Mark Smith (Home and Away)

Josh Webb

Josh Webb, brought to life by Erik Mitsak, made his initial appearance on 7 February 1991 as the show's resident troublemaker in Home and Away. Characterized as a "jailbird" out on bail, Josh finds it difficult to abandon his criminal lifestyle, engaging in offenses such as car theft and various cons. His street-smart attitude and quick wit enable him to stay one step ahead of law enforcement. Despite his illicit behavior, his "angelic appearance" often leads others to overlook his misdeeds. Josh frequently deceives and manipulates his mother, Gerry (Julie Godfrey), maintaining her confidence while bending the truth to serve his own interests.

As the elder sibling of Rachel Webb (Beth Champion), Josh develops a friendship with her boyfriend Blake Dean (Les Hill) and invites Blake, Rachel’s sister Karen Dean (Belinda Jarrett), along with their friends, to a party that ultimately results in police intervention. When he learns about Blake and Rachel’s relationship, Josh assaults Blake and subsequently frames Adam Cameron (Mat Stevenson) for theft. Once his deception is uncovered, Josh is incarcerated.

Following his release, Josh pretends to have changed and tricks Blake and Adam into joining him on a camping trip with the intention of murdering them. The scheme fails, leading to Josh’s re-arrest and return behind bars. Erik Mitsak departed from the series in early 1992, with the character’s exit occurring off-screen.

Cynthia Ross

Cynthia Ross, portrayed by Belinda Giblin, first appeared on 11 February 1991. Announced in TV Week on 29 December 1990, Cynthia arrives as the mother of Haydn Ross (Andrew Hill) and former spouse of Michael Ross (Dennis Coard). Her presence in Summer Bay creates tension by disrupting Michael’s relationship with Pippa Fletcher (Debra Lawrence). Haydn attempts to reconcile his parents, but after this effort fails and he runs away, Cynthia takes him back to the city for several weeks. Her final episode aired on 6 March 1991.

Nick Parrish

Nick Parrish, enacted by Bruce Roberts, made his debut 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 girlfriend, Suzanne Dando. Among notable anecdotes is Roberts receiving an unusual fan letter from a UK admirer named "Kate," who promised marriage within a week.

Sam Marshall

Sam Marshall, played by Ryan Clark, first appeared on 3 April 1991. At seven years old when cast, Clark balanced filming three days weekly alongside schooling, supported by an on-set tutor. He left the series in 2000 to explore other career opportunities but returned in 2005 for the show’s milestone 4000th episode celebration. Glenn Wheeler of The Morning Show recognized Sam as part of one of Australian television’s most cherished families over a decade. The character held particular appeal among teenage female audiences, with MSN naming Clark among Australia’s notable teen heartthrobs of the ’90s.

Julie Gibson

Julie Gibson, portrayed by Naomi Watts, debuted on 23 April 1991. Her casting was revealed in TV Week on 16 March 1991. Watts described playing a paraplegic character as an exceptional challenge and dedicated weeks to practicing in a wheelchair before filming commenced.

Julie’s storyline revolves around her relationship with Nick Parrish (Bruce Roberts), which faces resistance from her protective brother Revhead (Gavin Harrison), due to Nick’s occupation as a police officer. Despite Revhead’s efforts to intervene, Julie and Nick amicably end their romantic involvement, acknowledging they are better suited as friends. Following the death of their father Alec Gibson and Nick’s breakup, Julie departs Summer Bay to pursue university studies, reassuring Revhead that she is capable of managing independently despite his concerns.

Lucinda Croft

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

David Croft

David Croft, portrayed by Guy Pearce, was introduced on 19 July 1991. Filming commenced in May 1991, presenting David as the nephew of Donald Fisher and sibling to Lucinda Croft. His storyline spanned six weeks, concluding on 21 August 1991.

David comes to Summer Bay aiming to mend his fractured relationship with his sister Lucinda following a previous family conflict over a failed investment. He quickly becomes romantically involved with Sophie Simpson (Rebekah Elmaloglou), despite objections from Sophie's foster parents due to the age gap between them. After experiencing a brief separation, David tragically dies in a car accident caused by an oncoming vehicle driven by Karen Dean.

Following David's passing, Sophie learns she is expecting his child, Tamara, and eventually relocates to Perth to be near David's mother, Mary. In 2003, Sophie names another child in David's honor.

Critics such as Barbara Toner of the Sydney Morning Herald found David's narrative less captivating despite Pearce’s cinematic background.

The episode depicting David’s fatal crash was highlighted by Channel 5 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 his departure, MacDougall expressed openness to returning for a guest role if Ryan were depicted as an antagonist, remarking he "would have stayed longer before if the scripts had been good enough." An Inside Soap contributor described Ryan as a "wealthy troublemaker".

Finlay Roberts

Finlay Roberts, portrayed by Tina Thomsen, first appeared on 18 September 1991 and continued until 1994, with return guest spots in 1996 and 1997. Thomsen relocated from Brisbane to Sydney upon securing the role, sharing in an interview with Jenna Price of the Sydney Morning Herald that her parents were encouraging yet not forceful.

Greg Marshall

Greg Marshall, played by Ross Newton, made his debut on 20 September 1991. Newton exited the series in 1993 but returned briefly in 2000. He described joining Home and Away as an exceptional opportunity during its ascent to popularity. Glenn Wheeler from The Morning Show acknowledged Greg as part of one of Australian TV’s "most cherished families".

Simon Fitzgerald

Simon Fitzgerald, brought to life by Richard Norton, made his debut on 25 September 1991 and exited the series on 24 July 1992. Norton joined the cast of Home and Away following a year-long stint on the competing soap opera Neighbours. Brendon Williams from the Daily Mirror remarked that Norton was "a major success" in his portrayal of 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 recognizes Irene as one of the show's three enduring characters, alongside Alf and Colleen. Holy Soap highlights her most memorable storyline as surviving an attack orchestrated by the vengeful ex-wife of her former partner Ken.

Damian Roberts

Damian Roberts, played by Matt Doran, was introduced on 6 November 1991. Doran became a regular cast member in 1992 and continued until 1995, with guest appearances extending into 1996. In 1997 flashbacks, Ben Hamilton portrayed a younger Damian. Upon one of his returns, Damian sported dreadlocks, signaling a departure from his previously neat appearance. Doran's performance earned him a considerable fan following, although critics often pointed out that Damian rarely engaged in romantic storylines, sometimes labeling him as "destined to be unsuccessful."

Others

Date(s)	Character	Actor	Notes
15–16 January	Jack Cody	Colin Taylor	Prospective purchaser of the Beach House who withdraws after discovering property complications and financial dishonesty.
15–16 January	Helen Cody	Jan Adele	Jack Cody’s partner involved in considerations regarding the Beach House purchase.
16 January	Peter	Scott Kelly	Friend to Pippa Fletcher; declines to acquire an old gypsy caravan intended for use as a children's home.
21 January	Jake Wood	Frankie Davidson	Neighbor interested in buying a caravan; ends up exchanging it for a goat after unsuccessful sale attempts.
22 January	Postmaster Bagley	Ron Gaist	Distributes HSC results confirming student pass statuses.
30 January–7 April 1993	Louise Scott	Elaine Hudson	Member of the foster care department assisting with cases involving children such as Sam Nicholls 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; relationship ends due to family criminal issues and misunderstandings.
8–27 February	Roy Jackson	Fredric Abbott	Local farmer leasing land to Ben and Carly Lucini.
8–14 February	Betty Jackson	Marie Armstrong	Roy’s wife; encourages Carly Lucini to oversee farm operations.
8 March–8 April	Gerry Webb	Julie Godfrey	Mother of Rachel and Josh Webb; disapproves of Rachel’s relationship and relocates 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	Headmaster of Yabbie Creek High; competitor to Donald Fisher; involved in school-related events and social dynamics.
27 March	Val White	May Howlett	Rodney’s wife; experiences frustration during social gatherings due to Rodney’s inattentiveness.
11 April–18 July	Jackie Nicholls	Erica Williams	Mother struggling with custody issues over son Sam Nicholls, who is fostered by Bobby Simpson.
18 April	Vet	Michael Beckley	Veterinarian diagnosing potential fowl cholera at Ben and Carly Lucini’s farm.
22 April	Smart Alec no.1	Adam Garcia	Swim team member known for mocking fellow divers.
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	Officers arrest Ben Lucini for going AWOL during wedding reception; charges are subsequently dropped.
8–21 May	Alec Gibson	David Baldwyn	Father to Revhead and Julie Gibson; passes away from a heart attack.
10–24 May	Jean Chambers	Maggie Kirkpatrick	Marilyn Chambers’ aunt who stays at the beach house and influences Marilyn's quest for her biological parents.
22 May–21 June	Kenny Gibbs	David Field	Janitor who sells an old Morris Minor to Blake Dean and Haydn Ross.
20 June–3 July	Max Riley	Bruce Venables	Initially presumed biological parent of Marilyn Chambers; later disproved.
20 June–3 July	Heather Riley	Lynne Porteous	Partner to Max Riley, also initially believed to be Marilyn’s parent.
5 June–11 July	Margaret Lynch	Gennie Nevinson	Year 11 personal development teacher with a troubled history; departs after developing an unhealthy obsession with student Sophie Simpson.
5 June	Mrs Clifton	Marianne Krogdahl	Mistaken by Marilyn Chambers as her mother during her search for family connections.
5 June	Stanley Clifton	Brett Caroll	Son of Mrs Clifton; also misidentified as Marilyn's sibling.
7 June–10 July	Tracey Turner	Tania Martin	Foster child causing tension at Pippa Ross and Michael Ross’s household, transferred after conflicts with Sophie Simpson.
2–3 July	George Davidson	Doug Scroope	Marilyn Chambers’ biological father; part of traveling performers exploiting Marilyn before she rejects him.
2–3 July	Heather Davidson	Lynne Rainbow	Marilyn’s biological mother; travels alongside George Davidson as performers.
23 July–14 August	Diane Robertson	Hanna McLeod	Classmate competing for Peter Mansell's attention; involved in local youth activities creating friction with Sally Fletcher.
23 July–16 August	Peter Mansell	Troy O'Hearn	Schoolmate pursued by both Sally Fletcher and Diane Robertson; dinner date ends poorly due to his conduct.
30 July–21 August	Constable Rogers	Dominic Purcell	Police officer assisting Nick Parrish with criminal investigations and accident scenes within Summer Bay.
2 August–2 October	Martin Bradley	John Bonney	Head of education department overseeing staff changes at Summer Bay High, including Lois Crawford’s appointment as Head Teacher.
9 August–2 October	Lois Crawford	Tina Bursill	Appointed Head Teacher replacing Donald Fisher; implements strict policies leading to community opposition and eventual resignation amid controversy.
11–12 September	Isabelle Britton	Collette Roberts	Police officer briefly dating Nick Parrish; relationship used to provoke jealousy in another character.
3–9 October	Year 11 students approached by Blake Dean and Simon Fitzgerald who attempt seduction but are exposed by the girls, resulting in disciplinary measures against Blake.

External links

• Cast and characters on the Official AU Home and Away site
• Cast and characters on the Official UK Home and Away site
• Cast and characters at the Internet Movie Database