Gerry Webb

Josh Webb

Josh Webb, brought to life by Erik Mitsak, made his first appearance on 7 February 1991 as the primary antagonist in Home and Away. Characterized as a "jailbird" currently out on bail, Josh finds it difficult to abandon his criminal ways. He is known for his quick speech and street-smart demeanor, often manipulating those around him, particularly his mother, Gerry (Julie Godfrey). Mitsak remarked that he was frequently cast in roles portraying "young thugs," which aligned well with Josh’s troubled nature.

Josh is the elder sibling of Rachel Webb (Beth Champion). He forms a friendship with Rachel’s boyfriend Blake Dean (Les Hill) and organizes a party that ends with a police drug raid. Josh’s hostility toward Blake’s relationship with Rachel escalates into physical altercations and leads him to falsely accuse Adam Cameron (Mat Stevenson) of theft. Despite his efforts, Josh is eventually uncovered and imprisoned.

Following his release, Josh pretends to have changed and convinces Blake and Adam to join him on a camping trip, where he intends to murder them. The plan fails, resulting in Josh’s re-arrest. Mitsak left the series off-screen in early 1992, with his character's departure left unresolved.

Cynthia Ross

Cynthia Ross, portrayed by Belinda Giblin, was introduced on 11 February 1991. Her casting and character information were revealed in the 29 December 1990 edition of TV Week. Cynthia arrives as the mother of Haydn Ross (Andrew Hill) and former wife of Michael Ross (Dennis Coard). She comes to Summer Bay aiming to interfere with Michael’s relationship with Pippa Fletcher (Debra Lawrence). After Haydn’s unsuccessful attempt to reconcile his parents, he runs away but is later found, leading Cynthia to take him back to the city for several weeks. Cynthia’s last appearance occurred on 6 March 1991.

Nick Parrish

Nick Parrish, enacted by Bruce Roberts, debuted on 4 March 1991. Roberts was cast just one day after completing drama school. He exited the show in 1994 to relocate to the United Kingdom with his partner, Suzanne Dando. During his tenure, Roberts received significant fan correspondence from the UK, including an unusual letter from a woman named "Kate," who claimed they would marry within the following week.

Sam Marshall

Sam Marshall, played by Ryan Clark, first appeared on 3 April 1991. Clark was seven years old at casting and balanced filming three days per week alongside his schooling, supported by an on-set tutor. He departed the series in 2000 to explore other career paths but returned briefly for the show’s milestone 4000th episode in 2005. Glenn Wheeler of The Morning Show recognized Sam as part of one of Australian television’s most beloved families. The character gained considerable popularity among teenage female audiences, with MSN naming Clark among Australia’s '90s teen heartthrobs.

Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson, portrayed by Naomi Watts, made her debut on 23 April 1991. Her casting was featured in TV Week on 16 March 1991, highlighting her portrayal of a paraplegic character. To prepare for the role, Watts spent weeks using a wheelchair before filming commenced and described the experience as distinctive.

Julie’s narrative focuses on her romantic involvement with Nick Parrish (Bruce Roberts), which her brother Revhead (Gavin Harrison) strongly opposes due to Nick’s role as a police officer. Despite Revhead's attempts to drive them apart, Julie and Nick amicably end their relationship after realizing they are better suited as friends. Watts later reflected on her time in the show as "six miserable weeks."

Paralyzed following a car accident, Julie confronts numerous hardships including her father’s passing and her breakup with Nick. Eventually, she decides to leave Summer Bay to pursue university studies, assuring Revhead that she is capable of managing on her own despite his worries.

Lucinda Croft

Lucinda "Lou" Croft, brought to life by Dee Smart, made her debut on 13 June 1991 and exited the series in 1992. Smart, then a drama student based in Sydney, landed her inaugural acting role through this character. Although she initially committed to a two-year contract, she chose to leave after just eight months. Mary Fletcher from Inside Soap praised Smart for transforming Lucinda into one of the most beloved figures on Home and Away.

David Croft

David Croft, portrayed by Guy Pearce, first appeared on 19 July 1991 and remained until 21 August 1991. He was introduced as Donald Fisher’s nephew and Lucinda Croft’s brother. Pearce began filming in May 1991, with his storyline spanning six weeks. His plotlines centered around reconnecting with his estranged sister Lucinda and engaging in a contentious romance with Sophie Simpson.

David comes to Summer Bay aiming to repair his relationship with Lucinda following a previous financial disagreement. Their uncle Donald acts as a mediator during their reconciliation process. Despite opposition from Sophie’s foster parents, Michael and Pippa Ross—primarily due to David’s age—he and Sophie start dating. After a trial separation suggested by Pippa, David plans a trip of his own; they agree to reunite afterward. Tragically, David is killed instantly in a head-on collision caused by Karen Dean while he listens to a taped message from Sophie.

In the aftermath of David’s death, Sophie learns she is expecting his child and later gives birth to their daughter Tamara before moving to Perth near David’s mother. She has another son in 2003, whom she names after David.

Critics such as Barbara Toner from the Sydney Morning Herald found David’s storyline less compelling compared to others at the time. Nonetheless, Channel 5 (UK) highlighted the episode featuring David’s fatal crash as one of their preferred Home and Away installments.

Ryan Lee

Ryan Lee, enacted by Alistair MacDougall, debuted on 22 August 1991 and made his final appearance on 27 November 1992. After departing the show, MacDougall told Josephine Monroe of Inside Soap that he enjoyed portraying Ryan and would consider returning for a guest appearance if the character were written as an antagonist. An Inside Soap journalist described Ryan as a "wealthy troublemaker".

Finlay Roberts

Finlay Roberts, represented by Tina Thomsen, first appeared on 18 September 1991 and continued until 1994, with guest returns in 1996 and 1997. Thomsen relocated from Brisbane to Sydney during her teenage years to pursue this role. In an interview with Jenna Price of the Sydney Morning Herald, she mentioned that her parents encouraged her ambitions without exerting pressure.

Greg Marshall

Greg Marshall, played by Ross Newton, made his debut on 20 September 1991. Newton left the series in 1993 but briefly returned in 2000. He described joining Home and Away as an excellent opportunity during its early popularity. Glenn Wheeler from The Morning Show recognized Greg as part of one of Australian television's "most cherished families".

Simon Fitzgerald

Simon Fitzgerald, brought to life by Richard Norton, made his first appearance on 25 September 1991 and departed on 24 July 1992. Norton joined the cast of Home and Away following a year-long stint on the competing soap Neighbours. Brendon Williams from the Daily Mirror described Norton’s portrayal of Simon as "a major success."

Irene Roberts

Irene Roberts was introduced on 29 October, originally portrayed by Jacqui Phillips before Lynne McGranger took over the role. McGranger received a nomination for "Funniest Performance" at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards. According to The Sydney Morning Herald, Irene stands as one of the show's three enduring "legacy characters," alongside Alf and Colleen. Holy Soap notably emphasized her unforgettable storyline involving an assault by Ken’s ex-wife, who was also her former lover.

Damian Roberts

Damian Roberts, played by Matt Doran, first appeared on 6 November 1991. Doran was a regular cast member from 1992 through 1995, with additional guest spots until 1996. The character’s younger version was portrayed by Ben Hamilton in flashbacks during 1997. Upon his return, Damian sported dreadlocks, marking a departure from his previous image. This role significantly boosted Doran’s popularity and cultivated a dedicated fan following. Critics observed that Damian rarely engaged in romantic storylines, with some commenting on his character’s recurring misfortune in relationships.

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Notes
15–16 January	Jack Cody	Colin Taylor	Interested in purchasing the Beach House but withdraws after uncovering maintenance problems and financial deception involving Marilyn Chambers.
15–16 January	Helen Cody	Jan Adele	Accompanies Jack Cody during the property evaluation.
16 January	Peter	Scott Kelly	Pippa Fletcher’s friend who declines to buy an old gypsy caravan intended for a children’s home.
21 January	Jake Wood	Frankie Davidson	Neighbor keen on acquiring a caravan but eventually trades it for a goat.
22 January	Postmaster Bagley	Ron Gaist	Delivers HSC results to students including Steven Matheson and Marilyn Chambers.
30 January–7 April 1993	Louise Scott	Elaine Hudson	Foster care official assisting Bobby Simpson with fostering cases such as Sam Nicholls and Tracey Turner.
4 February–28 March	Tony Clark	Rob Hunter	Real estate agent handling the sale of the Stewart store.
6 February–17 April	Rachel Webb	Beth Champion	Dates Blake Dean; relationship suffers due to her brother Josh’s criminal behavior; eventually leaves Summer Bay.
8–27 February	Roy Jackson	Fredric Abbott	Local farmer leasing land to Ben and Carly Lucini.
8–14 February	Betty Jackson	Marie Armstrong	Encourages Carly Lucini to take charge of farm operations after Ben shows interest.
8 March–8 April	Gerry Webb	Julie Godfrey	Mother of Rachel and Josh Webb; disapproves of Rachel’s relationship with Blake Dean; relocates following Josh’s arrest.
19 March–3 May	Mark Smith	Greg Hatton	Member of Summer Bay High swim team with a brief romance involving Karen Dean.
27 March–13 May	Rodney White	Lester Morris	Principal of Yabbie Creek High; engages in rivalry with Donald Fisher including school competitions and social events.
27 March	Val White	May Howlett	Rodney White’s wife; experiences strain during social gatherings due to Rodney’s distractions.
11 April–18 July	Jackie Nicholls	Erica Williams	Sam Nicholls’ mother; faces custody challenges resulting in Bobby Simpson fostering Sam.
18 April	Vet	Michael Beckley	Visits Ben and Carly Lucini’s farm to investigate poultry deaths possibly caused by disease.
22 April	Smart Alec no.1	Adam Garcia	Swim team member who mocks Haydn Ross over diving abilities.
30 April	Celebrant	Carmel Mullin	Officiates Michael Ross and Pippa Fletcher’s wedding at Summer Bay House.
30 April–1 May	Military Police	Leo Taylor & Timothy Sullivan	Arrest Ben Lucini for going AWOL during wedding reception; charges are subsequently dropped.
8–21 May	Alec Gibson	David Baldwyn	Father of Revhead and Julie Gibson; supports daughter’s friendships but dies from a heart attack.
10–24 May	Jean Chambers	Maggie Kirkpatrick	Marilyn Chambers’ aunt; creates tension over fostering arrangements before revealing Marilyn’s biological parents’ whereabouts.
22 May–21 June	Kenny Gibbs	David Field	Janitor who sells an old car to Blake Dean and Haydn Ross.
20 June–3 July	Max Riley & Heather Riley	Bruce Venables & Lynne Porteous	Couple initially mistaken by Marilyn Chambers as her biological parents; briefly bond prior to arrival of her real parents.
5 June–11 July	Margaret Lynch	Gennie Nevinson	Year 11 personal development teacher at Summer Bay High; fixates on Sophie Simpson due to personal loss before leaving town.
5 June	Mrs Clifton & Stanley Clifton	Marianne Krogdahl & Brett Caroll	Family mistakenly identified by Marilyn Chambers as relatives, causing emotional distress when disproved.
7 June–10 July	Tracey Turner	Tania Martin	Foster child whose presence causes conflict with Sophie Simpson; transferred after escalating tensions and injury incident.
2–3 July	George Davidson & Heather Davidson	Doug Scroope & Lynne Rainbow	Marilyn Chambers’ biological parents; traveling performers who place her in care then exploit her generosity.
23 July–14 August	Diane Robertson & Peter Mansell	Hanna McLeod & Troy O'Hearn	Classmates competing for Sally Fletcher's attention; participate in Nippers activities and social rivalries leading to unsuccessful dates.
30 July–21 August	Constable Rogers	Dominic Purcell	Police officer assisting Nick Parrish with law enforcement duties including responding to fatal accidents.
2 August–2 October	Martin Bradley & Lois Crawford	John Bonney & Tina Bursill	Education department head appoints Lois as Summer Bay High Head Teacher, replacing Donald Fisher. Lois' strict approach triggers community backlash culminating in resignation amid false accusations.
11–12 September	Isabelle Britton	Collette Roberts	Police officer who briefly dates Nick Parrish to provoke jealousy despite his lingering feelings for Lou.
3–9 October	Sharyn McKinley & Annette Hodges	Liza Witt & Kylle Hogart	Year 11 students who reject advances from Blake Dean and Simon Fitzgerald, resulting in disciplinary action at home.
6–28 November	Bill Fitzgerald	Terry Bader	Simon Fitzgerald’s father involved in questionable business dealings with Alf and Ailsa Stewart; later imprisoned for fraud but reconnects with Simon after parole.
14 November	Ian Gardiner, Elaine Gardiner & Susie Gardiner	Andrew S. Gilbert, Lisabeth Kennely & Lauren Snell	Family troubled by domestic violence; intervention by Nick Parrish leads to conflict involving Donald Fisher.
19 November–19 June 1992	Dr. Ruth Winston, Anna Phillips	Local physician who diagnoses Sophie Simpson's pregnancy and assists during childbirth.

References

• Kercher, John. The Official Home and Away Annual. Grandreams Ltd, 1993. ISBN 0-86227-954-2

External links

• Cast and characters on the official Australian Home and Away site
• Cast and characters on the official UK Home and Away platform
• Cast and characters on the Internet Movie Database