Ringo Brown
Encyclopedia
Ringo Brown is a fictional character
from the Australian Network Ten
soap opera Neighbours
, played by Sam Clark
. Clark was given the role after he entered and won a Dolly magazine competition. He made his first on-screen appearance on 24 January 2007. Ringo's storylines have included his ongoing battle with an eating disorder, a bus crash, a relationship with an older woman, the collapse of a warehouse roof at an illegal dance party and his on-off relationship with Donna Freedman
. In July 2010, it was announced that Clark had decided to leave Neighbours. He filmed his final scenes at the end of the month and Ringo made his last credited appearance on 18 October 2010.
's (Stefan Dennis
) imagination. Clark subsequently won the competition, along with Adelaide Kane
(Lolly Allen), and he was signed to a three month contract to play the part of Ringo Brown. Compared with other Neighbours cast members who were cast through more traditional casting processes, Clark ultimately went through a longer audition process, auditioning four times before being cast, compared to the two auditions most cast members were required to go through. On his audition Clark said "I really didn't think I'd have any chance of getting anywhere. Apart from trying to do something a bit different with the script, I kept mine pretty simple". Just before the episode in which Ringo made his Neighbours debut was screened, Clark's contract was extended from the three months to nine months. Clark has since remained with the show for three years.
In 2009, it was announced that Clark would be taking a three month break from Neighbours to focus on his music career. When Clark returned to filming in February 2010, it was announced that he would perform one of his songs for departed character, Bridget Parker
, played by Eloise Mignon
.
describe Ringo as someone who had "often drawn the short straw in life". He is not an academic, but he is cleaver at reading people. Ten said "he's a good boy at heart, but he isn't averse to bending the rules to score a win. With the world at large he's cocky, cheeky and good-humoured". They added that when he gets a crush on a girl, he is left nervous and is likely to say the wrong thing.
have said that this is one of the first times in a soap opera that a male character has been at the center of such a storyline. Ringo had suffered with anorexia in the past and he later had a relapse. Ringo refuses to admit that he has a problem with his addiction to losing weight. He almost drowns in a school swimming race due to lack of food and this leaves him feeling bad about himself. Rosetta Cammeniti
(Natalie Saleeba
) catches Ringo taking appetite suppressants, which leaves her upset by the situation. Clark said that until that moment, Ringo had concealed his problem from everyone but Pepper Steiger
(Nicky Whelan). He added "Even Pepper thought he had the issue under control, but this is where it all comes to a head." Rosetta confronts Ringo and he is embarrassed and takes his anger out on her because he has been struggling with his problem for a long time. During an interview with Last Broadcast, Clark said that he believes guys are going through the same insecurities as girls, where they want to look like their heroes, such as soccer stars. He added that he was able to deal with the storyline because a close friend had suffered from anorexia. Clark later said that as eating disorders are on the rise among males, he believed the storyline was "realistic." On whether the storyline would carry on, Clark said "The only drawback was giving it the attention it requires. Because of the limitations of storylines, it would have been impossible to continue with this subject for too long. In reality, of course, eating disorders can continue for years." During a 2008 interview with TV Week
Clark named the eating disorder storyline as his favourite storyline on the show so far. He also called it the hardest storyline because he had to really focus and get involved in it.
(Natalie Blair
). They share a kiss in a swimming pool during their siblings' pre-wedding celebrations at Lassiters Hotel. Ringo had fancied Carmella for a while and Carmella had just ended her relationship with Oliver Barnes
(David Hoflin
). Of Ringo's reasons for his crush on Carmella, Clark said "She treats him like an adult and in a completely different way to how Rachel treated him. Then there's the fact that they get along really well together". When Ringo discovers that Carmella is starting to feel the same way about him, he lets her know that he senses her interest. Blair said that her character gives into Ringo advances because she is in an "insecure place". She also said "Ringo makes her feel wanted and appreciated – he's constantly saying wonderful things to her". Carmella thinks that it is a bit of fun, something she has not had in a while. Blair added "I think she's using him to make herself feel better". Clark said that the new relationship is embarrassing for Carmella and because Ringo is "so head-over-heels" for her, he does not mind when she asks him to keep quiet about it. Carmella later ends the relationship with Ringo, but he cannot accept it is over. At Sky Mangel
(Stephanie McIntosh
)'s farewell party, Ringo declares his feelings for Carmella in front of everyone. Carmella is then forced to tell him that she was never in love with him. Clark said he felt sorry for his character and called the situation "the ultimate embarrassment for him". Ringo then decides to leave town with his mother, Clark said "He just feels so embarrassed and as though he doesn't fit in anymore in the street".
(Jason Donovan
) and Charlene Mitchell
(Kylie Minogue
).
In October, it was revealed that a "much-loved character" was to die in a drink-driving accident. Ringo was one of two potential fatalities, the other being Stephanie Scully
(Carla Bonner
). Steph is suffering from postpartum depression
and after a confrontation with Libby Kennedy
(Kym Valentine
) she takes off on her motorbike. Steph had also been drinking the night before and she is speeding. Ringo, Kate Ramsay
(Ashleigh Brewer
) and Declan Napier
(Erin Mullally
) are returning to the car after Ringo had to go out to buy cupcakes for his and Donna's wedding anniversary. Ringo is in the wrong place at the wrong time, which also puts his life in danger. Steph comes around the corner on her bike and Clark explained that as Kate steps on to the road, Ringo sees the bike and pushes Kate out of the way. However, Clark added "[Ringo] tries to get out of the way himself – but he may not manage to." Ringo later dies and Steph is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Clark later said that his exit plot was "a lot of fun" and that he got to perform the stunt himself. Of this, Clark said " [I] narrowly, in real life, just missed a motorbike coming at me! It's an exciting way to leave a show." Clark added that as filming on Neighbours is shot out of sequence, this was not his last scene and he left on a "high" as his last scene was a humorous one.
. As a child, Ringo idolized his older brother George and was distraught when George left home and changed his name to Frazer Yeats
, leaving Ringo alone with their small-minded parents and elder brother Johnny. Ringo resented his brother for leaving and desperately wanted to become a part of Frazer's cool, new world.
(Ben Lawson
) and is mistaken for an intruder by Zeke Kinski
(Matthew Werkmeister
). Frazer explains to Ringo that he came to Erinsborough to win the heart of their brother's ex-fiancee, Rosetta Cammeniti
(Natalie Saleeba
). Frazer allows him to stay in Ramsay Street and he later enrolls at Erinsborough High. Ringo quickly develops a crush on Zeke's sister Rachel Kinski
(Caitlin Stasey
) and turns to Lolly Allen (Adelaide Kane
) for advice. However, he finds himself helping her out when she admits that her stepmother, Sandy, has been abusing her. When Sandy falls into the pool, Ringo rescues her and Rachel is impressed that he pulled her out from the side. Ringo then admits that he cannot swim and Rachel decides to teach him. After their first lesson, Ringo and Rachel share their first kiss and begin a relationship. Rachel asks Ringo to put their relationship following the death of Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas
), but they later reconcile.
Ringo began working for Carmella Cammeniti
's (Natalie Blair
) Fruit and Vegetable company. Ringo grew close to Carmella as she listened to him and treated him as an adult. Ringo helped her to overcome her addiction to anti-depressants and helped her through her relationship with Oliver Barnes
(David Hoflin
). After finding themselves alone one day, Carmella and Ringo almost kiss, but Carmella backs off and Ringo later breaks up with Rachel. He then asks Carmella to meet up with him, when she does not show, he goes home to confront her and they almost kiss again. The night before Frazer and Rosetta's wedding, Ringo decides to go to Lassiter's pool, Carmella joins him and they share a kiss. However, Carmella realises that it was wrong and she walks away. After the wedding, some of the residents are being driven back home in a minibus by Toadfish Rebecchi
(Ryan Moloney
). During the journey, Ringo moves to the back of the bus to talk to Carmella. The minibus is hit by a removal van, causing it to crash. Ringo is trapped in the wreckage and he tells Carmella that he loves her. Carmella tells him that she loves him too. Ringo is rushed to hospital where he suffers a cardiac arrest and the medical staff decide to put him into a coma. When he is brought out of the coma, he remembers what Carmella said to him and confronts her. Carmella tells him that she does not love him and she lied. Ringo then decides to go home with his mother, Prue (Penny Cook
).
On his return, Ringo became very body conscious and he began to lift weights, running and not eating properly. Pepper Steiger
(Nicky Whelan) realises that these are the signs of an eating disorder, but when she confronts Ringo, he denies he has a problem. Pepper eventually gets through to him and he begins to eat normally again. Just before Pepper leaves Erinsborough, she tells Daniel Fitzgerald
(Brett Tucker
) and Rosetta about Ringo's problem. Rosetta soon discovers that Ringo is using appetite suppressants and tells Frazer about Ringo's condition. After nearly drowning during a swim trial, Ringo is confronted by Daniel and Frazer and refuses counselling. When Ringo learns that Rosie and Frazer are expecting a baby, only to find out it was a wrongly diagnosed phantom pregnancy, the stress causes his eating disorder to flare up again. Ringo admits that he is struggling and Rachel begs him to tell Frazer. Ringo goes to the beach for a swim, but he swims out too far and struggles to get back to shore. His disappearance leaves everyone worried and a search party is organised. He is found unconscious on the beach by Bridget (Eloise Mignon
) and Steve Parker
(Steve Bastoni
). While recovering in hospital, Ringo eventually decides to take control of his life and moves in with the Kennedy/Kinski family. During a surprise 18th birthday party for him, Ringo confesses to everyone that he has an eating disorder. On the same day as the party, Ringo said goodbye to Frazer and Rosetta who leave for Italy.
Ringo is instantly attracted to Donna Freedman
(Margot Robbie
) and tries to date her, but he is rebuffed. The pair eventually develop a strong relationship, despite a few hiccups along the way. When Susan finds some photographs of Donna in Zeke's draw, Ringo believes that they were having an affair and broke up with Donna. She later explains that nothing was going on between her and Zeke and Ringo apologized. Following Bridget's death, Ringo decides that he wants to become a paramedic. Karl introduces Ringo to some of his paramedic friends and Ringo enjoys learning about his potential career. Declan Napier
(James Sorensen
) tells Ringo that Bridget would have been proud. Ringo is offered a chance to attend a paramedic course in Sydney, but he gives it up to stay in Erinsborough with Donna. When Ringo finds out that Donna has been cheating on him with Andrew Robinson
(Jordan Smith
), he leaves for Sydney to attend the course. Ringo returns to Erinsborough after Rebecca Robinson (Jane Hall
) calls him asking if he'll help support Declan through Bridget's birthday. He speaks to Donna and tells her that they should be friends. On his first day as a trainee paramedic, he messes up his first job. However, he later diagnoses a collapsed young woman's condition as anaphylaxis
. He goes to visit her in hospital and she tells him her name is Naomi (Kate Bell
). Ringo then begins a relationship with her, but he breaks it off after discovering that she stole his ID card. Naomi doesn't take the breakup well and blames Donna. She frames Donna after stealing her own hospital records. Ringo goes to Naomi's house to look for evidence and finds a shrine dedicated to him. Naomi is arrested, but she later calls Ringo and begs him to meet her. Ringo ignores the calls and Naomi is later admitted to hospital after she is hit by a car. Ringo visits her and she blames him for everything that has happened, Ringo then decides that he does not want to be a paramedic anymore. He gets a job working on a building site, but discovers that Toadie is serving a writ on his boss, Jim Dolan (Scott Parameter) over a previous job. When Donna goes to pick Ringo up from the site, she leans on some scaffolding that had been tampered with by Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and it falls on her. Ringo rushes to help Donna and he has to help her when she stops breathing. At the hospital, Ringo faces hostility from Donna's father Nick (Brian Vriends
). Ringo tells Nick he loves Donna and she overhears. She says that she needs some time alone, but Ringo decides to propose. Donna turns him down because of her father, but she changes her mind and proposes to Ringo, who accepts. Donna persuades Ringo to return to being a paramedic. He wins a Green Card lottery to work in the USA and he and Donna bring forward their planned marriage so that she can go with him. During Ringo's bucks night, his mother, Prue, arrives to meet Donna early. On the morning of the wedding, Donna tells Ringo that his mother and her father slept together. Ringo confronts his mother, who tells him that she and his father split up months ago. When he finds out about Declan kissing Candace Carey (Sheona Urquhart), Ringo tells him that he is no longer best man. He chooses Karl instead. Ringo panics when Donna is late to the ceremony, but she turns up in a police car and they marry. Ringo leads Donna to believe that he has forgotten their anniversary, before going out with Declan and Kate to get her favourite cupcakes. As the group are walking back to the car, Stephanie Scully
(Carla Bonner
) appears speeding on her motorcycle. Ringo pushes Kate out of the way and he is hit by the bike. Kate calls for an ambulance and tells them that one person is not breathing. Ringo is taken to the hospital where he dies from his injuries.
vice-president of licensing Ben Liebmann said, "We thought it was a really great way to continue or allow the audience to engage with the Neighbours world off-screen". The messages are overseen by the Fremantle digital team, which is integrated with the story department of the Neighbours production team.
Logie Award
s. At the 2007 Inside Soap Awards
, Clark was nominated for "Best Newcomer". The 2009 ceremony saw Clark nominated for "Sexiest Male".
In 2009, during Ringo's AFL
storyline, critic Larissa Dubecki of Wa Today described Ringo as a "regular nice teenage boy" who was transforming into a "footy hero dickhead". Ringo has been negatively received by Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture
. In February 2010, she called him "a bit of a dick who doesn't have any purpose whatsoever on the show right now". Holy Soap
named Ringo's eating disorder storyline as his most memorable moment, they said "Ringo broke soap barriers when it was revealed he suffered from an eating disorder, with which he still battles". Ringo was named one of OK!
magazine's Top 10 Neighbours characters of all time by OK! Twitter users. They said "Ringo Brown (Sam Clark) – A newbie whose name was all over our Twitter page. Was given the role after winning a competition and has clearly got a lot of you smitten."
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 Network Ten
Network Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
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 Sam Clark
Sam Clark
-Studio albums:-Singles:-Music videos:-Filmography:-Awards and nominations:-External links:* on SoundCloud...
. Clark was given the role after he entered and won a Dolly magazine competition. He made his first on-screen appearance on 24 January 2007. Ringo's storylines have included his ongoing battle with an eating disorder, a bus crash, a relationship with an older woman, the collapse of a warehouse roof at an illegal dance party and his on-off relationship with Donna Freedman
Donna Freedman
Donna Jane Brown is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Margot Robbie. She made her first on-screen appearance on 2 June 2008. Donna was initially a guest character, but Robbie was promoted to regular cast member shortly after she made her debut...
. In July 2010, it was announced that Clark had decided to leave Neighbours. He filmed his final scenes at the end of the month and Ringo made his last credited appearance on 18 October 2010.
Casting
In 2006, Australian teen magazine, Dolly, held a competition offering two readers a chance to win a three-month contract with Neighbours. Dolly received 7,000 entries for the competition. Clark auditioned with his best friend, Tim Phillipps, who went on to play Fox, the figment of Paul RobinsonPaul Robinson (Neighbours)
Paul Stewart Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, a long-running serial drama about social life in the fictional Melbourne suburb of Erinsborough. He is played by Stefan Dennis. Paul debuted in the serial's first episode in 1985 and appeared on a...
's (Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis
Stefan Dennis is an Australian actor, best known for playing the role of Paul Robinson in the soap opera, Neighbours, from its first episode in March 1985 to the present day...
) imagination. Clark subsequently won the competition, along with Adelaide Kane
Adelaide Kane
Adelaide Kane is an Australian actress.-Biography:She is good friends with Caitlin Stasey, Eliza Taylor-Cotter, and Sianoa Smit-McPhee, who were also on Neighbours.-Career:...
(Lolly Allen), and he was signed to a three month contract to play the part of Ringo Brown. Compared with other Neighbours cast members who were cast through more traditional casting processes, Clark ultimately went through a longer audition process, auditioning four times before being cast, compared to the two auditions most cast members were required to go through. On his audition Clark said "I really didn't think I'd have any chance of getting anywhere. Apart from trying to do something a bit different with the script, I kept mine pretty simple". Just before the episode in which Ringo made his Neighbours debut was screened, Clark's contract was extended from the three months to nine months. Clark has since remained with the show for three years.
In 2009, it was announced that Clark would be taking a three month break from Neighbours to focus on his music career. When Clark returned to filming in February 2010, it was announced that he would perform one of his songs for departed character, Bridget Parker
Bridget Parker
Bridget Louise "Didge" Parker is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Eloise Mignon. In 2007 the show was revamped to boost falling ratings in Australia. As part of this, the show's focus returned to family dynamics and the character of Bridget and her family...
, played by Eloise Mignon
Eloise Mignon
Eloise Mignon is an Australian actress born in Kuwait.-Career:Mignon was educated at Melbourne Girls College, Wesley College and St Michael's Grammar School her screen credits include a role in Legacy of the Silver Shadow and a main character Mara Lomax in children's sci-fi series Silversun. She...
.
Characterisation
When his first episode went to air, Clark described Brown as a "a good-hearted kid, he doesn't want to hurt anyone, and he does the normal things that a 16-year-old kid does". Clark later went on to explain that Ringo has "basically left home and come to live the life his brother is living", he also added that Ringo is a typical boy next door. Network TenNetwork Ten
Network Ten , is one of Australia's three major commercial television networks. Owned-and-operated stations can be found in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth, while affiliates extend the network to cover most of the country...
describe Ringo as someone who had "often drawn the short straw in life". He is not an academic, but he is cleaver at reading people. Ten said "he's a good boy at heart, but he isn't averse to bending the rules to score a win. With the world at large he's cocky, cheeky and good-humoured". They added that when he gets a crush on a girl, he is left nervous and is likely to say the wrong thing.
Eating disorder
One of Ringo's biggest storylines saw him develop an eating disorder. Holy SoapHoly Soap
Holy Soap is a UK television and entertainment website founded in June 2009 by the British television company Channel 5. The website is the official UK home of the Australian soap operas Home and Away and Neighbours, which are broadcast on the channel...
have said that this is one of the first times in a soap opera that a male character has been at the center of such a storyline. Ringo had suffered with anorexia in the past and he later had a relapse. Ringo refuses to admit that he has a problem with his addiction to losing weight. He almost drowns in a school swimming race due to lack of food and this leaves him feeling bad about himself. Rosetta Cammeniti
Rosetta Cammeniti
Rosetta "Rosie" Cammeniti is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Saleeba. The character was introduced into the serial as part of a group of four "20 somethings." Saleeba began filming in July and she made her first on-screen appearance on 12 October...
(Natalie Saleeba
Natalie Saleeba
Natalie Saleeba is an Australian actress best known for her roles as Jessica Singleton in the medical drama series All Saints and Rosetta Cammeniti on Neighbours....
) catches Ringo taking appetite suppressants, which leaves her upset by the situation. Clark said that until that moment, Ringo had concealed his problem from everyone but Pepper Steiger
Pepper Steiger
Heidi "Pepper" Steiger is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Nicky Whelan. The character was introduced into the serial as part of a group of four characters branded as "20 somethings". She made her debut in the episode airing on 12 October 2006....
(Nicky Whelan). He added "Even Pepper thought he had the issue under control, but this is where it all comes to a head." Rosetta confronts Ringo and he is embarrassed and takes his anger out on her because he has been struggling with his problem for a long time. During an interview with Last Broadcast, Clark said that he believes guys are going through the same insecurities as girls, where they want to look like their heroes, such as soccer stars. He added that he was able to deal with the storyline because a close friend had suffered from anorexia. Clark later said that as eating disorders are on the rise among males, he believed the storyline was "realistic." On whether the storyline would carry on, Clark said "The only drawback was giving it the attention it requires. Because of the limitations of storylines, it would have been impossible to continue with this subject for too long. In reality, of course, eating disorders can continue for years." During a 2008 interview with TV Week
TV Week
TV Week is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne-only publication in December 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV.The publication is still publishing weekly...
Clark named the eating disorder storyline as his favourite storyline on the show so far. He also called it the hardest storyline because he had to really focus and get involved in it.
Relationship with Carmella Cammeniti
In 2007, Ringo began a brief relationship with the much older Carmella CammenitiCarmella Cammeniti
Carmella Cammeniti is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Blair. She appeared on a recurring basis from 2003-05, then became a main character from 2006-08, before making a final guest appearance in 2011...
(Natalie Blair
Natalie Blair
Natalie Louise Blair is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Carmella Cammeniti on Neighbours, an Australian TV series.-Career:...
). They share a kiss in a swimming pool during their siblings' pre-wedding celebrations at Lassiters Hotel. Ringo had fancied Carmella for a while and Carmella had just ended her relationship with Oliver Barnes
Oliver Barnes
Oliver Barnes is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by David Hoflin. He made his on-screen debut on 30 January 2007. Oliver is the oldest son of Rebecca Napier and the brother of Declan Napier...
(David Hoflin
David Hoflin
David Hoflin is a Swedish-born Australian actor. He is most famous for playing Jason Bates in Ocean Girl between 1994 and 1998, and Oliver Barnes in Neighbours between 2007 and 2008.-Career:...
). Of Ringo's reasons for his crush on Carmella, Clark said "She treats him like an adult and in a completely different way to how Rachel treated him. Then there's the fact that they get along really well together". When Ringo discovers that Carmella is starting to feel the same way about him, he lets her know that he senses her interest. Blair said that her character gives into Ringo advances because she is in an "insecure place". She also said "Ringo makes her feel wanted and appreciated – he's constantly saying wonderful things to her". Carmella thinks that it is a bit of fun, something she has not had in a while. Blair added "I think she's using him to make herself feel better". Clark said that the new relationship is embarrassing for Carmella and because Ringo is "so head-over-heels" for her, he does not mind when she asks him to keep quiet about it. Carmella later ends the relationship with Ringo, but he cannot accept it is over. At Sky Mangel
Sky Mangel
Sky Mangel is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Stephanie McIntosh. She made her first on-screen appearance on 1 February 1989, played by Miranda Fryer. McIntosh took over the role on 13 August 2003 when the character returned to the show...
(Stephanie McIntosh
Stephanie McIntosh
Stephanie McIntosh is an Australian actress and singer. She is known for her role as Sky Mangel in the Australian soap opera Neighbours and her music career, which began with the release of her debut album Tightrope in September 2006.-Background:McIntosh attended Firbank and then Melbourne Girls...
)'s farewell party, Ringo declares his feelings for Carmella in front of everyone. Carmella is then forced to tell him that she was never in love with him. Clark said he felt sorry for his character and called the situation "the ultimate embarrassment for him". Ringo then decides to leave town with his mother, Clark said "He just feels so embarrassed and as though he doesn't fit in anymore in the street".
Marriage
Ringo and Donna marry as part of the 25th anniversary celebrations. Clark was delighted with the storyline stating: "It was really lovely. Their relationship has been on and off over the past couple of years, so it was a nice culmination of that. It's great to see them rock solid now. The wedding was filmed on location and Clark said it was more meaningful than any studio or tiny church. Clark also had the least amount of filming to contribute to the storyline, whilst others characters spent whole days filming. He branded Donna as "the bride from hell" during the preparations. The wedding drew comparisons to the previous wedding of Scott RobinsonScott Robinson (Neighbours)
Scott James Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Jason Donovan. He made his first on-screen appearance on 18 March 1985, in the show's first episode. Scott was originally played by Darius Perkins until he was recast.-Casting:Darius...
(Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
) and Charlene Mitchell
Charlene Robinson
Charlene Edna Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours played by Kylie Minogue. She made her first on-screen appearance on 17 April 1986 when she came to join her mother Madge in Ramsay Street. Charlene was a tomboy and later worked as a Mechanic...
(Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Ann Minogue, OBE - often known simply as Kylie - is an Australian singer, recording artist, songwriter, and actress. After beginning her career as a child actress on Australian television, she achieved recognition through her role in the television soap opera Neighbours, before commencing...
).
Departure
In July 2010, Clark announced that he was to leave the show to concentrate on his music career. He filmed his final scenes at the end of the month. On his departure, Clark said it was one of the hardest decisions of his life. He added "I've been working on music for a very long time now and it was getting too hard to fit the two together and do them to the level I wanted. I feel as though the decision is right but that doesn't make it any easier". Clark said Ringo's departure from the show was a "decent send-off" and he hoped that Ringo would be a "character who is remembered for years to come". When he was asked if the door was open for his return, Clark said it was up to the script writers.In October, it was revealed that a "much-loved character" was to die in a drink-driving accident. Ringo was one of two potential fatalities, the other being Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Jo "Steph" Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Carla Bonner. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 October 1999. Stephanie is the eldest daughter of Joe and Lyn Scully and the mother to a son, Charlie...
(Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner is an Australian actress best known for playing the role of Steph Scully in the soap opera Neighbours, a role she played from 1999 to 2010...
). Steph is suffering from postpartum depression
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression , also called postnatal depression, is a form of clinical depression which can affect women, and less frequently men, typically after childbirth. Studies report prevalence rates among women from 5% to 25%, but methodological differences among the studies make the actual...
and after a confrontation 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...
(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:...
) she takes off on her motorbike. Steph had also been drinking the night before and she is speeding. Ringo, Kate Ramsay
Kate Ramsay
Kate Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ashleigh Brewer. She made her first on-screen appearance on 15 May 2009. She is the eldest sibling of Harry and Sophie Ramsay...
(Ashleigh Brewer
Ashleigh Brewer
Ashleigh Brewer is an Australian actress. She is best known for playing Kate Ramsay in the long-running Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Biography and personal life:...
) and Declan Napier
Declan Napier
Declan Napier is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Erin Mullally. The character first appeared on-screen on 25 July 2007. In January 2010 it was announced that original actor James Sorensen had quit the role of Declan and the decision to recast...
(Erin Mullally
Erin Mullally
Erin Mullally is an Australian actor and model best known for playing the role of Declan Napier in Neighbours. Mullally was cast in the role after original actor, James Sorensen, left the show. The character of Declan is Mullally's first major television role...
) are returning to the car after Ringo had to go out to buy cupcakes for his and Donna's wedding anniversary. Ringo is in the wrong place at the wrong time, which also puts his life in danger. Steph comes around the corner on her bike and Clark explained that as Kate steps on to the road, Ringo sees the bike and pushes Kate out of the way. However, Clark added "[Ringo] tries to get out of the way himself – but he may not manage to." Ringo later dies and Steph is charged with driving under the influence of alcohol. Clark later said that his exit plot was "a lot of fun" and that he got to perform the stunt himself. Of this, Clark said " [I] narrowly, in real life, just missed a motorbike coming at me! It's an exciting way to leave a show." Clark added that as filming on Neighbours is shot out of sequence, this was not his last scene and he left on a "high" as his last scene was a humorous one.
Background
Ringo is the youngest in a line of siblings named after The BeatlesThe Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
. As a child, Ringo idolized his older brother George and was distraught when George left home and changed his name to Frazer Yeats
Frazer Yeats
Frazer Yeats is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ben Lawson. The character was introduced into the serial as part of a group of four characters branded as "20 somethings". He debuted in the episode airing on 12 October 2006. He departed the...
, leaving Ringo alone with their small-minded parents and elder brother Johnny. Ringo resented his brother for leaving and desperately wanted to become a part of Frazer's cool, new world.
2007–10
Ringo arrives in Ramsay Street to see FrazerFrazer Yeats
Frazer Yeats is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ben Lawson. The character was introduced into the serial as part of a group of four characters branded as "20 somethings". He debuted in the episode airing on 12 October 2006. He departed the...
(Ben Lawson
Ben Lawson
Ben Lawson is an Australian actor best known for his role as Frazer Yeats in the Australian television series Neighbours....
) and is mistaken for an intruder by Zeke Kinski
Zeke Kinski
Ezekiel "Zeke" Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Matthew Werkmeister. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 August 2005. Zeke is the son of Alex Kinski and the younger brother of Katya and Rachel...
(Matthew Werkmeister
Matthew Werkmeister
Matthew Werkmeister is an Australian stage and television actor. He is best known for his role as Zeke Kinski in the soap opera Neighbours which he joined in 2005...
). Frazer explains to Ringo that he came to Erinsborough to win the heart of their brother's ex-fiancee, Rosetta Cammeniti
Rosetta Cammeniti
Rosetta "Rosie" Cammeniti is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Saleeba. The character was introduced into the serial as part of a group of four "20 somethings." Saleeba began filming in July and she made her first on-screen appearance on 12 October...
(Natalie Saleeba
Natalie Saleeba
Natalie Saleeba is an Australian actress best known for her roles as Jessica Singleton in the medical drama series All Saints and Rosetta Cammeniti on Neighbours....
). Frazer allows him to stay in Ramsay Street and he later enrolls at Erinsborough High. Ringo quickly develops a crush on Zeke's sister Rachel Kinski
Rachel Kinski
Rachel Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Caitlin Stasey. She made her first on-screen appearance on 18 August 2005. She is the middle child of Alex Kinski and sister to Zeke and Katya. Rachel's storylines ranged from parental bereavement and first...
(Caitlin Stasey
Caitlin Stasey
Caitlin Jean Stasey is an Australian actress from Melbourne, who is best known for her previous role as Rachel Kinski in Neighbours. Previously she played Francesca Thomas in The Sleepover Club...
) and turns to Lolly Allen (Adelaide Kane
Adelaide Kane
Adelaide Kane is an Australian actress.-Biography:She is good friends with Caitlin Stasey, Eliza Taylor-Cotter, and Sianoa Smit-McPhee, who were also on Neighbours.-Career:...
) for advice. However, he finds himself helping her out when she admits that her stepmother, Sandy, has been abusing her. When Sandy falls into the pool, Ringo rescues her and Rachel is impressed that he pulled her out from the side. Ringo then admits that he cannot swim and Rachel decides to teach him. After their first lesson, Ringo and Rachel share their first kiss and begin a relationship. Rachel asks Ringo to put their relationship following the death of Stingray Timmins (Ben Nicholas
Ben Nicholas
Benjamin Nicholas is an Australian actor. He is best known for playing Scott "Stingray" Timmins in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Biography:...
), but they later reconcile.
Ringo began working for Carmella Cammeniti
Carmella Cammeniti
Carmella Cammeniti is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Blair. She appeared on a recurring basis from 2003-05, then became a main character from 2006-08, before making a final guest appearance in 2011...
's (Natalie Blair
Natalie Blair
Natalie Louise Blair is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Carmella Cammeniti on Neighbours, an Australian TV series.-Career:...
) Fruit and Vegetable company. Ringo grew close to Carmella as she listened to him and treated him as an adult. Ringo helped her to overcome her addiction to anti-depressants and helped her through her relationship with Oliver Barnes
Oliver Barnes
Oliver Barnes is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by David Hoflin. He made his on-screen debut on 30 January 2007. Oliver is the oldest son of Rebecca Napier and the brother of Declan Napier...
(David Hoflin
David Hoflin
David Hoflin is a Swedish-born Australian actor. He is most famous for playing Jason Bates in Ocean Girl between 1994 and 1998, and Oliver Barnes in Neighbours between 2007 and 2008.-Career:...
). After finding themselves alone one day, Carmella and Ringo almost kiss, but Carmella backs off and Ringo later breaks up with Rachel. He then asks Carmella to meet up with him, when she does not show, he goes home to confront her and they almost kiss again. The night before Frazer and Rosetta's wedding, Ringo decides to go to Lassiter's pool, Carmella joins him and they share a kiss. However, Carmella realises that it was wrong and she walks away. After the wedding, some of the residents are being driven back home in a minibus by Toadfish Rebecchi
Toadfish Rebecchi
Jarrod Vincenzo Rebecchi is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Ryan Moloney. He debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 8 February 1995....
(Ryan Moloney
Ryan Moloney
Ryan Moloney is an Australian actor best known for his portrayal of the fictional character Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Before Neighbours:...
). During the journey, Ringo moves to the back of the bus to talk to Carmella. The minibus is hit by a removal van, causing it to crash. Ringo is trapped in the wreckage and he tells Carmella that he loves her. Carmella tells him that she loves him too. Ringo is rushed to hospital where he suffers a cardiac arrest and the medical staff decide to put him into a coma. When he is brought out of the coma, he remembers what Carmella said to him and confronts her. Carmella tells him that she does not love him and she lied. Ringo then decides to go home with his mother, Prue (Penny Cook
Penny Cook
Penny Cook is an Australian actress. She graduated from the National Institute of Dramatic Art in 1978.Cook first appeared in the 1970s Australian television soap opera The Restless Years...
).
On his return, Ringo became very body conscious and he began to lift weights, running and not eating properly. Pepper Steiger
Pepper Steiger
Heidi "Pepper" Steiger is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Nicky Whelan. The character was introduced into the serial as part of a group of four characters branded as "20 somethings". She made her debut in the episode airing on 12 October 2006....
(Nicky Whelan) realises that these are the signs of an eating disorder, but when she confronts Ringo, he denies he has a problem. Pepper eventually gets through to him and he begins to eat normally again. Just before Pepper leaves Erinsborough, she tells Daniel Fitzgerald
Daniel Fitzgerald (Neighbours)
Daniel Fitzgerald is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Brett Tucker. He made his first on-screen appearance on 1 September 1999. Dan becomes a teacher at Erinsborough High and shares a house with fellow teacher, Tess. He remained as a recurring...
(Brett Tucker
Brett Tucker
Brett Alan Tucker is an Australian actor and singer. He was a series regular in The Saddle Club and McLeod's Daughters...
) and Rosetta about Ringo's problem. Rosetta soon discovers that Ringo is using appetite suppressants and tells Frazer about Ringo's condition. After nearly drowning during a swim trial, Ringo is confronted by Daniel and Frazer and refuses counselling. When Ringo learns that Rosie and Frazer are expecting a baby, only to find out it was a wrongly diagnosed phantom pregnancy, the stress causes his eating disorder to flare up again. Ringo admits that he is struggling and Rachel begs him to tell Frazer. Ringo goes to the beach for a swim, but he swims out too far and struggles to get back to shore. His disappearance leaves everyone worried and a search party is organised. He is found unconscious on the beach by Bridget (Eloise Mignon
Eloise Mignon
Eloise Mignon is an Australian actress born in Kuwait.-Career:Mignon was educated at Melbourne Girls College, Wesley College and St Michael's Grammar School her screen credits include a role in Legacy of the Silver Shadow and a main character Mara Lomax in children's sci-fi series Silversun. She...
) and Steve Parker
Steve Parker
Steven "Steve" Parker is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Steve Bastoni. In 2007, Neighbours decided to return to focusing more on family dynamics and the characters of Steve and his family were created and introduced to help boost falling...
(Steve Bastoni
Steve Bastoni
Steve Bastoni is an Italian Australian actor. He is best known for his role in Police Rescue as Constable Yannis 'Angel' Angelopoulos and as Steve Parker in Neighbours.-Television:...
). While recovering in hospital, Ringo eventually decides to take control of his life and moves in with the Kennedy/Kinski family. During a surprise 18th birthday party for him, Ringo confesses to everyone that he has an eating disorder. On the same day as the party, Ringo said goodbye to Frazer and Rosetta who leave for Italy.
Ringo is instantly attracted to Donna Freedman
Donna Freedman
Donna Jane Brown is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Margot Robbie. She made her first on-screen appearance on 2 June 2008. Donna was initially a guest character, but Robbie was promoted to regular cast member shortly after she made her debut...
(Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie is an Australian actress. She is known for her role as Donna Freedman on the soap opera Neighbours, which earned her two Logie Award nominations. In 2011, Robbie began appearing as Laura Cameron in the ABC drama series Pan Am.-Early life:Robbie was born on 2 July 1990 and grew up on...
) and tries to date her, but he is rebuffed. The pair eventually develop a strong relationship, despite a few hiccups along the way. When Susan finds some photographs of Donna in Zeke's draw, Ringo believes that they were having an affair and broke up with Donna. She later explains that nothing was going on between her and Zeke and Ringo apologized. Following Bridget's death, Ringo decides that he wants to become a paramedic. Karl introduces Ringo to some of his paramedic friends and Ringo enjoys learning about his potential career. Declan Napier
Declan Napier
Declan Napier is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Erin Mullally. The character first appeared on-screen on 25 July 2007. In January 2010 it was announced that original actor James Sorensen had quit the role of Declan and the decision to recast...
(James Sorensen
James Sorensen
James Sorensen is a professional model and actor. He is of Danish, British and Portuguese descent. He has a twin sister and a brother who is 6 years younger.-Biography:...
) tells Ringo that Bridget would have been proud. Ringo is offered a chance to attend a paramedic course in Sydney, but he gives it up to stay in Erinsborough with Donna. When Ringo finds out that Donna has been cheating on him with Andrew Robinson
Andrew Robinson (Neighbours)
Andrew Benito Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jordan Smith. He made his first on-screen appearance on 13 November 1991. Shannon Holmes previously played the role from the character's birth in 1991 until 1992...
(Jordan Smith
Jordan Smith (actor)
Jordan Patrick Smith is a Scottish-born Australian actor best known for playing Andrew Robinson in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Personal life:...
), he leaves for Sydney to attend the course. Ringo returns to Erinsborough after Rebecca Robinson (Jane Hall
Jane Hall (actress)
Jane Hall is an Australian actress and comedian.-Biography:Born in Melbourne, Hall grew up in the Dandenong Ranges....
) calls him asking if he'll help support Declan through Bridget's birthday. He speaks to Donna and tells her that they should be friends. On his first day as a trainee paramedic, he messes up his first job. However, he later diagnoses a collapsed young woman's condition as anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is defined as "a serious allergic reaction that is rapid in onset and may cause death". It typically results in a number of symptoms including throat swelling, an itchy rash, and low blood pressure...
. He goes to visit her in hospital and she tells him her name is Naomi (Kate Bell
Kate Bell
Kate Bell is an Australian actress.-Biography:Bell played the role of Bec Sanderson in the television series Blue Water High, and it was for this role that she learned to surf. After playing Bec, she played Joey in Home And Away...
). Ringo then begins a relationship with her, but he breaks it off after discovering that she stole his ID card. Naomi doesn't take the breakup well and blames Donna. She frames Donna after stealing her own hospital records. Ringo goes to Naomi's house to look for evidence and finds a shrine dedicated to him. Naomi is arrested, but she later calls Ringo and begs him to meet her. Ringo ignores the calls and Naomi is later admitted to hospital after she is hit by a car. Ringo visits her and she blames him for everything that has happened, Ringo then decides that he does not want to be a paramedic anymore. He gets a job working on a building site, but discovers that Toadie is serving a writ on his boss, Jim Dolan (Scott Parameter) over a previous job. When Donna goes to pick Ringo up from the site, she leans on some scaffolding that had been tampered with by Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and it falls on her. Ringo rushes to help Donna and he has to help her when she stops breathing. At the hospital, Ringo faces hostility from Donna's father Nick (Brian Vriends
Brian Vriends
Brian Vriends is an Australian actor most known for his work as Ben Markham on All Saints, an Australian hospital drama. Vriends married co-actor in All Saints Libby Tanner and they have a daughter. Vriends and Tanner have since separated....
). Ringo tells Nick he loves Donna and she overhears. She says that she needs some time alone, but Ringo decides to propose. Donna turns him down because of her father, but she changes her mind and proposes to Ringo, who accepts. Donna persuades Ringo to return to being a paramedic. He wins a Green Card lottery to work in the USA and he and Donna bring forward their planned marriage so that she can go with him. During Ringo's bucks night, his mother, Prue, arrives to meet Donna early. On the morning of the wedding, Donna tells Ringo that his mother and her father slept together. Ringo confronts his mother, who tells him that she and his father split up months ago. When he finds out about Declan kissing Candace Carey (Sheona Urquhart), Ringo tells him that he is no longer best man. He chooses Karl instead. Ringo panics when Donna is late to the ceremony, but she turns up in a police car and they marry. Ringo leads Donna to believe that he has forgotten their anniversary, before going out with Declan and Kate to get her favourite cupcakes. As the group are walking back to the car, Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Scully
Stephanie Jo "Steph" Scully is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Carla Bonner. She made her first on-screen appearance on 21 October 1999. Stephanie is the eldest daughter of Joe and Lyn Scully and the mother to a son, Charlie...
(Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner
Carla Bonner is an Australian actress best known for playing the role of Steph Scully in the soap opera Neighbours, a role she played from 1999 to 2010...
) appears speeding on her motorcycle. Ringo pushes Kate out of the way and he is hit by the bike. Kate calls for an ambulance and tells them that one person is not breathing. Ringo is taken to the hospital where he dies from his injuries.
In other media
In 2009, Neighbours became the first Australian series to establish Twitter accounts for its characters. Ringo was one of four characters to have an account set up, with the others being Declan, Donna and Zeke. They began sending daily updates to their fans, giving advice and talking to each other. The updates are "complementary to the show's on-air storylines". FremantleMedia EnterprisesFremantleMedia Australia
FremantleMedia Australia is the Australian arm of FremantleMedia and was formed in 2006 by the merger of two great names in Australian television industry - Crackerjack Productions and Grundy Television, who had been both acquired by FremantleMedia....
vice-president of licensing Ben Liebmann said, "We thought it was a really great way to continue or allow the audience to engage with the Neighbours world off-screen". The messages are overseen by the Fremantle digital team, which is integrated with the story department of the Neighbours production team.
Reception
Clark's portrayal of Brown led to him receiving a nomination for the "Most Popular New Male Talent" award at the 50th Annual TV WeekTV Week
TV Week is a weekly television magazine in Australia, first published as a Melbourne-only publication in December 1957 , and bearing a strong affiliation to television station GTV.The publication is still publishing weekly...
Logie Award
Logie Award
The TV Week Logie Awards are the Australian television industry awards, which have been presented annually since 1959. Renamed by Graham Kennedy in 1960 after he won the first 'Star Of The Year' award, the name 'Logie' awards honours John Logie Baird, a Scotsman who invented the television as a...
s. At the 2007 Inside Soap Awards
Inside Soap Awards
The Inside Soap Awards is a yearly award ceremony run by Inside Soap magazine since 1996. The awards celebrate the British and Australian soap operas and their actors. Until 2007, EastEnders had won the award for "Best Soap" on every occasion...
, Clark was nominated for "Best Newcomer". The 2009 ceremony saw Clark nominated for "Sexiest Male".
In 2009, during Ringo's AFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
storyline, critic Larissa Dubecki of Wa Today described Ringo as a "regular nice teenage boy" who was transforming into a "footy hero dickhead". Ringo has been negatively received by Ruth Deller of television website Lowculture
Lowculture
lowculture.co.uk is a UK television website founded in January 2003 by Paul Lang, who currently works as the art director of Doctor Who Adventures.-Purpose:...
. In February 2010, she called him "a bit of a dick who doesn't have any purpose whatsoever on the show right now". Holy Soap
Holy Soap
Holy Soap is a UK television and entertainment website founded in June 2009 by the British television company Channel 5. The website is the official UK home of the Australian soap operas Home and Away and Neighbours, which are broadcast on the channel...
named Ringo's eating disorder storyline as his most memorable moment, they said "Ringo broke soap barriers when it was revealed he suffered from an eating disorder, with which he still battles". Ringo was named one of OK!
OK!
OK! is a British weekly magazine specializing in celebrity news. Originally launched as a monthly, its first issue was published in April 1993. In September 2004, OK! publishers Northern and Shell launched in Australia as a monthly title – the magazine went weekly in October 2006...
magazine's Top 10 Neighbours characters of all time by OK! Twitter users. They said "Ringo Brown (Sam Clark) – A newbie whose name was all over our Twitter page. Was given the role after winning a competition and has clearly got a lot of you smitten."
External links
- Character profile on the Neighbours Official AU website
- Character profile on the Neighbours Official UK website
- Ringo Brown on Twitter