Home And Away Star's ‘cursed’ Tragic Death After Soap Exit

Over the years, Australian soap operas have undoubtedly generated a number of international superstars. Neighbours alumni Kylie Minogue (Charlene), the best-selling Australian recording artist of all time with over 80 million albums sold worldwide, and Margot Robbie (Donna), the star of the smash hit Barbie movie, which has already broken 17 box office records, are undoubtedly two of the biggest successes.

Home and Away’s Ryan Kwanten (who portrayed Vinnie), Isla Fisher (Shannon), and Chris Hemsworth (Kim), as well as Neighbours’ Jason Donovan (Scott), Guy Pearce (Mike), and Jesse Spencer (Billy), are some well-known celebrities who left Australian soap operas to pursue greater success. Others, such as Ray Meagher (Alf) from Home and Away, who is the longest-serving actor in an Australian drama series, Lynne McGranger (Irene), and Stefan Dennis (Paul) and Ian Smith (Harold) from Neighbours, have plodded along for years in their original soap roles.

Unfortunately, however, some of the stars of both Australian soap operas have also had far less luck. One such celebrity is Ben Unwin, who portrayed bad boy Jesse McGregor in Home and Away from 1996 to 2000 and again from 2002 to 2005.

Ben received a nomination for Most Popular New Talent at the 1997 Australian TV Logie Awards since the part was written especially for him.

Later on in his career, he directed music videos for Culture Club, such as I Just Wanna Be Loved and Chumbawamba’s massive hit song, Tubthumping.

Dieter Brummer, who portrayed the attractive Shane Parrish on Home and Away in the early 1990s, was discovered dead at his parents’ Sydney home just two years later, bringing sadness to the cast once more.

The original Scott Robinson from Neighbours, who was portrayed by Darius Perkins before Jason Donovan took over, tragically passed away in 2019 following a fight with cancer.

While Neighbours ran for 37 years until being cancelled last summer, a number of former performers made a final appearance on Ramsay Street in its final episode. Home and Away has now been on our TV screens for 36 years.