Stefan Dennis | |
---|---|
Born | Tawonga, Victoria, Australia | 30 October 1958
Occupation(s) | Television actor, musician |
Years active | 1974–present |
Spouse(s) | Roz Roy (m. 1979;div. 1989)Gail Easdale (m. 2000) |
Children | 3 |
Website | Official website |
Stefan Dennis (born 30 October 1958) is an Australian actor and singer best known for playing the role of cold-hearted and ruthless businessman Paul Robinson in the soap opera Neighbours from its first episode on 18 March 1985. He departed Neighbours in 1992 before returning for a short stint in 1993. He then returned in late 2004 and played the character up until the show's temporary final episode which aired on 28 July 2022 before returning to the role in 2023. During his time away from Neighbours he was a cast member of Scottish soap opera River City produced and set in Glasgow, Scotland. He is also known for his 1989 single "Don't It Make You Feel Good", which reached Number 16 in the Irish and UK Singles Chart. [1]
Dennis was born in Tawonga, Victoria but moved with his family to the Gold Coast when he was an infant and grew up in the coastal city where he attended Southport State High School throughout his upbringing. [2] While on the Gold Coast, he developed a passion for the performing arts and made his acting debut at 11 years old in a local amateur theatre production of Oliver!. He would also regularly perform in a vocal group with his brother at local weddings and charity events throughout the Gold Coast. [3] At 16 years of age, Dennis left school and began a chef's apprenticeship that would last five years. [4] Upon completion of his culinary training he moved from the Gold Coast to Melbourne in hopes of pursuing a career in the entertainment industry. [5]
Dennis started out in guest roles on programmes such as Cop Shop , Skyways , Carson's Law , Young Ramsay , Prisoner , Home , The Henderson Kids , The Sullivans , The Young Doctors and Sons and Daughters and many others. [6] Dennis has a number of credits to his name. He had a major role in The Henderson Kids , a co-lead in an ABC children's show called Infinity Limited , and he co-starred in The Flying Doctors mini-series as Young Doug. [7] In 1984, he auditioned for the roles of Shane Ramsay and Des Clarke in a new soap opera, Neighbours where he was later cast as Paul Robinson instead. [8] [9] His role in Neighbours brought opportunities such as appearing at the Royal Variety Performance alongside fellow cast members.
After finishing Neighbours in 1992, Dennis moved to the UK and worked on a variety of TV shows and theatre productions. He appeared in many pantomimes, plays, and musicals including the pantomime Cinderella in Bournemouth , UK from 10 December 1992 to 17 January 1993. In 1994, he played Mickey in Blood Brothers , touring in New Zealand and Australia before returning to the UK to appear in the show in both the West End, and in a national tour of the UK. He appeared in many television shows, including Dream Team , River City , The Bill , [10] and Casualty . He also returned to Australia from time to time for guest roles in shows such as Blue Heelers , Good Guys Bad Guys and Stingers . Dennis has worked as a voiceover artist for many years both in Australia and the UK.[ citation needed ]
He was part of the team that set a new world record in 1995 for 24-hour endurance outdoor karting. The team – Stefan Dennis, David Brabham, Russ Malkin, Steve Malkin – set the record of 1,664.7 km (1,034.397 mi) on a 1.3 km (0.808 mi) track at Brooklands, Weybridge, Surrey, UK on 24 and 25 February 1995.[ citation needed ] While in the UK, Dennis became a partner in Lex Film Entertainment, and was associate producer on the film The Truth About Love .
He returned to Neighbours at the end of 2004, and continued as a regular character until the show's final episode in 2022. He is the only current cast member who appeared in the first episode, although he is not the longest serving due to his long break. Of his role in Neighbours, Dennis has said that people struggle to tell the difference between himself and the character and "shy away" from him because "they think I'm going to bark at them". He has conceded that it could be a testament to his acting and says "It's a real compliment though, as people know the character that well, they actually think I am like him in real life". [11] As a matter of fact, although he portrays Paul Robinson as having a prosthetic leg, he has two good legs of his own. [12]
In 2009, Dennis was stalked by two fans while presenting the Best Villain award at the British Soap Awards. [13] He hosted a documentary special celebrating Neighbours' 30th anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite , which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015. [14] [15] In 2018, Dennis appeared in the recurring role of Michael Armstrong QC in the sixth series of Wentworth . [16] Dennis appears in the 2023 New Zealand thriller film Home Kills. [17]
In 1989, Dennis started a side-line music career, and released the single "Don't It Make You Feel Good", which reached No. 16 in the UK Singles Chart, [18] in May of that year. He released a second single, "This Love Affair", which reached No. 67 in the UK in October 1989. [1] Dennis is a talented pipe organist.(cite Australian Organist Association 1990 march)
In 2013, Dennis sang and appeared as Santa Claus in the music video for his Neighbours co-star Alan Fletcher's song "If You Want a Happy Christmas". [19]
Dennis' older brother, John, was killed by a drunk driver at the age of 12. Of the sentencing, Dennis has said: "That driver was fined just $50 for what he did. And that same weekend someone who killed a koala at Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary got fined $200. So... well, that's hard". [20] Dennis has used the incident to raise awareness about drink driving via his Twitter account.[ citation needed ]
Dennis was married to model and The Price Is Right hostess Roz Roy. [7] They met when they were teenagers on the Gold Coast, where Dennis was undertaking an apprenticeship as a chef. After marrying, they moved to Melbourne so Dennis could pursue acting work. [7]
Dennis previously dated Natalie Imbruglia and Gayle Blakeney in the 1990s while they were co-starring on Neighbours with him. [21] He married Gail Easdale in 2000. They met while they were performing in a pantomime in London. They have three children. [20]
Date | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Cop Shop | Giovanni Morelli | Episode 75 |
1979 | Skyways | Richard | Episode: "Deborah Loves Jim" |
1979–1980 | Prisoner | Shayne Berkley / Spike | Guest roles |
1979–1981 | Cop Shop | Steve / Booking Clerk / Francis Allen Turner / Vincent Cahill | Guest roles |
1980 | Young Ramsay | Sid Atkinson | Episode: "Gift Horse" |
1981 | The Sullivans | Soldier | Guest role |
1981 | Prisoner | Peter Richards | Recurring role |
1983 | Home | Paul | Episodes 29 & 30 |
1983 | Infinity Limited | Rick | Main cast |
1985 | Five Mile Creek | Boy No. 2 | Episode: "The Best of Mates" |
1985 | The Flying Doctors | Doug Hennassy | Miniseries |
1985 | The Henderson Kids | Terry | Episodes: "Broken Lights and Broken Dreams: Part 1 and 2" |
1985–1993, 2004– | Neighbours | Paul Robinson | Series regular |
1996 | The Office | Nigel | Television film |
1997 | World Fun | Stefan C Dyson | |
1997 | Blue Heelers | Colin Docker | Episode: "Poetic Justice" |
1998 | Good Guys, Bad Guys | Andy Caesar | Episode: "Don't Cry for Me Arch 'n' Tina" |
1999 | Stingers | Snr. Com. Karl Hiller | Episode: "Nothing Personal" |
2001–2002 | Dream Team | Samuel Irving | |
2002–2003 | River City | Dr. Marcus McKenzie | |
2002 | Casualty | Mark Christie | Episode: "Innocence" |
2003 | The Bill | Gene Bishop | Episode: "Laid to Rest" |
2014 | Neighbours vs Zombies | Paul Robinson | Webseries |
2015 | Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite | Himself | Documentary |
2015 | Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell | Bob Hawke | Episode: #5.2 |
2015 | Footballer Wants a Wife | The Voice | Miniseries |
2016 | Neighbours: Summer Stories | Paul Robinson | Webseries |
2017 | Neighbours vs Time Travel | Paul Robinson | Webseries |
2017 | Neighbours: Mrs Robinson | Paul Robinson | Webseries |
2018 | Wentworth | Michael Armstrong | Recurring role |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1984 | Channel Chaos | Cameraman | Feature film |
2004 | The Truth About Love | Douglie | Feature film; also associate producer |
2021 | Apparitions | Tom | |
2023 | Home Kills | Woods |
Year | Title | Role | Location / Co. |
---|---|---|---|
1978 | Yertabulti | Victorian regional tour with Arena Theatre Company | |
1990 | Babes in the Wood | Liverpool Empire Theatre, UK with B.C.C. Productions | |
1990–91 | Robin Hood | Lead | Liverpool Empire Theatre, UK with B.C.C. Productions |
1991–92 | Aladdin | Abanazar | Mayflower Theatre, Southampton, UK with E&B Productions |
1992–93 | Cinderella | Buttons | Bournemouth Pavilion, UK with E&B Productions |
1993 | Whose Life is It Anyway? | Lead | Theatre Royal, Bath & UK tour with E&B Productions |
1993–94 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Jack Trot | Wimbledon Theatre, UK with E&B Productions |
1994 | Blood Brothers | Mickey | Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney |
1994 | Blood Brothers | Mickey | New Zealand tour (also director) |
1994–95 | Peter Pan | Peter Pan | Grand Theatre, Blackpool, UK |
1995 | Blood Brothers | Mickey | West End & UK tour |
1995 | Point of Death | Simon Cable | UK tour with E&B Productions |
1997 | Murder by Misadventure | Paul Riggs | Connaught Theatre, Sussex, & UK tour |
1998–99 | Aladdin | Abanazar | The Playhouse, Weston-super-Mare, UK |
2000 | Fool for Love | Eddie | Dynamic Earth, Edinburgh, Scotland |
2007 | Aladdin | Abanazar | His Majesty's Theatre, Aberdeen, Scotland |
2009–10 | Cinderella | Dandini | Wolverhampton Grand Theatre, UK |
2015 | Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune | Marlon (voiceover) | Fortyfivedownstairs, Melbourne |
2022–23 | La Cage Aux Folles | Edouard Dindon | The Concourse, Sydney |
2023 | Neighbours: The Celebration Tour | UK tour |
Alan Fletcher is an Australian actor of stage, television and film. He is also a singer and musician. He is perhaps best known for his television soap opera role in Neighbours as Dr. Karl Kennedy. He has also played Frank Rossi in Cop Shop and Michael Clayton in Embassy. In 2007, he was a contestant on the UK reality show Soapstar Superstar.
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Lucy Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Melissa Bell. The character has previously been portrayed by Kylie Flinker and Sasha Close. She was created by producer Reg Watson as one of the serial's original characters. Lucy was a prominent figure during the early 1990s of Neighbours, with Bell playing her on and off for five years. Portrayed originally as being clever, a recast was implemented to fit the character's transformation and she became the stereotype of a ditzy blonde female. She has been involved in storylines including battling a brain tumour, coping with blindness, incest, modelling and addictions to drugs, alcohol and spending. She has also been positively and negatively received by critics for her "busty blonde" image while played by Bell. After making a brief return on 6 May 2013, Lucy made subsequent return visits until 2016. She was reintroduced as part of the serial's 35th anniversary in 2020, before returning briefly in late 2021 as part of the reintroduction of her half-brother, Glen Donnelly, and twice in 2022, appearing in the show's finale episode. Bell returned on 18 September 2023 following the show's renewal, but departed again on 21 September 2023. Bell returned again on 13 February 2024 for three episode centered around David Tanaka's death and left again on 15 February 2024.
The Robinson family are a fictional family from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours. The family were created by Reg Watson and introduced in the first episode of the serial, broadcast on 18 March 1985. The family initially consisted of Jim Robinson, his mother-in-law Helen Daniels, and his four children Paul Robinson, Julie Martin, Scott Robinson, and Lucy Robinson. The Robinsons have one of the largest and most complex family trees in the show's history.
Jim Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Dale. Jim was created by Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' twelve original characters. He made his on-screen debut in the soap's first episode, which was broadcast on 18 March 1985. Jim was the patriarch of the Robinson family. Dale departed the show in 1993 after falling out with the producers over pay and his character was killed off on 29 April 1993. Dale filmed some scenes for the serial in September 2018, which aired on 25 December 2018 and 25 March 2019.
Paul Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul was created by producer Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' original characters. He debuted in the first episode of the show broadcast on 18 March 1985 and is one of two remaining original cast members, alongside his sister Lucy. Paul appeared on a regular basis until 1992 when Dennis quit Neighbours to pursue work elsewhere. He reprised the role for a guest appearance in 1993. Dennis returned to the show full-time in 2004 and has since remained in the role. Dennis viewed his decision to leave Neighbours as a mistake.
Isabelle "Izzy" Hoyland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Bassingthwaighte. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 1 September 2003. Izzy was introduced as Max Hoyland's younger sister. The character departed in 2006, following Bassingthwaighte's decision to focus on her music career. However, in March 2007, Bassingthwaighte made a brief return to film a few episodes set in London. The character was well received by critics and viewers and Bassingthwaighte earned three Logie Award nominations for her role. In October 2017, Bassingthwaighte reprised the role for a guest appearance and she returned on 12 February 2018 until 20 March 2018. She reprised the role again on 21 July 2022 for the serial's then final episodes.
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera that has aired since 18 March 1985. It was created by television executive Reg Watson. The Seven Network commissioned the show following the success of Watson's earlier soap Sons and Daughters. Although successful in Melbourne, Neighbours underperformed in the Sydney market and was cancelled by Seven four months after it began airing. It was immediately commissioned by rival Network Ten for a second production season, which began screening on 20 January 1986. Neighbours became the longest-running drama series in Australian television history. In 2005, it was inducted into the Logie Hall of Fame.
Hilary Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Scott-Pendlebury. The character first appeared on-screen during the episode broadcast on 25 June 1987. Hilary departed the show on 28 February 1990, following Scott-Pendlebury's decision to quit in 1989. Scott-Pendlebury reprised her role in 2005 for the serial's 20th anniversary episode, and again in February 2015 ahead of the 30th anniversary. Writers established that Hilary is back living in Erinsborough, so she could continue to make sporadic appearances until 2018, and returned again in 2023.
Scott McGregor is an Australian model, television presenter and actor. McGregor worked as a model on the game show Temptation. He has also appeared in television commercials and print advertisements. From 2008, McGregor hosted the motoring show Blood, Sweat and Gears. As an actor, he has appeared in Underbelly, Winners & Losers and Offspring. McGregor joined the cast of Neighbours as Detective Mark Brennan in 2010. He departed the show the following year to pursue other career opportunities, before returning in 2013 for a guest stint. He returned in 2014 in a regular capacity, until his departure in 2019. He reprised the role once more the following year.
Tim Phillipps is an Australian actor perhaps best known for his roles in the soap opera Neighbours, drama series Bed of Roses and the movie Animal Kingdom. He has also appeared in the American television series Once Upon a Time and The Secret Circle. He provided the voice and motion capture for Dante in the video game DmC: Devil May Cry.
Neighbours is a long-running Australian television soap opera created by television executive Reg Watson. It was first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985 and currently airs on digital channel 10 Peach. Since its inception, several spin-offs have been produced, including books, music, DVDs and internet webisodes. Several annuals and books by pulp fiction writer Carl Ruhen were released in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Barry Crocker's version of the theme tune was the first music release from the show, which also has included a Christmas album and the show's love theme. Two potential television spin-offs have reached the pilot stage, while five DVD box sets of Neighbours episodes from the beginning have been released. In 2013, Neighbours launched their first webisode series Steph in Prison. Several other webisode series have since been released. Other merchandise includes official video and board games, stationery and clothing.
Daniel Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Tim Phillipps. Daniel was created in 1992 as the son of iconic Neighbours couple Scott and Charlene. He was occasionally referred to in the episodes since then, but never seen on-screen. At the end of 2013, it was announced that Daniel would be introduced as a new family member for Paul Robinson. Auditions were held for the role, with producers stating that the actor would need to resemble his on-screen parents. During the casting process, Phillipps was approached for the role and, following a chemistry read with Dennis, was given the part. He had previously appeared in Neighbours in 2007. Phillipps relocated to Melbourne for filming and was initially contracted for 12 months. He made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 29 April 2014. Two years later, Daniel was written out of Neighbours, and he made his departure on 26 April 2016. Phillips made an unannounced return in the first episode of the 2023 Neighbours reprisal.
The Neighbours 30th Anniversary was a series of celebrations to mark the 30th anniversary of Australian television soap opera Neighbours. The celebrations span over two weeks, beginning on 4 March 2015 in Australia, while starting on 18 March in the United Kingdom. The anniversary features many storylines, but points around Paul Robinson's Erinsborough festival and the wedding of Daniel Robinson and Amber Turner. The serial's executive producer, Jason Herbison, began planning the 30th anniversary over a year in advance. Over ten former cast members from all eras of the show were invited back to "honour the past and present". Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan were also invited, but they both downturned the offer. The celebrations marked Ian Smith and Anne Charleston's returns to Neighbours as Harold and Madge Bishop respectively. Madge was last seen during her death in 2001 and returns as a ghost in Harold's mind, which Herbison was initially worried would not be accepted by Charleston nor Smith, however both approved of it. The storyline was also popular amongst viewers.