Lois Crawford

Josh Webb

Josh Webb, brought to life by Erik Mitsak, made his first appearance on 7 February 1991 as the resident "troublemaker" in Home and Away. A former inmate currently out on bail, Josh finds it difficult to abandon his criminal ways, often engaging in offenses such as car theft and various cons. His quick wit and street smarts enable him to evade legal consequences. He skillfully manipulates his mother, Gerry (Julie Godfrey), bending her will to shield his unlawful activities.

Josh is the elder sibling of Rachel Webb (Beth Champion). He develops a friendship with her boyfriend Blake Dean (Les Hill) and organizes a party attended by Blake, Rachel’s sister Karen (Belinda Jarrett), and their friends, which ultimately results in a drug-related police raid. Upon discovering Blake and Rachel's relationship, Josh physically attacks Blake and later attempts to implicate Adam Cameron (Mat Stevenson) in a theft, though Adam is later cleared of all charges.

After being released from prison, Josh pretends to have reformed and invites Blake and Adam on a camping trip with the hidden intention of murdering them. The scheme falls apart, leading to Josh’s rearrest. Erik Mitsak departed from the series in early 1992 through an off-screen exit.

Cynthia Ross

Cynthia Ross, portrayed by Belinda Giblin, made her debut on 11 February 1991. Her casting and character details were revealed in the 29 December 1990 edition of TV Week. Cynthia is introduced as the mother of Haydn Ross (Andrew Hill) and the former wife of Michael Ross (Dennis Coard). According to a TV Week journalist, Cynthia’s arrival in Summer Bay would "cause disruption," particularly affecting Michael’s relationship with Pippa Fletcher (Debra Lawrence). Cynthia’s last appearance occurred on 6 March 1991.

As Michael’s ex-spouse and mother to Haydn and Kate, Cynthia arrives in Summer Bay creating friction between Michael and his new partner Pippa. Haydn tries unsuccessfully to reconcile his parents before running away. After he is located, Cynthia takes him back to the city for several weeks.

Nick Parrish

Nick Parrish, enacted by Bruce Roberts, first appeared on screen on 4 March 1991. Roberts was cast just one day after completing drama school. He left the series in 1994 when he relocated to the UK with his girlfriend, Suzanne Dando. Roberts received a notable amount of fan correspondence from the UK, including an unusual letter from a woman named "Kate," who wrote, "Dear Nick, We will be married next week."

Sam Marshall

Sam Marshall, played by Ryan Clark, was introduced on 3 April 1991. Clark was seven years old at the time of casting and balanced filming Home and Away three days weekly alongside school attendance, supported by an on-set tutor. He exited the show in 2000 to explore other career opportunities but returned briefly in 2005 for the program’s 4000th episode. Glenn Wheeler from The Morning Show highlighted Sam as part of one of Australian television’s "most beloved families." The character was particularly favored by teenage female audiences, with MSN recognizing Clark as one of Australia's prominent teen heartthrobs during the 1990s.

Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson, portrayed by Naomi Watts, made her debut on 23 April 1991. Her casting was notably featured in TV Week, which emphasized her character's status as a paraplegic. To prepare for the role, Watts spent several weeks adapting to life in a wheelchair and described the portrayal as an exceptional challenge.

Julie's narrative arc included a romantic involvement with Nick Parrish (Bruce Roberts), which was met with opposition from her brother Revhead (Gavin Harrison), who objected due to Nick's occupation in law enforcement. The couple eventually parted on friendly terms, acknowledging that their relationship worked better as friendship. Watts later reflected on the role as "six miserable weeks."

Having been left paralysed from an earlier car accident, Julie navigates family tensions following the death of her father Alec. After ending things with Nick, she decides to leave Summer Bay for university in the city, demonstrating her autonomy despite Revhead’s reservations.

Lucinda Croft

Lucinda "Lou" Croft, enacted by Dee Smart, first appeared on 13 June 1991 and departed in 1992. Smart, a drama student based in Sydney at the time, landed her inaugural acting role through this character. Although initially contracted for two years, she exited after eight months. Mary Fletcher of Inside Soap praised Smart for transforming Lucinda into one of Home and Away's most beloved figures.

David Croft

David Croft, played by Guy Pearce, entered the series on 19 July 1991 and left on 21 August 1991. Introduced as Donald Fisher’s nephew and Lucinda’s brother, Pearce began filming in May 1991. His six-week tenure centered on repairing his fractured relationship with sister Lucinda and engaging in a contentious romance with Sophie Simpson (Rebekah Elmaloglou).

David arrives in Summer Bay aiming to reconcile with Lucinda after prior disputes over a failed business venture. Their uncle Donald acts as mediator to facilitate their reunion. Despite objections from Sophie’s foster parents, Michael and Pippa Ross—primarily due to David’s age—the couple pursues their relationship. After a period of separation, they plan to reunite; however, David tragically dies in a car accident caused by an oncoming vehicle driven by Karen Dean.

Sophie’s ensuing pregnancy results in the birth of their daughter Tamara, after which she moves to Perth to be closer to David’s mother Mary. In 2003, Sophie names another child in David’s honor.

Critics such as Barbara Toner from the Sydney Morning Herald expressed dissatisfaction with David’s storyline, citing uninspired writing despite Pearce’s cinematic experience. Nonetheless, Channel 5 singled out the episode featuring David’s fatal crash as one of their favorite moments in Home and Away.

Ryan Lee

Ryan Lee, brought to life by Alistair MacDougall, appeared first on 22 August 1991 and exited on 27 November 1992. After his departure, MacDougall conveyed openness to returning for a guest spot if Ryan were portrayed as an antagonist, noting he enjoyed playing the role but would have extended his stay if given stronger scripts. An Inside Soap journalist described Ryan as a "wealthy troublemaker".

Finlay Roberts

Finlay Roberts, portrayed by Tina Thomsen, made her debut on 18 September 1991 and continued until 1994, with occasional guest appearances in 1996 and 1997. Thomsen moved from Brisbane to Sydney after securing the role as a teenager. In a discussion with Jenna Price of the Sydney Morning Herald, she attributed her achievements to personal determination, mentioning that while her parents were encouraging, they did not pressure her.

Greg Marshall

Greg Marshall, brought to life by Ross Newton, first appeared on 20 September 1991. Newton departed in 1993 but returned briefly in 2000. He viewed his involvement with Home and Away as a pivotal step during the show's ascent in popularity. The Morning Show recognized Greg as a member of one of Australian television’s "most beloved families".

Simon Fitzgerald

Simon Fitzgerald, enacted by Richard Norton, was introduced on 25 September 1991 and exited on 24 July 1992. Norton joined the cast following a year-long stint on the competing soap Neighbours. Brendon Williams from the Daily Mirror remarked that Norton was "hugely popular" portraying Simon.

Irene Roberts

Irene Roberts first appeared on 29 October, initially portrayed by Jacqui Phillips before Lynne McGranger took over the role. McGranger received a nomination for "Funniest Performance" at the 2007 Inside Soap Awards. The Sydney Morning Herald lists Irene among the show’s three enduring "legacy characters," alongside Alf and Colleen. Holy Soap cites her most notable moment as "Being attacked by the deranged ex-wife of her former partner Ken."

Damian Roberts

Damian Roberts, played by Matt Doran, made his first appearance on 6 November 1991. Doran was a regular cast member from 1992 through 1995 and returned for guest roles until 1996. A younger Damian was portrayed by Ben Hamilton in flashbacks during 1997. Upon one return, Damian sported dreadlocks, marking a change from his earlier clean-cut look. The role significantly increased Doran’s popularity, particularly with female viewers. Critics often pointed out that Damian lacked romantic storylines and was frequently depicted as unlucky.

Additional Characters

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Details
15–16 January	Jack Cody	Colin Taylor	Interested in purchasing the Beach House but withdraws after discovering property complications and a scam involving Marilyn Chambers.
15–16 January	Helen Cody	Jan Adele	Accompanies Jack Cody during the consideration of buying the Beach House.
16 January	Peter	Scott Kelly	Friend of Pippa Fletcher who refuses to buy an old gypsy caravan intended for use at the children’s home.
21 January	Jake Wood	Frankie Davidson	Neighbor keen to acquire an old caravan; offers a goat as payment instead of money.
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	Member of the foster care department assisting with cases including Sam Marshall and Tracey Turner.
4 February–28 March	Tony Clark	Rob Hunter	Estate agent responsible for managing the sale of Stewart’s store.
6 February–17 April	Rachel Webb	Beth Champion	Dates Blake Dean; their relationship ends due to family issues and Rachel’s departure from 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.
8 March–8 April	Gerry Webb	Julie Godfrey	Mother of Rachel and Josh Webb; opposes Rachel’s relationship and moves away following Josh’s arrest.
19 March–3 May	Mark Smith	Greg Hatton	Member of Summer Bay High swim team; briefly dates Karen Dean.
27 March–13 May	Rodney White	Lester Morris	Principal of Yabbie Creek High; adversary to Donald Fisher; involved in school affairs and social events.
27 March	Val White	May Howlett	Wife of Rodney White; experiences frustration at social gatherings due to her husband’s distractions.
11 April–18 July	Jackie Nicholls	Erica Williams	Mother struggling with custody over Sam Marshall; ultimately consents to foster care by Bobby Simpson.
18 April	Vet	Michael Beckley	Visits Ben and Carly Lucini’s farm concerning poultry health issues.
22 April	Smart Alec no.1	Adam Garcia	Swim team member who mocks others about their diving abilities.
30 April	Celebrant	Carmel Mullin	Conducts Michael Ross and Pippa Fletcher's wedding ceremony 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; passes away following a heart attack.
10–24 May	Jean Chambers	Maggie Kirkpatrick	Marilyn Chambers' aunt; creates tension regarding fostering arrangements before leaving town.
22 May–21 June	Kenny Gibbs	David Field	Janitor at Summer Bay High who sells an old vehicle 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; depart after real parents present proof.
5 June–11 July	Margaret Lynch	Gennie Nevinson	Personal development teacher for Year 11 students with a troubled background; focuses on Sophie Simpson before leaving Summer Bay.
5 June	Mrs Clifton & Stanley Clifton	Marianne Krogdahl & Brett Caroll	Family mistakenly identified by Marilyn Chambers as her biological relatives; clarifies no relation exists.
7 June–10 July	Tracey Turner	Tania Martin	Foster child who causes conflict with Sophie Simpson; transferred after tensions escalate.
2–3 July	George Davidson & Heather Davidson	Doug Scroope & Lynne Rainbow	Marilyn Chambers’ biological parents; traveling performers who place her into care for career reasons.
23 July–14 August	Diane Robertson & Peter Mansell	Hanna McLeod & Troy O'Hearn	Classmates competing for attention at Summer Bay; involved in social rivalries including Nippers and birthday celebrations.
30 July–21 August	Constable Rogers	Dominic Purcell	Police officer assisting Nick Parrish with investigations including a fatal car accident scene.
2 August–2 October	Martin Bradley	John Bonney	Head of education department overseeing leadership changes at Summer Bay High, including appointing Lois Crawford as Head Teacher.
9 August–2 October	Lois Crawford	Tina Bursill	Appointed Head Teacher at Summer Bay High; enforces strict policies causing community backlash leading to resignation amid controversy.
11–12 September	Isabelle Britton	Collette Roberts	Police officer who briefly dates Nick Parrish aiming to provoke jealousy but faces unreturned affection.
3–9 October	Sharyn McKinley & Annette Hodges	Liza Witt & Kylle Hogart	Year 11 students targeted by Blake Dean and Simon Fitzgerald's advances, resulting in disciplinary actions against Blake.
6–28 November	Bill Fitzgerald	Terry Bader	Simon Fitzgerald's father involved in dubious business dealings; leaves town after exposure, later imprisoned for fraud but reconciles with Simon post-release.
14 November	Ian, Elaine & Susie Gardiner	Andrew S. Gilbert, Lisabeth Kennely, Lauren Snell	Family affected by domestic violence; Elaine seeks refuge with daughter Susie at Caravan Park leading to intervention by authorities and Donald Fisher.

External links

• Cast and characters on the Official Australian Home and Away site
• Cast and characters on the Official UK Home and Away site
• Cast and characters listed on the Internet Movie Database