Larry "Woody" Woodhouse

Larry Woodhouse
Known for	Character in Neighbours

Brendan Bell

Brendan Bell, brought to life by Blair Venn, made his debut on 19 January 2000. Brendan is a legal professional wed to Teresa Bell (Krista Vendy), a high school educator. Their union is troubled by Brendan's abusive behavior, both physical and psychological, prompting Teresa to seek shelter with the Kennedy family. Despite his harmful actions, Brendan attempts to persuade Teresa to reunite by asserting he has reformed and attending anger management sessions. Initially wary, Teresa gradually begins to place her trust in him once more.

Brendan's unstable temperament reemerges due to jealousy over Teresa's social interactions. During a heated dispute while driving, he causes a collision involving Libby Kennedy and Stephanie Scully, leading to severe repercussions. He is hospitalized, faces legal charges for the crash, and ultimately succumbs to a fatal heart attack resulting from an internal injury.

Brendan’s narrative explores issues of domestic violence and psychological manipulation within both his professional and personal spheres, significantly affecting central characters and propelling major story arcs in the series.

Dee Bliss

Dione "Dee" Bliss, portrayed by Madeleine West, first appeared on 3 February 2000. West, who was studying law at the time, landed the role shortly after acquiring representation and chose to pause her academic pursuits following her casting. Due to Dee’s popularity, producers elevated her to a regular cast member and extended West’s contract. Jim Schembri of The Age referred to Dee as "Ramsay Street's reigning blonde beauty." In 2001, West earned a nomination for the Most Popular New Female Talent Logie Award for her portrayal.

Sheena Wilson

Sheena Wilson, enacted by Zoe Stark, was introduced on 10 August 2000. Employed as a nurse at Erinsborough Hospital, she is initially presented as a friend of Dee Bliss and later becomes romantically involved with Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney). Sheena contributes to medical cases involving figures such as Lou Carpenter and Lyn Scully, while Dee endeavors to match her with Lance Wilkinson and Toadie. After dating Toadie, their relationship dissolves due to trust issues arising from his unease over Sheena's mother Rhonda’s inappropriate behavior.

Subsequently, Sheena accuses Martin Cook (Tony Bonner) of discrimination after being denied participation in a workshop, which leads to her social isolation at work. Her allegations are corroborated when Dee also reports harassment from Martin. Later storylines see Sheena managing critical medical situations like Boyd Hoyland's coma and engaging in high school reunion events marked by workplace tension with Sindi Watts. Transferred to the psychiatric ward, she assists in treating Max Hoyland during his mental health struggles and supports his family with care arrangements before Max absconds from the ward.

Gino Esposito

Gino Esposito, originally played by Claude Stevens before being recast with Shane McNamara, first appeared on 11 August 2000. Gino works as a hairdresser running the neighbourhood salon and is portrayed as a gay man in a relationship with Aaron Barkley (Stewart Adam). Script producer Luke Devenish characterized Gino as a humorous and upbeat gay stereotype reminiscent of Mr Humphries from Are You Being Served?. A key plotline involved Gino briefly sharing accommodation with Harold Bishop, which sparked jealousy from Lou Carpenter and created a love triangle dynamic.

Allana Truman

Allana Truman (originally Dorothy Truman), portrayed by Josephine Clark, made her first appearance on 29 September 2000. Clark, who had previously appeared in the series in 1997, was initially contracted for a three-month guest role. Allana was characterized as an eccentric student and developed into a romantic interest for Lance Wilkinson (Andrew Bibby), sharing his enthusiasm for science fiction.

Their introduction occurred at a sci-fi convention where Allana set a series of seven challenges for Lance to complete before she would agree to date him. These tasks included locating a rare television episode, photographing a retired actor, producing a science fiction film, decoding a symbol she had burned into the grass of Ramsay Street, persuading Libby Kennedy to publish an article about UFOs, and presenting the article while dressed in ceremonial garb. The final challenge required Lance to bring her a fragment of a crashed satellite; he crafted one himself, which impressed Allana. This led to them becoming a couple.

Lance’s discovery of Allana’s unusual conduct led him to learn that she lived with her controlling mother, Jeannie Truman, who was anxious about losing her business due to illness. Under this pressure, Allana ended their relationship but soon regretted the decision and sought Lance’s help to break free from Jeannie. They planned a trip to the United States to attend a sci-fi convention. To finance their journey, Lance sold his ute and entered a radio quiz show. When producers tried to rig the contest by providing him with answers, Lance exposed the fraud live on air after Allana threatened to leave him. The pair left Erinsborough together and later founded their own science fiction convention.

Emily Hancock

Emily Hancock, played by Isabella Oldham, first appeared on 11 October 2000. She returned the following year alongside her family, introduced to fill gaps created by the temporary absence of six regular cast members. The Hancock family, consisting of five members, was portrayed as a lively and typical Australian household with a fun-loving nature. In 2002, the entire Hancock family was written out of Neighbours. A BBC commentator highlighted Emily's significant moment as discovering a love letter from Toadie addressed to Maggie Hancock. Jackie Brygel from the Herald Sun referred to Emily as the "cute daughter" when the family was introduced.

Emily and her brother Leo were temporarily looked after by Karl and Susan Kennedy during their mother's absence. The family relocated to Ramsay Street the following year. Emily became distressed when her favorite doll, Lizzie, went missing; she initially blamed Leo but later found it at a local shop owned by Collector Bob. When they attempted to retrieve the doll themselves, they were caught; however, their mother Maggie intervened and reunited Emily with her doll. After removalists delivered an incorrect box to their home, Emily took a pair of earrings but later confessed to losing them following accusations against the family for theft.

After an argument in which Leo blamed Emily for family difficulties, she ran away and accidentally became locked on a bus overnight. A search involving police and Leo eventually located Emily hiding and reunited her with her family. Complaining about ear pain, Karl diagnosed it as a dental problem instead. Emily mentioned having an imaginary friend named Madge, which Harold Bishop interpreted as a symbolic link to his late wife. She also read aloud a letter from Toadfish Rebecchi expressing his feelings for Maggie. Due to financial struggles, the Hancock family decided to move away; on their final day in Ramsay Street, Emily briefly went missing but was found saying farewell to Madge in the garden of Number 24.

Leo Hancock

Leo Hancock, brought to life by Anthony Hammer, made his debut on 11 October 2000. Originally portrayed by Josh Jay, Leo was reintroduced alongside his family the following year to replace outgoing main characters. The Hancock family, consisting of five members, was crafted as a lively, fun-loving, and quintessentially Australian household. By 2002, the entire family was written out of Neighbours.

Leo and his sister, Emily (played by Isabella Oldham), were briefly under the care of Karl and Susan Kennedy before relocating to Ramsay Street with their parents. Early plots featured Leo disappearing and later reconnecting with his brother Matt at the local pub. He also arranged for his friend Aleks Rama to stay with the family during their parents’ absence. Leo wrestled with feelings of guilt following the death of his sister Francesca, confiding in Dee Bliss, who supported him through this difficult period.

At school, Leo experienced bullying at the hands of P.E. teacher Dean Hearn. The issue was brought to light by Evan witnessing the mistreatment, prompting intervention from both Leo’s parents and the principal. Additionally, Leo faced sibling conflict when Emily went missing after a disagreement.

Leo’s entrepreneurial streak appeared when he began writing essays for classmates in exchange for money, which he used to fund break-dancing lessons—a hobby initially forbidden by his parents but later embraced after Evan recognized Leo’s talent. He joined a dance crew preparing for a regional contest but was prevented from traveling by Evan. Despite attempting to finance the trip himself, Leo ultimately remained at home.

Leo also became involved with an illegal immigrant named Gregori, agreeing with Michelle Scully to keep his presence confidential until authorities intervened. In a tense event, Leo assisted Matt following a drag race accident; Matt fled from police but eventually surrendered. The legal expenses forced the Hancock family to sell their house and move to Albury.

A BBC commentator identified Leo’s defining moment as "keeping his brother’s location secret after the car accident."

Darcy Tyler

Darcy Tyler, played by Mark Raffety, first appeared on 15 November 2000. As Susan Kennedy’s (Jackie Woodburne) nephew and a medical professional, Darcy became known for stirring up trouble within the Kennedy household. Raffety described Darcy as a role that offered extensive character growth over three years. His performance earned him nominations for Best Newcomer and Best Bad Boy at the Inside Soap Awards.

Larry Woodhouse

Larry "Woody" Woodhouse, portrayed by Andrew Curry, debuted on 24 November 2000 and appeared regularly until 2002, with a brief return in 2010. Woody worked as a mechanic and bouncer and was Stephanie Scully’s former boyfriend who had served time for handling stolen goods. After his release, he became involved in witness protection due to threats from criminal contacts, leading to a dramatic car crash that caused Steph to believe he had died.

Woody later reappeared, revealing that he had gone into hiding to safeguard Steph. Despite his criminal history, he proposed marriage twice; however, Steph eventually distanced herself from both Woody and Mitch Foster, another inmate acquaintance. Woody’s 2010 comeback coincided with Steph’s battle with postnatal depression, representing a period before she embraced her family duties.

Woody’s storyline explores themes of redemption and complex relationships within the Ramsay Street community. The BBC highlighted his dramatic "return from the dead" moment, while the Sunday Mercury described him as a "bad boy biker."

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Circumstances
27 January 2000 – 7 August 2003	Cecile Bliss	Molly McCaffrey	Cecile, the younger sibling of Dee Bliss, arrives on Ramsay Street in search of Joel Samuels. She intimidates Michelle Scully at school, which results in a confrontation causing Michelle to break her arm. Cecile serves as a bridesmaid at Dee's wedding and is present at her funeral. In 2017, it is disclosed that Cecile passed away due to a bicycle accident a year earlier, invalidating claims by an impostor pretending to be Dee.
3–16 February	Vanessa Bradshaw	Julieanne Tait	Vanessa, a fashion designer and friend of Dee Bliss, meets Joel Samuels and Toadfish Rebecchi during a double date that ends with them incurring an unaffordable bill once the men’s real identities are revealed.
11 February–5 April	Greg Mast	Roy Thompson	Greg, a carpenter, offers Billy Kennedy an apprenticeship in carpentry in Queensland, later employing him and facilitating Anne Wilkinson’s relocation to join Billy.
25 February–17 April	Ivan Hart	Erik Donnison	Ivan operates the A Good Hair Day salon but absconds due to gambling debts, leaving Lyn Scully responsible for the business and its financial burdens.
2 March–6 April	Carrie Clark	Vanessa Rossini	Carrie betrays Dee Bliss by engaging in an affair with her boyfriend Joel Samuels.
3 March–2 June	Merridy Jackson	Suzi Cato	Lou Carpenter dates Merridy Jackson, a teacher; despite mutual affection, their relationship ends when Merridy accepts a position in the Northern Territory.
20 March–7 June	Simone King	Denise Briskin	Simone flirts with Paul McClain, creating tension with Tad Reeves; their short-lived relationship concludes amid jealousy and disputes.
22 March–21 February 2001	Minnie Kirk	Marion Heathfield	Drew Kirk’s great aunt Minnie visits Erinsborough to encourage his fiancée Libby Kennedy prior to their wedding.
10 April 2000, 29 July–7 August 2003	Magda Bliss	Marilyn O'Donnell June Jones	Mother of Dee and Cecile Bliss; attends significant family events before it is revealed she died in a car accident ten years earlier.
13–24 April	Rachel Jones	Kim Trengove	Tad Reeves encounters Rachel at an adoption support group; initially suspects she might be his birth mother but later discovers this is not the case.
18 April–9 May	Connie O'Rourke	Val Jellay	Connie and Henry visit Lyn Scully’s family; after Connie suffers a stroke and subsequently passes away, family disputes over adoption secrets arise but are eventually resolved.
18 April–15 October 2003	Henry O'Rourke	Bud Tingwell
27 April	Janet Kirk	Roberta Connelly	Drew Kirk’s aunt Janet supports Libby Kennedy with family traditions during their engagement period.
5 May–6 June	Sean Edwards	Daniel Collopy	Sean secretly dates Felicity Scully due to concerns about their age difference; the relationship ends following conflicts with her father Joe Scully.
9 May	Shanti Pandya	Menik Gooneratne	Traveller Shanti stays at a hostel managed by Toadfish Rebecchi and others; briefly impressed by Joel Samuels.
15 May–7 July	Rachel Bailey	Carolyn Bock	Tad Reeves’s biological mother who gave him up for adoption; they reconnect briefly before Rachel’s passing.
16 May–25 July	Glenda Ryan	Bronwyn Di Cecco	Wife of Maurie Ryan; misdiagnosed with cancer leading to a malpractice lawsuit against Karl Kennedy that is later withdrawn.
29 May–30 November	Stephen Bailey	Dean Murphy Kevin Hopkins	Husband of Rachel Bailey who informs Tad Reeves of her death and seeks assistance for their son Tim’s bone marrow transplant.
29 May–24 October	Jasmine Bailey	Chantelle Davies Chloe Ellison	"Daughter of Rachel and Stephen Bailey; supports her brother Tim during his illness and transplant."

29 May–26 January 2001 || Tim Bailey || Carl Lennie
Darcy Bonser || Son of Rachel and Stephen Bailey; receives successful bone marrow transplant with Tad Reeves as donor. 12 June || Dylan Ryan || Nicholas Colla || Son of Maurie and Glenda Ryan; makes brief appearances at school. 14–29 June || Bernie Samuels || Sean Scully || Joel Samuels’ father who struggles with responsibility and his relationship with his son. 29 June–17 July || Wendy Baker || Patsy Martin || Blackmails Harold Bishop over mistaken identity related to an armed robbery; ultimately clears his name. 6 July–4 August || Damon Gaffney || Richard Morgan || Agoraphobic former teacher who forms a connection with Michelle Scully through community involvement. 6 July–7 August || Pete Redman || Frank Raco || Postman who unwittingly becomes the object of Felicity Scully’s affection. 11 July–2 August || Max Crawford || Simon Gleeson || Dee Bliss’s ex-boyfriend who returns, causing tension with Joel Samuels before moving on. 24 July–24 November || Cheyenne Rivers || Angelique Meunier || Dates Paul McClain and manipulates him leading to their breakup; sent away by her father Gareth Rivers. 4 August–13 June 2002 || Doula Tsobanopoulos || Katherine Halliday || Owner of Hemisfear nightclub involved in an identity theft scheme targeting Tad Reeves. 7 August || Ari Tsobanopoulos || Campbell Smith || Brother of Doula Tsobanopoulos; delivers goods to Tad Reeves. 15 August–11 September || Lisa Ryan || Tania Lunson || Daughter of Maurie Ryan; shows interest in Lance Wilkinson but ends when he reveals his true character. 25 August || Dorothy Rivers || Marita Wilcox || Mother of Cheyenne Rivers; active community fundraiser organizing charity events. 28 August–12 September || Gareth Rivers || Serge De Nardo || Cheyenne Rivers’ father and P&C committee member attempting to influence school policies through funding threats. 29 September–25 October || Patsy Edis || Anne Maloney || Nanny hired by Lou Carpenter who attempts theft but is stopped by Joe Scully. 31 October–27 March 2001 || Colin Rogers || John Tarle || Student obsessed with Felicity Scully who plants a bomb at school; arrested after stalking behavior emerges. 1–24 November || Mick Scully || Andy Anderson|| Joe Scully’s brother who struggles with responsibility but ultimately reconciles with family. 3 November–5 October 2001|| Pat Miller|| Matt Norman|| Football coach involved in bullying and steroid dealing confronted by Karl Kennedy and Paul McClain. 24 November–22 January 2001|| Tina Nguyen|| Kim Nguyen|| Pregnant woman assisted by Joe Scully during labour; names son Joseph and chooses Joe as godfather. 27 November–22 January 2001|| Joseph Nguyen|| Joshua Ten|| 28 November|| Hunq Nguyen|| Ferdinand Hoang|| 5 December–12 February 2001|| Clementine Truman|| Melanie Lockman|| Older sister of Allana Truman who interacts with Toadfish Rebecchi regarding radio contests and workplace matters. 6 December–13 February 2001|| Kev Kelly|| Frank Kennedy|| Jewel thief involved in criminal activities affecting Larry Woodhouse; killed during a drug deal gone wrong.

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Circumstances

External links

• Cast and characters on the Official Australian Neighbours site
• Cast and characters on the Official UK Neighbours site
• Cast and characters at the Internet Movie Database