Over the years, Home and Away has had several well-known guests, but what have some of the show’s most well-known stars been up to since leaving?
From classic characters like Donald Fisher and Bobby Simpson to newcomers like Belle Taylor in the early 2000s.
Since their appearance on the soap, the actors have kept busy, with some making it big and others opting out of acting completely.
Vinnie Patterson played by Ryan Kwanten
The 45-year-old actor first appeared on the soap in the role of lifeguard Vinnie in 1997, but left in 2002.
On the episode, the character went through a lot, from developing testicular cancer to faking his death after marrying and welcoming his son VJ.
However, Reverend Elijah Johnson revealed to Leah many years later that Vinnie had actually died in a farming accident 18 months prior.
Ryan’s first debut in Summer Bay was as a boogie boarder in 1992, thus this wasn’t his first time.
Since leaving Home and Away, Ryan has played Jason Stackhouse in the hit vampire drama True Blood, which he starred in from 2008 until 2014.
From 2018 to 2019, he played Steve Hammond in the TV series The Oath.
The actor has been dating Ashley Sisino since 2014, but after she was spotted wearing an engagement ring, it was reported that the couple is engaged.
Belle Taylor played by Jessica Tovey
After joining the series in 2006, the 34-year-old actress left in 2009, breaking viewers’ hearts.
Belle struggled with drug addiction, went on a hunt for her birth mother, and had an on-again, off-again relationship with her husband Aden Jefferies before succumbing to cancer.
Jessica has since played Maya in the 2014 film Lemon Tree Passage.
She also played Dani Varvaris in Wonderland from 2013 to 2015 and Kirsty Hill in Wolf Creek from 2016 to 2017.
Since 2017, the actress has been dating Damien Strouthos, a fellow actor.
In October 2021, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter called Scarlett.
Gypsy Nash played by Kimberley Cooper
The 41-year-old was a fan favourite from 1998 to 2002, when she left the show for a brief return in 2011.
Gyspy’s storylines ranged from lying about the father of her child to nearly dying in a car accident and divorcing her husband Will.
Kimberley has since left the soap and played Jessica Hunter in the 2015 production of Natural Injustice.
She has also maintained a close friendship with Esther Anderson, who portrayed Charlie Buckton on Home and Away.
The two are frequently spotted together, attending weddings, concerts, and having a night out.
Bobby Simpson played by Nicolle Dickson
After debuting in the first episode of Home and Away in 1988, Nicolle participated in 935 episodes of the show.
When her character was murdered in a boating accident in 1993, she decided to call it quits.
After her final appearance as Bobby in 1995, when she appeared to Ailsa Stewart in a hallucination, she is still remembered in Summer Bay.
Since leaving the industry in 2006, the former actress has worked as an accountant and bookkeeper.
The 53-year-most old’s recent performance was in the feature film Wishbone as Agnes Kelly, however she did reprise her role as herself in the documentary ‘Endless Summer: 30 Years of Home and Away’ in 2018.
Nicolle and her husband James Bell have been married since 1990 and have two children together.
Donald Fisher played by Norman Coburn
When he first featured in the pilot episode in 1998, the 84-year-old was one of 16 original cast members.
He remained a regular on the show until 2003, with infrequent appearances between 2004 and 2007.
Donald, who played the headmaster of Summer Bay High School and is noted for his painful connection with Marilyn Chambers, had a terrible time on the show.
The couple married and had a son named Byron, who died after a long battle with cancer.
Norman took a break from acting in 2008 and now lives on Bruny Island in Tasmania.
He took a break from his retirement to play Gareth in Rosehaven in 2019.
