Todd Landers
Encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Simpsons character Todd Flanders
Todd Robert Landers is a fictional character
from the Australian Network Ten
soap opera Neighbours
, played by Kristian Schmid. He made his first on-screen appearance on 15 February 1988. Todd died on 13 July 1992, but reappeared as a ghost the following episode. Todd was last seen on 17 July 1992 on video and his voice was heard when Phoebe Bright read a letter written by him. This was Kristian Schmid's final credited appearance on Neighbours.
, Neighbours' casting director, came to the school to hold auditions for the show. Russ said she was looking for a teenage boy, around 14 or 15, to play the role of Todd Landers. Schmid asked to audition and he was successfully cast in the role of Todd.
Schmid remained with Neighbours until his character was killed off at the age of 17. Schmid revealed that he had suggested that Todd was killed. He said "I spoke to the producers about a year before I left the show. The fact they gave me such a dramatic exit was what I wanted. It's flattering on a show like that".
's "cheekily independent nephew". He and his sister, Katie, followed their aunt to Ramsay Street to escape their bullying father, who believed that his children should pay for his drinking habit. They became adopted members of Beverly and her husband, Jim
's household. Todd was initially overprotective towards Katie and cynical. Todd later became a "conscientious student" who was easily distracted by his girlfriends. Todd began a relationship with Phoebe Bright and they lost their virginity to each other. Phoebe became pregnant and the couple were later seen discussing their options. They decided that Phoebe should have an abortion, but Todd, who had become thoughtful and sensitive in the time, changed his mind.
(Sally Jensen). Todd and Katie's upbringing was a tempestuous one, with Bob and Annette constantly at each other's throats.
, to their aunt Beverly Marshall
's (Lisa Armytage) wedding to Hilary's cousin, Jim
(Alan Dale
). Todd is dismissive when Jim's children Paul
(Stefan Dennis
) and Lucy
(Sasha Close) try to communicate with him and Katie. Shortly after the ceremony and before the beginning of Paul's vow renewal to his wife Gail (Fiona Corke
), Todd steals Hilary's car keys to retrieve his and Katie's bags from the car. Todd and Katie run away but are eventually found by Jim's other son Scott
and his wife, Charlene
(Kylie Minogue
).
Jim and Beverley agree to sacrifice their honeymoon to look after Todd and Katie and let them stay at Number 26 with them while Bob and Annette work through their problems. During his first few months in Erinsborough, Todd manages to provoke the ire of local residents Harold Bishop
(Ian Smith
and Nell Mangel
(Vivean Gray
).
Later in the year, Todd finds himself at odds with street kid and graffiti artist Nick Page
(Mark Stevens) who has previously graffitied Jim's fence and things are not helped when Emma Gordon (Tamsin West
), Todd's crush, develops an attraction to Nick. Eventually, Todd softens towards Nick when his grandmother dies and he moves in with the Robinsons.
After a babysitting blunder, which leads to Jamie Clarke (S.J. Dey) nearly drowning, Todd runs away from home and begins living in a squat with a petty criminal named Skinner (Mat Stevenson
) who forces him into crime. Nick, acting on a hunch, follows Todd and Skinner who are about to rob a warehouse, which backfires, resulting in Nick's arrest. Racked with guilt, Todd returns home and confesses to get Nick off the hook, resulting in Todd being cautioned. The stress of Todd's recent behavior causes Helen Daniels
(Anne Haddy
), Jim's mother-in-law to have a stroke.
While staying with Paul and Gail at Number 22, Todd comes face to face with Skinner again who
forces his way in and threatens to hurt Katie if Todd does not comply
with the theft of the VCR. Gail returns home and rescues the Landers children, Skinner bolts with Todd in hot pursuit and is collared by Nick and eventually arrested.
In May 1989, Katie tells Todd that Bob is in Erinsborough and initially disbelieves her until he phones Annette who confirms he walked out two weeks earlier. Todd talks to Bob and eventually obtains a confession about trying to extort money out of Helen. Bob tries to leave but Todd catches him and Bob suggests he come up North with him. Todd is about to go with Bob but Jim and Beverly arrive and stop him.
Todd's first taste of love comes in the form of Alison Ryder, a girl he meets on the bus on the way back from Adelaide and is totally smitten with her. Alison stays with the Robinsons but her true colours are exposed when Helen finds $30 missing. Todd is horrified at the accusations from his family that his new girlfriend is a thief and after refusing to believe them, decides to go back to Adelaide with her when her visit ends. On the day Todd and Alison are supposed to leave, Todd discovers the brooch Helen's late husband Bill gave her for her 21st birthday in Alison's bag. Todd confronts Alison and she is rude to him, insisting her actions are no big deal, Jim drives her to the bus station and she is never seen again.
When fellow student Melissa Jarrett
(Jade Amenta) begins taking piano lessons from Hilary, she is attracted to Todd, who is initially shy and begins avoiding her. Melissa is unimpressed but eventually softens when Todd tells her about his experience with Alison. Todd and Melissa begin dating, but he receives a phone call from Annette, who believes she is able to cope with Todd and Katie now. Todd is allowed to stay in Erinsborough while Katie goes back to Adelaide. Melissa's father, Ben (David Ravenswood) takes a dislike to Todd, who he feels is leading his daughter astray after misconstruing a situation with Todd being in Melissa's room.
In late 1989, The Jarretts go to America for several months, leaving Todd devastated. Cody Willis
(Amelia Frid
), a classmate of Todd and Melissa's at Erinsborough High takes more than a passing interest in Todd and stages a Hawaiian-themed party, which is a ruse to have Todd as the only guest in order to seduce him. After Christmas, Melissa returns to find Todd and Cody kissing passionately and promptly dumps Todd. Todd is incensed when Melissa begins flirting with Hilary's son Matt
(Ashley Paske
), in order to make him jealous.
On Todd's 16th birthday, He makes a new friend in Josh Anderson
(Jeremy Angerson), who moves to Erinborough from Mildura with his parents who have bought the newsagent's on Anson's Corner. Todd, Melissa, Josh and Cody begin hanging around together as a regular teen group. However, the dynamic changes when the respective couplings of Todd and Cody and Josh and Melissa begin to realize they have feelings for each other. All four parties manage to resolve things.
Todd decides he wants a trail bike and eventually puts down a deposit for it, but Beverly refuses which puts even further strain on the already fraught marriage between her and Jim.
Todd reluctantly moves into the flat behind the surgery when Jim and Beverly separate. After Ewan O'Brien, a former flame of Beverly's appears on the scene, Todd begins hanging out with petty Criminal Gary "Boof" Head (Stephen Hall
), much to the annoyance of his friends. After a failed raid on a bike yard, Todd is forced to confess and then is later attacked by Boof, but Josh comes to Todd's aid.
When Cody's parents, Doug (Terence Donovan
) and Pam (Sue Jones
) buy Number 28 from Des Clarke
(Paul Keane
), Todd is thrilled at the prospect of having his girlfriend living next door. Unfortunately for Todd, Beverly's second miscarriage is the final straw for her marriage to Jim, which results in Beverly leaving for Perth but not before taking Todd back to Adelaide. Todd is heartbroken and later makes a return to Erinsborough and hides out in Cody's room until being caught by Pam.
Jim talks to Annette and an agreement is made that Todd can stay in Erinsborough. After a misunderstanding over a sex education class, Todd and Cody are forbidden from seeing each other and agree to run away together. Cody unfortunately becomes ill with fever and is forced to return home when Doug catches up with them. Todd decides to keep on running.
After three months of running, Todd finally returns home after visiting Helen in hospital after she suffers a fall at the hotel she and Josh stayed at while looking for Todd. Principal Dorothy Burke
(Maggie Dence
), suggests Todd repeats Year 10 after missing three months of school, but eventually relents and decides to let Todd join his friends in Year 11.
Todd's relationship with Cody is put to the test when Dorothy puts Cody forward for a study programme in America. The couple decide to split and date other people. Cody dates Darren Wood (Troy Beckwith) and Todd begins dating Emma again. This is only temporary, as Todd and Cody realize they love each other in the days leading up to Cody's departure. They agree to keep in touch via long distance, but several months later, Cody writes to Todd telling him she has found someone else.
At Christmas 1991, Todd elects to stay in Erinsborough rather than going to Surfers Paradise, Queensland
with Josh, Lucy and Cody's brother Brad (Scott Michaelson
). Todd is shocked when Bob makes a reappearance in his life, having escaped from prison and reluctantly agrees to hide him at the recently vacated Number 32. Helen discovers this and is angry but decides to let Bob spend Christmas Day with them as most of everyone is away. On Christmas Day, Todd and Glen Donnelly
(Richard Huggett) , Jim's illegitimate son are called by Paul to the Lassiter's complex to help fix the roof. Glen slips and Todd tries desperately to hold onto him but fails to resulting in Glen being injured. Paul tries to buy Todd off with a car to get Todd to change his story in court when Glen sues but Todd refuses.
Todd later finds himself falling for Phoebe Bright (Simone Robertson
), Josh's girlfriend after she reveals how she truly feels about him. When Todd and Phoebe's romance is exposed, there is a strained atmosphere between Todd and Josh, who has been living with the Robinsons for the last year. Fortunately things are resolved before Josh returns home to Mildura. Todd and Phoebe later begin sleeping together which is met with disapproval by Jim and Dorothy. Phoebe later falls pregnant and Todd vows to support stand by her and the baby by dropping out of school and finding work. Todd visits Bob in prison, who tells him marrying Phoebe would be a mistake as he and Annette married young. Phoebe ultimately decides to have an abortion which Todd tries to accept but cannot.
Todd takes a bus to the clinic but the bus breaks down, so he runs across a busy freeway and is hit by an oncoming van. Paramedics arrive and Todd is taken to hospital, Jim receives a phone call from the police and he and Paul rush to Erinsborough Hospital. Jim uses Paul's car phone to call the clinic to contact Dorothy and Phoebe about Todd's accident and they race there.
Todd later wakes up in hospital after a successful splenectomy
. He appears to have recovered and talks to Phoebe about the future and tells her she is beautiful when he suddenly goes into cardiac arrest due to a ruptured artery the doctors miss. Doctors and Nurses try to resuscitate Todd but he flatlines with Jim, Phoebe and Dorothy unable to do anything but look on. The day after his death, Todd appears as a ghost in Phoebe's mirror telling her he will always be there for her and the baby, who he says will be a girl. Phoebe later gives birth to Hope.
In 2007, Australian newspaper the Herald Sun
placed Todd's death at number ten on their list of Neighbours Top Ten moments.
Todd Robert Landers is a fictional character
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 Kristian Schmid. He made his first on-screen appearance on 15 February 1988. Todd died on 13 July 1992, but reappeared as a ghost the following episode. Todd was last seen on 17 July 1992 on video and his voice was heard when Phoebe Bright read a letter written by him. This was Kristian Schmid's final credited appearance on Neighbours.
Casting
Schmid was 12 years old when decided to sign himself up for an acting course in Melbourne. Three weeks later, Jan RussJan Russ
Jan Russ is an Australian Casting director and actor best known for her work on the soap opera Neighbours from the show's beginning in 1985 to her departure in 2009. Russ was also the casting director on Prisoner until the show's cancellation...
, Neighbours
Schmid remained with Neighbours until his character was killed off at the age of 17. Schmid revealed that he had suggested that Todd was killed. He said "I spoke to the producers about a year before I left the show. The fact they gave me such a dramatic exit was what I wanted. It's flattering on a show like that".
Characterisation
Todd was described as being Beverly MarshallBeverly Marshall
Beverly Marshall is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. The character was originally played by Lisa Armytage and she made her first on-screen appearance on 6 July 1987. Shaunna O'Grady took over from Armytage and began playing the character from 16 March 1989 until her...
's "cheekily independent nephew". He and his sister, Katie, followed their aunt to Ramsay Street to escape their bullying father, who believed that his children should pay for his drinking habit. They became adopted members of Beverly and her husband, Jim
Jim Robinson (Neighbours)
James "Jim" Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Dale. He made his first on-screen appearance on 18 March 1985, which was the shows first episode. Jim was the patriarch of the Robinson family. Dale departed the show in 1993 after...
's household. Todd was initially overprotective towards Katie and cynical. Todd later became a "conscientious student" who was easily distracted by his girlfriends. Todd began a relationship with Phoebe Bright and they lost their virginity to each other. Phoebe became pregnant and the couple were later seen discussing their options. They decided that Phoebe should have an abortion, but Todd, who had become thoughtful and sensitive in the time, changed his mind.
Backstory
Todd was born in 1974. His parents are Bob (Robin Harrison; Bruce Kilpatrick) and Annette Landers (Tania Uren) and he is the older brother of Katie LandersKatie Landers
Katie Landers is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Sally Jensen. She made her first on screen appearance on 15 February 1988. Katie is the niece of Beverly Marshall and sister to Todd Landers. During her time in the show, she became close friends with Toby...
(Sally Jensen). Todd and Katie's upbringing was a tempestuous one, with Bob and Annette constantly at each other's throats.
1988–1992
Todd and Katie's fortunes change when they accompany family friend Hilary RobinsonHilary Robinson
Hilary Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Scott-Pendlebury. The character first appeared on-screen on 25 June 1987, returning in 1988, in a guest capacity and returned in a permanent role in 1989 and left the show in 1990. She...
, to their aunt Beverly Marshall
Beverly Marshall
Beverly Marshall is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours. The character was originally played by Lisa Armytage and she made her first on-screen appearance on 6 July 1987. Shaunna O'Grady took over from Armytage and began playing the character from 16 March 1989 until her...
's (Lisa Armytage) wedding to Hilary's cousin, Jim
Jim Robinson (Neighbours)
James "Jim" Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Dale. He made his first on-screen appearance on 18 March 1985, which was the shows first episode. Jim was the patriarch of the Robinson family. Dale departed the show in 1993 after...
(Alan Dale
Alan Dale
Alan Hugh Dale is a New Zealand actor. As a child, Dale developed a love of theatre and also became a rugby player. After retiring from the sport he took on a number of professions to support his family, before deciding to become a professional actor at the age of 27. With work limited in New...
). Todd is dismissive when Jim's children Paul
Paul 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...
(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...
) and Lucy
Lucy Robinson
Lucy Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Melissa Bell. She had previously been portrayed by Kylie Flinker and Sasha Close. She was created by producer Reg Watson as one of Neighbours' original characters. Lucy was a prominent figure...
(Sasha Close) try to communicate with him and Katie. Shortly after the ceremony and before the beginning of Paul's vow renewal to his wife Gail (Fiona Corke
Fiona Corke
Fiona Corke is an Australian actress best known for her role as Gail Robinson on the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Career:Corke began her career with a minor role in the film 'I Live with Me Dad'...
), Todd steals Hilary's car keys to retrieve his and Katie's bags from the car. Todd and Katie run away but are eventually found by Jim's other son Scott
Scott 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...
and his wife, Charlene
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...
).
Jim and Beverley agree to sacrifice their honeymoon to look after Todd and Katie and let them stay at Number 26 with them while Bob and Annette work through their problems. During his first few months in Erinsborough, Todd manages to provoke the ire of local residents Harold Bishop
Harold Bishop
Harold Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ian Smith. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 January 1987. Smith was offered a role by Neighbours creator and executive producer Reg Watson...
(Ian Smith
Ian Smith (actor)
Ian Smith is an Australian soap opera character actor and television screenwriter, best known today for his long-running role as the caring, kindly coffee shop owner Harold Bishop in the soap opera Neighbours....
and Nell Mangel
Nell Mangel
Eleanor "Nell" Worthington is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Vivean Gray. She made her first on-screen appearance on 29 April 1986. She was known almost exclusively to others as "Mrs Mangel". The character caused controversy among some of the...
(Vivean Gray
Vivean Gray
Vivean Gray is an English actress, who found her niche playing gossipy characters in Australian television series. In her early life, she lived in England but moved to Australia after she had trouble finding any acting opportunities...
).
Later in the year, Todd finds himself at odds with street kid and graffiti artist Nick Page
Nick Page (Neighbours)
Nick Page is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Mark Stevens. He debuted on-screen in the episode airing on 22 July 1988 and departed the serial in 1990.-Casting:...
(Mark Stevens) who has previously graffitied Jim's fence and things are not helped when Emma Gordon (Tamsin West
Tamsin West
Tamsin West is an Australian actress, best known for her role as Linda Twist in Round the Twist. Tamsin was the first Linda Twist.-Biography:...
), Todd's crush, develops an attraction to Nick. Eventually, Todd softens towards Nick when his grandmother dies and he moves in with the Robinsons.
After a babysitting blunder, which leads to Jamie Clarke (S.J. Dey) nearly drowning, Todd runs away from home and begins living in a squat with a petty criminal named Skinner (Mat Stevenson
Mat Stevenson
Mat Stevenson is an Australian actor.He is best known for playing Adam Cameron in the television soap opera Home and Away from 1989 to 1994, making a return appearance in 1999. Prior to Home and Away, Stevenson played the part of "Skinner", a treacherous petty criminal whom Todd Landershad...
) who forces him into crime. Nick, acting on a hunch, follows Todd and Skinner who are about to rob a warehouse, which backfires, resulting in Nick's arrest. Racked with guilt, Todd returns home and confesses to get Nick off the hook, resulting in Todd being cautioned. The stress of Todd's recent behavior causes Helen Daniels
Helen Daniels
Helen Daniels is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Anne Haddy. Following the death of Jim Robinson in 1993, she remained the only original character left in the series until her own death in 1997, making her the second longest-serving original character...
(Anne Haddy
Anne Haddy
Anne Haddy was an Australian film and television actress, best known for her role in the long-running soap opera, Neighbours.-Early and personal life:...
), Jim's mother-in-law to have a stroke.
While staying with Paul and Gail at Number 22, Todd comes face to face with Skinner again who
forces his way in and threatens to hurt Katie if Todd does not comply
Duress in English law
Duress in English law is a complete common law defence, operating in favour of those who commit crimes because they are forced or compelled to do so by the circumstances, or the threats of another. The doctrine arises in both English criminal law, and in civil law, where it is relevant to English...
with the theft of the VCR. Gail returns home and rescues the Landers children, Skinner bolts with Todd in hot pursuit and is collared by Nick and eventually arrested.
In May 1989, Katie tells Todd that Bob is in Erinsborough and initially disbelieves her until he phones Annette who confirms he walked out two weeks earlier. Todd talks to Bob and eventually obtains a confession about trying to extort money out of Helen. Bob tries to leave but Todd catches him and Bob suggests he come up North with him. Todd is about to go with Bob but Jim and Beverly arrive and stop him.
Todd's first taste of love comes in the form of Alison Ryder, a girl he meets on the bus on the way back from Adelaide and is totally smitten with her. Alison stays with the Robinsons but her true colours are exposed when Helen finds $30 missing. Todd is horrified at the accusations from his family that his new girlfriend is a thief and after refusing to believe them, decides to go back to Adelaide with her when her visit ends. On the day Todd and Alison are supposed to leave, Todd discovers the brooch Helen's late husband Bill gave her for her 21st birthday in Alison's bag. Todd confronts Alison and she is rude to him, insisting her actions are no big deal, Jim drives her to the bus station and she is never seen again.
When fellow student Melissa Jarrett
Melissa Jarrett
Melissa Jarrett is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jade Amenta. She made her first appearance on 8 August 1989. Melissa departed on 9 April 1991.-Casting:...
(Jade Amenta) begins taking piano lessons from Hilary, she is attracted to Todd, who is initially shy and begins avoiding her. Melissa is unimpressed but eventually softens when Todd tells her about his experience with Alison. Todd and Melissa begin dating, but he receives a phone call from Annette, who believes she is able to cope with Todd and Katie now. Todd is allowed to stay in Erinsborough while Katie goes back to Adelaide. Melissa's father, Ben (David Ravenswood) takes a dislike to Todd, who he feels is leading his daughter astray after misconstruing a situation with Todd being in Melissa's room.
In late 1989, The Jarretts go to America for several months, leaving Todd devastated. 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...
(Amelia Frid
Amelia Frid
Amelia Frid is an Australian actress who played Cody Willis in Neighbours. She retired from acting to concentrate on studies and her current profession is forensic psychology. Frid's final appearance in Neighbours as Cody Willis was 30 July 1991 which was her 16th birthday...
), a classmate of Todd and Melissa's at Erinsborough High takes more than a passing interest in Todd and stages a Hawaiian-themed party, which is a ruse to have Todd as the only guest in order to seduce him. After Christmas, Melissa returns to find Todd and Cody kissing passionately and promptly dumps Todd. Todd is incensed when Melissa begins flirting with Hilary's son Matt
Matt Robinson (Neighbours)
Matthew "Matt" Robinson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Ashley Paske...
(Ashley Paske
Ashley Paske
Ashley Paske and educated at Figtree High School is an actor, best known for his role in the television series Neighbours...
), in order to make him jealous.
On Todd's 16th birthday, He makes a new friend in Josh Anderson
Josh Anderson (Neighbours)
Josh Anderson may refer to:*Josh Anderson , character who appeared on the soap opera Neighbours*Josh Anderson , Major League Baseball outfielder...
(Jeremy Angerson), who moves to Erinborough from Mildura with his parents who have bought the newsagent's on Anson's Corner. Todd, Melissa, Josh and Cody begin hanging around together as a regular teen group. However, the dynamic changes when the respective couplings of Todd and Cody and Josh and Melissa begin to realize they have feelings for each other. All four parties manage to resolve things.
Todd decides he wants a trail bike and eventually puts down a deposit for it, but Beverly refuses which puts even further strain on the already fraught marriage between her and Jim.
Todd reluctantly moves into the flat behind the surgery when Jim and Beverly separate. After Ewan O'Brien, a former flame of Beverly's appears on the scene, Todd begins hanging out with petty Criminal Gary "Boof" Head (Stephen Hall
Stephen Hall
Stephen Charles Hall is an Australian actor and writer.-Television:Halls' career in televisions includes both acting and production duties...
), much to the annoyance of his friends. After a failed raid on a bike yard, Todd is forced to confess and then is later attacked by Boof, but Josh comes to Todd's aid.
When Cody's parents, Doug (Terence Donovan
Terence Donovan (actor)
Terence Donovan , also known as Terry Donovan, is an English-born Australian actor and the father of fellow actor and entertainer Jason Donovan...
) and Pam (Sue Jones
Sue Jones (actress)
Sue Jones is an Australian actress, born in Wales, UK. She is probably best known for playing Pam Willis in Neighbours from 1990 to 1994. She had also played an on-going role in the situation comedy The Tea Ladies , and was Kathy Hall in Prisoner in 1981...
) buy Number 28 from Des Clarke
Des Clarke (Neighbours)
Desmond Kingsley "Des" Clarke is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Paul Keane. He made his first on screen appearance on 18 March 1985, the show's first episode.-Stroylines:...
(Paul Keane
Paul Keane
Paul Keane is an Australian actor well known for playing Des Clarke in the soap opera Neighbours. Other TV credits include Bliss and Flight Into Hell. He was trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art, graduating in 1983....
), Todd is thrilled at the prospect of having his girlfriend living next door. Unfortunately for Todd, Beverly's second miscarriage is the final straw for her marriage to Jim, which results in Beverly leaving for Perth but not before taking Todd back to Adelaide. Todd is heartbroken and later makes a return to Erinsborough and hides out in Cody's room until being caught by Pam.
Jim talks to Annette and an agreement is made that Todd can stay in Erinsborough. After a misunderstanding over a sex education class, Todd and Cody are forbidden from seeing each other and agree to run away together. Cody unfortunately becomes ill with fever and is forced to return home when Doug catches up with them. Todd decides to keep on running.
After three months of running, Todd finally returns home after visiting Helen in hospital after she suffers a fall at the hotel she and Josh stayed at while looking for Todd. Principal Dorothy Burke
Dorothy Burke
Dorothy Miriam Burke is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Maggie Dence. She made her first on-screen appearance on 7 March 1990...
(Maggie Dence
Maggie Dence
Maggie Dence is an Australian actress who after high profile television comedy work became better known for several soap opera roles....
), suggests Todd repeats Year 10 after missing three months of school, but eventually relents and decides to let Todd join his friends in Year 11.
Todd's relationship with Cody is put to the test when Dorothy puts Cody forward for a study programme in America. The couple decide to split and date other people. Cody dates Darren Wood (Troy Beckwith) and Todd begins dating Emma again. This is only temporary, as Todd and Cody realize they love each other in the days leading up to Cody's departure. They agree to keep in touch via long distance, but several months later, Cody writes to Todd telling him she has found someone else.
At Christmas 1991, Todd elects to stay in Erinsborough rather than going to Surfers Paradise, Queensland
Surfers Paradise, Queensland
Surfers Paradise is a suburb on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia. At the 2006 Census, Surfers Paradise had a population of 18,501....
with Josh, Lucy and Cody's brother Brad (Scott Michaelson
Scott Michaelson
Scott Michaelson is an Australian actor and manager who is most famous for playing Brad Willis in Neighbours...
). Todd is shocked when Bob makes a reappearance in his life, having escaped from prison and reluctantly agrees to hide him at the recently vacated Number 32. Helen discovers this and is angry but decides to let Bob spend Christmas Day with them as most of everyone is away. On Christmas Day, Todd and Glen Donnelly
Glen Donnelly
Glen Donnelly is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Richard Huggett. He made his first on-screen appearance on 7 December 1990. Glen was the secret son of Jim Robinson. He arrives in Ramsay Street to meet his father and to ask for money to pay for his...
(Richard Huggett) , Jim's illegitimate son are called by Paul to the Lassiter's complex to help fix the roof. Glen slips and Todd tries desperately to hold onto him but fails to resulting in Glen being injured. Paul tries to buy Todd off with a car to get Todd to change his story in court when Glen sues but Todd refuses.
Todd later finds himself falling for Phoebe Bright (Simone Robertson
Simone Robertson
Simone Robertson is an Australian actress best known for her 1991–1993 role as Phoebe Gottlieb in the TV series Neighbours. Her sister is Aimee Robertson. She is also a trained jazz and tap dancer.-TV:...
), Josh's girlfriend after she reveals how she truly feels about him. When Todd and Phoebe's romance is exposed, there is a strained atmosphere between Todd and Josh, who has been living with the Robinsons for the last year. Fortunately things are resolved before Josh returns home to Mildura. Todd and Phoebe later begin sleeping together which is met with disapproval by Jim and Dorothy. Phoebe later falls pregnant and Todd vows to support stand by her and the baby by dropping out of school and finding work. Todd visits Bob in prison, who tells him marrying Phoebe would be a mistake as he and Annette married young. Phoebe ultimately decides to have an abortion which Todd tries to accept but cannot.
Todd takes a bus to the clinic but the bus breaks down, so he runs across a busy freeway and is hit by an oncoming van. Paramedics arrive and Todd is taken to hospital, Jim receives a phone call from the police and he and Paul rush to Erinsborough Hospital. Jim uses Paul's car phone to call the clinic to contact Dorothy and Phoebe about Todd's accident and they race there.
Todd later wakes up in hospital after a successful splenectomy
Splenectomy
A splenectomy is a surgical procedure that partially or completely removes the spleen.-Indications:The spleen, similar in structure to a large lymph node, acts as a blood filter. Current knowledge of its purpose includes the removal of old red blood cells and platelets, and the detection and fight...
. He appears to have recovered and talks to Phoebe about the future and tells her she is beautiful when he suddenly goes into cardiac arrest due to a ruptured artery the doctors miss. Doctors and Nurses try to resuscitate Todd but he flatlines with Jim, Phoebe and Dorothy unable to do anything but look on. The day after his death, Todd appears as a ghost in Phoebe's mirror telling her he will always be there for her and the baby, who he says will be a girl. Phoebe later gives birth to Hope.
Reception
Telecommunications network Orange profiled past Neighbours characters, in this feature they describe Todd's most memorable moment as: "Being the youngest character in Neighbours history to die. Seventeen-year-old Todd was hit by a van while running to a clinic to stop girlfriend Phoebe having an abortion."In 2007, Australian newspaper the Herald Sun
Herald Sun
The Herald Sun is a morning tabloid newspaper based in Melbourne, Australia. It is published by The Herald and Weekly Times, a subsidiary of News Limited, itself a subsidiary of News Corporation. It is available for purchase throughout Melbourne, Regional Victoria, Tasmania, the Australian Capital...
placed Todd's death at number ten on their list of Neighbours Top Ten moments.