| Harry Reynolds | |||||||||||||
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| Home and Away character | |||||||||||||
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| Portrayed by | Justin Melvey | ||||||||||||
| Duration | 1999–2001 | ||||||||||||
| First appearance | 13 September 1999 | ||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 26 January 2001 | ||||||||||||
| Classification | Former, regular | ||||||||||||
| Introduced by | John Holmes | ||||||||||||
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Harry Reynolds (alsoKeller) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away , played by Justin Melvey. He made his first on-screen appearance on 13 September 1999 and departed on 26 January 2001.
Prior to joining Home and Away, Melvey's career involved modelling, studying and improving his acting skills. When Melvey decided to "lay some grassroots", the opportunity to play Harry Reynolds in Home and Away came up. [1] Of this Melvey said "I flew back to Sydney and auditioned for the role on a Thursday, found out I had it the following Monday, and then had to go back to LA to do a hair commercial on Tuesday. After that, I basically had to pack up my life, say goodbye to my friends and move back to Australia." [2]
In one storyline Harry's ex-girlfriend Alison (Jenny Apostolou) arrives. Melvey told a writer from TV Week that he and Apostolou had been friends since high school and used to have a crush on one another; so "it was quite funny" working with her on Home and Away. [3]
Harry arrives as the new Science teacher at Summer Bay High, under the name "Harry Keller". His way of teaching is more informal and slightly less disciplined. Harry is accused of stalking Shauna Bradley (Kylie Watson), who has experienced a number of unsettling incidents including having her clothes stolen from the washing line. The culprit is Jillian Williams (Alexandra Davies), Shauna's ex-flatmate who has fixated on her as a kind of role model. Shauna apologises to Harry and invites him to move in with her and James Fraser (Michael Piccirilli). Harry develops feelings for Shauna and admits his real name is actually Harry Reynolds and he is a research scientist. It emerges that Harry discovered illegal activities by his employers while working in America and had alerted the authorities and ended up in Witness Protection until he could testify. Just as Harry is about to fly out to the States, Christian (John Atkinson), a hitman is sent after him and Shauna is hostage. Against the orders of his police escort, Harry goes after Christian and together he and Shauna manage to overpower him. Harry then spends night with Shauna before departing for the trial.
Harry returns to Summer Bay and begins using his real name, partly in order to renew his relationship with Shauna. Alison, Harry's ex-fiancée, arrives in the Bay, aiming to pick up where they left off. Shauna refuses to compete for him so Harry agrees to return to the States with Alison, only to change his mind halfway to the airport. After getting out of their taxi and saying goodbye to Alison, Harry is picked up by Shauna, who had changes her mind and tells him how she feels.
Dating an independent woman like Shauna is a challenge for Harry as he learns when he pays off her credit card bill. They also clash whilst organising a self-defense class together; Harry is annoyed by her constantly knocking him down heavily in a demonstration, Harry reverses the move and overpowers her. The strain is too much and Shauna asks Harry to move out and he persuades Donald Fisher (Norman Coburn) to let him lodge at his place. Harry faces more problems when one of his pupils, Claire Rogers (Jaime Mears), develops a crush on him and claims they are having a relationship. But Sam Marshall (Ryan Clark), who has feelings for Claire, persuades her to reveal the truth. Harry's mother June (Rowena Wallace) arrives to visit him and he is horrified when she goes on at date with Donald. Matters are not helped when a novel based on her life does not paint his late father in the best light but comes to accept June's point of view.
Harry supports Shauna when she finds out Ailsa Stewart (Judy Nunn) is her mother and was one of the first to learn she had been conceived when Ailsa was raped in prison (Harry learned some months before Shauna herself found out). However, their relationship hits a wall when Shauna feels the need to criticise her flatmate Leah Poulos' (Ada Nicodemou) relationship with Vinnie Patterson (Ryan Kwanten). Harry is annoyed with her meddling and ironically, they are the ones who break up. In the wake of his split with Shauna, Harry decides to give up teaching and buy back his motorbike he sold in order to please Shauna. He also purchases a seaplane and sets up his own charter flight business. After falling out with Donald, Harry moves in with Vinnie and Gypsy Nash (Kimberley Cooper) . Many in the Bay, including Gypsy's father Joel (David Woodley), believe that Harry is having an affair with his former pupil. Both of them strenuously deny it until fiction becomes fact.
Gypsy receives a phone call that Harry has been killed in a plane crash, which is later found to be a hoax, as someone is stalking them. Harry helps out a girl named Kirsten (Christa Nichola) whose car had broken down and it results in Joel finding her half-dressed in the front room. Gypsy apparently breaks up with Harry as a result but it is all an act to trap Kirsten, the stalker, who blamed Gypsy for the death of her ex-boyfriend, Charlie Nicholas (Toby Schmitz) in a car crash several months earlier. Harry and Gypsy get things back on track but Gypsy is jealous when she finds that Harry still has a photo of Shauna. Harry and Shauna deny it but Harry later admits that he still loves Shauna, which Leah overhears and tells Gypsy, prompting her to throw him out. Harry continues with his quest to win Shauna back but is annoyed when she begins a new relationship with Jude Lawson (Ben Steel). Sally Fletcher (Kate Ritchie) lectures him about his behaviour, he kisses her purely to prove anyone could be tempted. June returns with the news she is setting up a holiday resort in the Whitsundays and wants him to help her. Harry takes her up on the offer after alienating most of his friends in the bay and after neither Shauna or Gypsy are prepared to accept his apology, he leaves with June in the seaplane.
In 2000, Melvey won the "Most Popular New Male Talent" Logie Award for his portrayal of Harry. [4] The Herald Sun critic Jackie Brygel was a fan of the character, stating "The very handsome Harry – also known to Soapdish as simply 'the hunk' – makes a monumental life decision this week that will shock one and all in Summer Bay. And we're talking at least, oooh, 15 people." [5]
Sally Louise Fletcher is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Kate Ritchie. She made her first screen appearance during the serial's pilot episode, which was broadcast on 17 January 1988. Sally became the longest running original female cast member. She departed on 3 April 2008. Ritchie earned various awards and nominations for her portrayal of Sally. In February 2013, it was announced that Ritchie would be reprising her role. Sally returned during the episode broadcast on 15 July 2013 with her daughter. They departed on 5 September 2013.
Vincent "Vinnie" Patterson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Ryan Kwanten. He made his first on screen appearance on 14 July 1997 and departed on 1 March 2002. The character made a brief return appearance in the episode shown on 19 November 2004 without Kwanten reprising the role, appearing wearing a bear costume and played by an uncredited actor.
Ailsa Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Judy Nunn. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 17 January 1988. Ailsa was married to Alf Stewart and had a son Duncan. When Nunn decided to leave to devote more time with her novels, she was one of only four original cast members. The role of Ailsa was briefly played by theatre star Nancye Hayes whilst Nunn was taking leave due to illness in 2000.
Jude Lawson is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Home and Away played by actor Ben Steel. He first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 30 October 2000 and departed on 12 September 2002.
William Smith is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Zac Drayson. He made his first on-screen appearance on 13 February 1998. Will was a regular on the show from 1998 to 2002. He continued to make frequent guest appearances until 2005. In 2010, it was announced that the character and Drayson would be returning to the show. Will returned to the series as a guest with his daughter on 14 October 2010. On 7 February 2011, Will was finally revealed to have been the murderer of Penn Graham after a long running storyline. He left the series on 8 February 2011.
Gypsy Nash is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Kimberley Cooper. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 18 February 1998. Gypsy and her on-screen family the Nashes were introduced to fill the void of Debra Lawrance's departure as Pippa Ross, to form the main family at the caravan park home, often described as "the centre of Summer Bay". Cooper quit the serial in 2001 and last appeared on 15 February 2002. Cooper has won two awards for her portrayal of Gypsy and is often referred to as a "sex symbol" of the serial. In June 2011, it was announced that Cooper had reprised her role as Gypsy. She returned on 9 September 2011 and departed on 13 October 2011.
Joel Nash is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away played by David E. Woodley. Joel made his first appearance on 18 February 1998 and departed on 11 October 2000.
Natalie Nash is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Antoinette Byron. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 18 February 1998. Natalie was originally played by Angelica La Bozzetta until she quit the serial the same year. Byron was then cast in the role and she began appearing from the 1999 season premiere until her departure in 2000.
Mitchell McColl is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, originally played by Cameron Welsh. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 15 July 1999. Welsh thought that the role of Mitch would be a guest part, but producers soon signed him onto a three-year contract. Welsh was diagnosed with an herniated disc and took a break from filming in 2000. Mitchell McMahon took over the role temporarily when producers decided that Mitch needed to remain part of a "big storyline". Welsh decided to leave Home and Away in November 2000 and Mitch departed on 9 March 2001. Welsh reprised the role in 2005 for the serial's 4000th episode. Mitch has been described as a "bad boy with a heart of gold" and likes to help people out. He is also "emotionally scarred and guarded" due to his upbringing.
Peta Janossi is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, portrayed by Aleetza Wood. She made her first appearance during the episode broadcast on 27 May 1999 and departed on 14 July 2000.
Roxanne "Roxy" Miller is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Lisa Lackey. She made her first screen appearance in the episode broadcast on 13 October 1992 and departed on 9 February 1995.
Colleen Stewart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Lyn Collingwood. The character debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 7 March 1988. She was introduced as a recurring character by producer Alan Bateman. She served as comic relief and busybody from 1988. She returned briefly in 1997 before returning as a regular on 23 September 1999 until January 2013. Colleen has been portrayed as the serial's "local gossip", a role that been well received by certain critics. Many storylines have centered on her over protective nature towards her son Lance Smart. Collingwood revealed that she often pitched storylines for Colleen in the hope they would play out on-screen. Collingwood decided to leave the series in January 2012 and Colleen departed on 23 May 2012. She made a brief return from 27 November 2012 and officially departed on 24 January 2013.
Blake Dean is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera Home and Away, played by Les Hill. Blake debuted on screen during the episode broadcast on 26 July 1990.
Danielle "Dani" Sutherland is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Home and Away, played by Tammin Sursok. The actress successfully auditioned for the role of Dani in 1999 and she called the experience incredible. Sursok considered herself lucky to get the part, as the audition was the first one she had had since acquiring an agent. She made her first screen appearance as Dani during the episode broadcast on 19 June 2000. After four years in the role, Sursok made the decision to leave Home and Away in 2004 to pursue a music career and other acting opportunities and as a result Dani departed the series on 12 November 2004. She later explained that she had also become frustrated with the serial's producers. Sursok was glad that her character was written out of the show without anything bad happening to her.
Shauna Bradley is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera Home and Away, played by Kylie Watson. The actress received an audition for Home And Away in February 1999, but decided not to attend it as she did not think she would be successful. However, her agent persuaded her to go and she won the role of Shauna. As the part was her first acting job, Watson's agent booked her onto some acting classes and she began filming her first scenes in June. Watson made her first appearance as Shauna during the episode broadcast on 16 August 1999, Watson decided to leave Home and Away in 2001 and filmed her final scenes in June 2001, Shauna's final scenes aired on 5 October 2001. Watson returned for a brief stint in early 2002 and made her final appearance on 18 July 2002.