted things have been quieter for her on the romance front but she's not losing sleep over it. She said: 'There's no one significant in my life and I feel content.
I feel like this is my destiny right now.' 'To go through this moment, this whole Tension and Tension II journey..
. that kind of is a love affair as well — with the fans, your audience and your work and the music.' Kylie's most recent known romance was her five-year relationship with magazine chief Paul Solomons which ended in 2023.
Jason Donovan: Scott Robinson Like his on-screen wife Kylie, Jason left the soap to pursue a pop career. The actor played Scott Robinson on the programme from 1986 to 1989 Like his on-screen wife Kylie, Jason left the soap to pursue a pop career and while he may not have been quite so lucky, lucky, lucky with his recording career he too topped the charts in the Eighties. Jason played Scott Robinson on the programme from 1986 to 1989, when he left after launching career as a pop singer in 1988.
Scott and Charlene's wedding being watched by two million Australians on July 1, 1987. Their union was an even bigger attraction when it aired in the UK a year later, drawing 19.6 million viewers, making it Britain's third most-watched show of 1988.
Off screen, the couple dated from 1986 to 1989 - famously sharing a night of passion in a Travelodge. He's starred in stage productions such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Priscilla Queen Of The Desert. In 2022, they made a return to Neighbours for its finale episode on Channel 5.
It was later announced it would make a comeback on Amazon Prime The actor hit a rough patch due to alcohol and drug abuse, suffering a cocaine-induced seizure at Kate Moss's 21 birthday party in 1995. But he has since regained an image befitting of his alter Neighbour's ego Scott Robinson with a regular DJ slot on Heart FM. In 2022, they made a return to Neighbours for its finale episode on Channel 5.
It was later announced it would make a comeback on Amazon Prime. Speaking about the finale episode, Jason previously told the Mirror: 'To be part of that show that was so important to so many people, it felt the right thing to do – to pay respect to what it did to our careers. 'It was a great day but it probably meant a lot more to the viewers than it does to us because so much time has passed.
Kylie and myself were in it four or five years but Neighbours went for 36. A lot of other people were involved. 'We all have a lot of love and respect for each other and are very grateful for what we had.
But a lot of stuff has happened in my life that is more important than just Neighbours.' Anne Charleston: Madge Bishop Anne Charleston is another Neighbours legend who played Madge Bishop from 1985 to 1992 (pictured right with onscreen husband Ian) Anne Charleston is another Neighbours legend who played Madge Bishop from 1985 to 1992. Now 91, she has appeared in various other shows and stage productions since leaving the soap but thanks to her long-enduring appeal, she'll always be now known as Madge.
Though leaving in 1992 to re-locate to Ireland, she later accepted the offer to return to Neighbours reprising her role from 1996. Her character Madge died in 2001 of pancreatic cancer. But show producers have revealed Madge will make an appearance in Harold's final scenes, which are set to air in 2026.
Natalie Imbruglia : Beth Brennan Natalie Imbruglia, 49, left her role as Beth Brennan and kissed goodbye to her onscreen surfer husband Brad Willisto launch a singing career in 1997 More recently, she was crowned the winner of The Masked Singer 2022 after being revealed as Panda Natalie Imbruglia, 49, left her role as Beth Brennan after joining the soap in the early nineties and kissed goodbye to her onscreen surfer husband Brad Willis to launch a singing career in 1997. The album Left In The Middle sold seven million copies and her single Torn became an instant hit. Other albums followed although they weren't as commercially successful as her first.
In 2015, she made a comeback with the album Male, featuring cover versions of songs made famous my male lead singers, which reached number 20 in the UK album charts. She made her first film debut in the 2003 film Johnny English alongside Rowan Atkinson. The singer has since appeared in films Closed for Winter, Underdogs and Among Ravens as well as continuing her music career.
She appeared on The X Factor Australia as a judge in 2010 but didn't return for the third season and in 2014 signed with Sony Masterworks for her first album in six years. The London-based star divorced her Australian husband of five years, Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns in 2008 saying the distance between them was too much. In 2919, Natalie announced she had given birth to baby boy, whom she conceived through IVF and a sperm donor.
More recently, she was crowned the winner of The Masked Singer 2022 after being revealed as Panda. Guy Pearce: Mike Young British-born Guy Pearce, another original cast member, had a four-year stint as Mike in Neighbours before hitting the big time British-born Guy Pearce, another original cast member, had a four-year stint as Mike in Neighbours before hitting the big time. The actor, 57, has appeared in hit films including L.
A. Confidential, Memento and The Hurt Locker and has been nominated for Golden Globe Awards. In 2015, he split from his wife, psychologist Kate Mestitz - his childhood sweetheart who he married in 1997.
He later welcomed a son, called Monte, in 2016 with his partner Dutch actress Carice van Houten, who starred in Game Of Thrones. On Monday, the actor ignited marriage speculation he stepped out wearing a wedding band at the 34th Annual Gotham Film Awards. Guy, who currently lives in Amsterdam, revealed in an interview with The Independent last year that parenthood has changed his entire outlook on life and made him more emotional.
'After Monte was born, someone said to me, "You realise you’re now living with your heart on the outside?" And it really is true, isn’t it?' he told the publication. 'When I started acting, I knew if I needed to cry that it could come out easily. Then after 15 years of therapy, I became a far calmer and more satisfied human being, but trying to cry in a scene became impossible.
'Since having my boy though, I cry at the drop of a hat again...
' Jesse Spencer: Billy Kennedy Jesse Spencer, 45, became a teenage heartthrob when he played Billy Kennedy in the soap from 1994 to 2000, left the show with high hopes to crack Hollywood Jesse Spencer, 45, beca me a teenage heartthrob when he played Billy Kennedy in the soap from 1994 to 2000, left the show with high hopes to crack Hollywood. He went on to star in hit US series House alongside Hugh Laurie and played a leading role in Chicago Fire as well as taking on film parts. The star is also a keen musician and played the violin in the charity cover group Band From TV, with his former co-star Hugh Laurie.
He became a US citizen in 2021 and married neuroscientist Dr. Kali Woodruff Carr in 2020, one year after their engagement. They welcomed their first child in 2022.
Craig McLachlan: Henry Ramsay Another original cast member, Craig McLachlan, 59, who played Mike's curly-haired buddy Henry Ramsay from 1987-89, had a brief singing career Another original cast member, Craig McLachlan, 59, who played Mike's curly-haired buddy Henry Ramsay from 1987-89, had a brief singing career. He had a Number Two hit, Mona, and appeared in Grease on the West End stage. But he went back to his first love of soap by playing school teacher Grant Mitchell on rival Oz show Home & Away and also stayed on TV screens down under in The Dr Blake Mysteries.
Tom Oliver: Lou Carpenter Lou Carpenter, played by Tom Oliver, 86, first joined the cast as Madge's ex in 1988. In early 1992 the rogue car salesman was reintroduced to the series and was a key character until 2016 Lou Carpenter, played by Tom Oliver, 86, first joined the cast as Madge's ex in 1988. In early 1992 the rogue car salesman was reintroduced to the series and was a key character until 2016.
Tom was written out of the show in 1996 but producers relented after numerous petitions from fans and he was quickly reintroduced. By 2009, he was the show's longest serving character, both in continuous and overall duration. From the 2009 season, Oliver reduced his role on Neighbours to a part-time regular member of the cast.
In October 2016 it was announced the actor had left the role after 24 years and his last appearance aired in December 2016. He did not feature in the series finale and appears to have scaled back work since his departure. Alan Dale: Jim Robinson Alan Dale played Jim Robinson (pictured right) from when the first show aired till his departure in 1993 when his character famously suffered from a heart attack Alan Dale played Jim Robinson from when the first show aired till his departure in 1993 when his character famously suffered from a heart attack.
He appeared in 869 episodes and was the head of one of the show's most popular families. It took a few years for him to put Jim behind him and resurrect his acting career but in 2000 he found success in the US hit shows The OC and then Ugly Betty. The 77-year-old also appeared in 24 and Lost and worked on Dominion and NCIS, as well as The West Wing, Entourage and Once Upon a Time.
His film roles include Detective Isaksson in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and Councilman Rockwell in Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Alan has been married to former Miss Australia Tracey Dale since 1990. Original cast members who turned their back on fame.
.. Vivean Gray: Mrs Mangel Vivean Gray was another Neighbours legend as gossipy old woman of Ramsay Street, Mrs Mangel.
Sadly, she died in Australia in July 2016 at the age of 92 Vivean Gray was another Neighbours legend as gossipy old woman of Ramsay Street, Mrs Mangel. She could always be trusted to ruin the young people's fun and lay down the moral high ground. Before Neighbours, she had a long-running role in Australian soap The Sullivans but became much more famous thanks to her time in Erinsborough.
But the actress didn't seem comfortable with the worldwide fame and devoted fans Neighbours brought and left in 1988 when she retired from acting. Sadly, she died in Australia in July 2016 at the age of 92. Annie Jones: Plain Jane Annie Jones played 'Plain Jane Superbrain' from 1986- 1989 and shed her nerdy image by ditching her glasses Despite her popularity, Annie never became as successful as her co-stars like Guy Pearce, pictured with her as Mike in 1986 But in 2020, it was announced Annie had reprised the role as a permanent cast member and she remained in the role until the show's then final episode on 28 July 2022 (pictured with Guy) Annie Jones, now 57, played 'Plain Jane Superbrain' from 1986 to 1989 and was love interest to Guy Pearce's Mike.
She famously transformed from a nerd to a beauty by losing her glasses and letting her hair down and won the Logie Award for Most Popular Actress in 1989. Despite her popularity then, Annie never went on to be as famous as her co-stars. She had a few small roles including in The Flying Doctors after leaving Neighbours but work took a back seat so she could care for her ill mother.
But in 2020, it was announced Annie had reprised the role as a permanent cast member and she remained in the role until the show's then final episode on 28 July 2022. The series was later picked up by streaming service and Annie was confirmed to be reprising her role in February 2023. Paul Keane and Elaine Smith: Des and Daphne Des and Daphne, played by Paul Keane and Elaine Smith, were Neighbours original happiest couple.
Daphne lent her name to the popular cafe for a time that was a regular haunt of the characters while Des was her lovable husband and they had a child together on the show. Des and Daphne played by Paul Keane and Elaine Smith, were Neighbours original happiest couple - until she was killed off in a car crash in 1987. Neither went on to pursue acting careers But as this is soapland, their happy marriage was not to last as Daphne was killed off in a car crash in 1987 - the show's first big tear-jerking departure.
Elaine went on to have small roles on other shows before stepping back from her career to be a mother. Paul stayed on the soap for a few years and left in 1990. He quit acting altogether and instead took a job in a pub.
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