Luke Handley
Encyclopedia
Luke Handley is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by Bernard Curry
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 7 March 1995. Luke's storylines included a brief fling with Libby Kennedy
, a relationship with Serendipity Gottlieb
, suffering a breakdown, being diagnosed with cancer and starting a relationship with Danni Stark
. He departed on 17 December 1996, but Curry reprised the role in 2005 for the 20th anniversary.
(Alyce Platt
), moves into Ramsay Street and Luke follows a couple of months later. He moves in with Mark (Bruce Samazan
) and Serendipity Gottlieb
(Raelee Hill
) and gets a job at The Holy Roll. He attracts the attention of Libby Kennedy
(Kym Valentine
), who uses him as a subject for her photography. Luke feels an attraction to Libby, but he knows that she is far too young for him and he tries to stay out of her way rather than tell her. Libby's father, Karl Kennedy
(Alan Fletcher), learns of Libby's crush and he witnesses her kissing Luke in the Coffee Shop. He tells Luke to stay away from his daughter and Luke turns his attentions to Serendipity. They attempt to be a couple, but ultimately decide to be friends and Luke denies his feelings for her. However, Mark falls from a roof and ends up in a coma. After seeing how much pain Serendipity is in, Luke decides to propose to her. She accepts and they start planning their future, but that changes when Luke is offered a job teaching English in Japan. They decide to move to Japan together.
A few months later, Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer
) notices strange noises around the community bus and it is revealed that Luke is back from Japan. Luke agrees to see Karl, who realises that Luke is having a breakdown after things with Serendipity had gone wrong. Luke eventually agrees to stay at the Robinson's until he is feeling better. Jen returns and Luke moves in with her and finds work as a time share salesman. Luke meets Kimberley Stevens (Rebecca Macauley) and she reveals that she is a policewoman. Their relationship falls apart after Kimberley leads a stakeout in Ramsay Street, during which Cody Willis
(Peta Brady
) is shot. However, Luke decides to join the police force. Luke is happy to find a career that he likes and proceedes with the training. However, after a routine medical, Luke is told that he is suffering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Luke immediately begins chemotherapy and he shaves his hair off. Luke's suffers from mood swings and at one point, he chooses to stop the chemotherapy. However, he is given hope by Charlie Moyes (Damien Bodie
), a young boy he meets at a camp for terminally ill children.
Luke gets a lot of support from Debbie Martin
(Marnie Reece-Wilmore
) and Danni Stark
(Eliza Szonert
) and they invite him to live with them. Luke finds Debbie's attentions smothering and he seeks comfort in Danni. They begin a relationship, but Danni struggles to cope with Luke's condition. Debbie becomes upset at losing Luke and tries to win him over, but fails. Luke is thrilled when he is told that his cancer has gone into remission. He attempts to rebuild his life, but he feels that his condition is holding him back at job interviews. Danni is given a chance to further her fashion career in Malaysia for six months and she leaves. Luke becomes a shoulder to cry on for Joanna Hartman (Emma Harrison
), Catherine O'Brien (Radha Mitchell
) and Sarah Beaumont
(Nicola Charles
). He gives a talk at the school on surviving cancer and Susan Kennedy
(Jackie Woodburne
) encourages him to train as a teacher. Luke hears that Danni has been diagnosed with malaria and he flies to Malaysia. He and Danni settle down there and Luke completes his police training.
said Luke's most notable moment was "Posing as Sarah Beaumont's boyfriend when her ex visited from the UK."
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
, played by Bernard Curry
Bernard Curry
Bernard Curry is a Sydney-based Australian actor, best known for his role in soap operas Neighbours and Home and Away.-Career:...
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 7 March 1995. Luke's storylines included a brief fling with Libby Kennedy
Libby Kennedy
Elizabeth Grace "Libby" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kym Valentine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 and departed in 2004, before returning on 12 November 2007. Libby is the only daughter of Karl and Susan Kennedy...
, a relationship with Serendipity Gottlieb
Serendipity Gottlieb
Serendipity "Ren" Gottlieb is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Raelee Hill. She made her first on-screen appearance on 25 August 1994. Serendipity is Stephen and Mark Gottlieb's only sister. She is a hippy who arrives in Erinsborough to see Mark...
, suffering a breakdown, being diagnosed with cancer and starting a relationship with Danni Stark
Danni Stark
Danielle "Danni" Stark is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Eliza Szonert. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 30 November 1993 and remained in the show until 13 November 1996, with a brief cameo in 2005 in Annalise Hartman's...
. He departed on 17 December 1996, but Curry reprised the role in 2005 for the 20th anniversary.
Casting
Curry spent just over a year playing Luke in Neighbours. In 2005, it was confirmed that Curry would be reprising his role of Luke for a cameo appearance in the show's 20th anniversary episode.Storylines
Luke's sister, JenJen Handley
Jen Handley is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alyce Platt. She made her first on-screen appearance on 14 February 1995. Jen is Luke Handley's sister...
(Alyce Platt
Alyce Platt
Alyce Platt is an Australian actress known for her roles in television soap operas, and as a television presenter.Her acting roles include Amanda Morrell in Sons and Daughters from 1983–1985, a guest role in the short-lived serial Family and Friends in 1990, and the on-going part of Jen Handley in...
), moves into Ramsay Street and Luke follows a couple of months later. He moves in with Mark (Bruce Samazan
Bruce Samazan
Bruce Samazan is an Australian actor who appeared in several soap operas and drama series on Australian television, the only actor to have played regular roles in Australia's "Big Three" soap operas of the 1990s .-E Street:Samazan was a brickie's labourer, until 1989 when he accompanied his...
) and Serendipity Gottlieb
Serendipity Gottlieb
Serendipity "Ren" Gottlieb is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Raelee Hill. She made her first on-screen appearance on 25 August 1994. Serendipity is Stephen and Mark Gottlieb's only sister. She is a hippy who arrives in Erinsborough to see Mark...
(Raelee Hill
Raelee Hill
Raelee Hill is an Australian actress best known for her roles in some of her country's most successful television series...
) and gets a job at The Holy Roll. He attracts the attention of Libby Kennedy
Libby Kennedy
Elizabeth Grace "Libby" Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Kym Valentine. She made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 and departed in 2004, before returning on 12 November 2007. Libby is the only daughter of Karl and Susan Kennedy...
(Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine
Kym Valentine is a Maltese Australian actress best known for her portrayal of Libby Kennedy in the soap opera Neighbours.-Early and personal life:...
), who uses him as a subject for her photography. Luke feels an attraction to Libby, but he knows that she is far too young for him and he tries to stay out of her way rather than tell her. Libby's father, Karl Kennedy
Karl Kennedy
Karl Raymond Kennedy is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Fletcher. The character and his family were created by storyliners in an attempt to bring the show back to its roots. Karl made his first on-screen appearance on 20 September 1994 along with his...
(Alan Fletcher), learns of Libby's crush and he witnesses her kissing Luke in the Coffee Shop. He tells Luke to stay away from his daughter and Luke turns his attentions to Serendipity. They attempt to be a couple, but ultimately decide to be friends and Luke denies his feelings for her. However, Mark falls from a roof and ends up in a coma. After seeing how much pain Serendipity is in, Luke decides to propose to her. She accepts and they start planning their future, but that changes when Luke is offered a job teaching English in Japan. They decide to move to Japan together.
A few months later, Billy Kennedy (Jesse Spencer
Jesse Spencer
Jesse Gordon Spencer is an Australian actor and musician. He is best known for his current portrayal of Dr. Robert Chase on the medical drama House and for playing Billy Kennedy in the Australian soap-opera Neighbours....
) notices strange noises around the community bus and it is revealed that Luke is back from Japan. Luke agrees to see Karl, who realises that Luke is having a breakdown after things with Serendipity had gone wrong. Luke eventually agrees to stay at the Robinson's until he is feeling better. Jen returns and Luke moves in with her and finds work as a time share salesman. Luke meets Kimberley Stevens (Rebecca Macauley) and she reveals that she is a policewoman. Their relationship falls apart after Kimberley leads a stakeout in Ramsay Street, during which Cody Willis
Cody Willis
Cody Willis is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, originally played by Amelia Frid. She made her first on-screen appearance on 24 November 1989. The character departed in 1991, but returned in 1993 with Peta Brady in the role...
(Peta Brady
Peta Brady
Peta Brady is an Australian actress. She is best known for playing Cody Willis in the TV soap opera Neighbours. Since she left the show, Brady has appeared in the film Mullet, the TV sitcom Kath & Kim and the SBS series RAN ...
) is shot. However, Luke decides to join the police force. Luke is happy to find a career that he likes and proceedes with the training. However, after a routine medical, Luke is told that he is suffering from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Luke immediately begins chemotherapy and he shaves his hair off. Luke's suffers from mood swings and at one point, he chooses to stop the chemotherapy. However, he is given hope by Charlie Moyes (Damien Bodie
Damien Bodie
Damien Bodie is an Australian actor.-Biography:Bodie was educated at Sandringham Secondary College and is best known for his role as Dylan Timmins on the Australian television series Neighbours . Bodie played the role of Oscar in the television series Short Cuts which won three awards in 2002...
), a young boy he meets at a camp for terminally ill children.
Luke gets a lot of support from Debbie Martin
Debbie Martin
Deborah "Debbie" Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Marnie Reece-Wilmore. She made her first on-screen appearance on 27 July 1985. Debbie was initially played by Mandy Storvik and later Katrina McEwan. Reece-Wilmore was cast in the role in 1992...
(Marnie Reece-Wilmore
Marnie Reece-Wilmore
Marnie Reece-Wilmore is an Australian actor from Sydney. She is best known for her role in Neighbours during the 1990s.-Early work:...
) and Danni Stark
Danni Stark
Danielle "Danni" Stark is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Eliza Szonert. She debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 30 November 1993 and remained in the show until 13 November 1996, with a brief cameo in 2005 in Annalise Hartman's...
(Eliza Szonert
Eliza Szonert
Eliza Szonert is an Australian actress.Szonert is best known for playing Danni Stark in Australia's long-running soap opera, Neighbours, from 1993 to 1996. Szonert reprised the role in 2005 for the show's 20th anniversary....
) and they invite him to live with them. Luke finds Debbie's attentions smothering and he seeks comfort in Danni. They begin a relationship, but Danni struggles to cope with Luke's condition. Debbie becomes upset at losing Luke and tries to win him over, but fails. Luke is thrilled when he is told that his cancer has gone into remission. He attempts to rebuild his life, but he feels that his condition is holding him back at job interviews. Danni is given a chance to further her fashion career in Malaysia for six months and she leaves. Luke becomes a shoulder to cry on for Joanna Hartman (Emma Harrison
Emma Harrison
Emma Harrison is an actress, model and dancer, best known for the role of Joanna Hartman in the Australian soap-opera Neighbours.-Early life:...
), Catherine O'Brien (Radha Mitchell
Radha Mitchell
Radha Rani Amber Indigo Anunda Mitchell is an Australian actress. Her film roles include Finding Neverland, Phone Booth, Man on Fire, Silent Hill, and the The Crazies-Early life:...
) and Sarah Beaumont
Sarah Beaumont
Sarah Beaumont is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Nicola Charles. She made her first on-screen appearance on in 25 September 1996. Sarah departed on 13 July 1999...
(Nicola Charles
Nicola Charles
Nicola Charles is an actress, primarily known for her role in Australian soap opera, Neighbours.-Career:...
). He gives a talk at the school on surviving cancer and Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy
Susan Kennedy , is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Jackie Woodburne. The character and her family were created by storyliners in an attempt to bring the show back to its roots. Susan made her first on-screen appearance on 3 October 1994 along...
(Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne
Jackie Woodburne is a Northern Irish-born Australian actress.-Personal life:Woodburne was born in Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Her father was a member of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. She has two older siblings: John and Stephen. At age three she emigrated with her family to...
) encourages him to train as a teacher. Luke hears that Danni has been diagnosed with malaria and he flies to Malaysia. He and Danni settle down there and Luke completes his police training.
Reception
Heckler Spray included Luke in their list of "The Best Ever Mid-90s Neighbours Characters". They said "Luke was actually a total dweeb who postured around the soap doing nothing, living in that weird house all the young randoms seem to be put in when they don't know what else to do with them. Luke had a cancer scare but even that didn't make him interesting. His only decent moment was when he 'haunted' the recreation centre, on a secret return from his apparent new life in Japan. Appearing at the end of an episode, when the haunting was supposed to be terrifying us, Luke stood on the roof of the rec's old open top bus and smoked a cigar nonchalantly, for no apparent reason." The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
said Luke's most notable moment was "Posing as Sarah Beaumont's boyfriend when her ex visited from the UK."
External links
- Character at the Internet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie DatabaseInternet Movie Database is an online database of information related to movies, television shows, actors, production crew personnel, video games and fictional characters featured in visual entertainment media. It is one of the most popular online entertainment destinations, with over 100 million...
- Character profile at Perfect Blend