Ryan McLachlan
Encyclopedia
Ryan McLachlan is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by Richard Norton. He made his first on-screen appearance on 15 February 1990 and remained on the show until 1991.
and how he was thrust into the character with little background. “You can’t see where your character’s going, why he’s doing what he’s doing or where he’s been. He’s just there, at that moment. What I found out later is that you’ve got to grab the character at the start and decide on something then.” Norton then stated that while he wasn't unhappy with what he done, he would have liked a little more communication with the writers and directors about his character.
(Mark Stevens), Sharon Davies
(Jessica Muschamp), Matt Robinson
(Ashley Paske
) and Lee Maloney (Maree Ackhurst). Sharon takes a shine to Ryan but he is oblivious to this, instead asking her if a friend of hers is interested in him.
When Ryan's aunt, Dorothy Burke
(Maggie Dence
) becomes principal of Erinsborough High, he finds it hard to swallow and receives some teasing about it.
Gemma Ramsay
(Beth Buchanan
) moves with her aunt Madge
(Anne Charleston
and uncle Harold Bishop
(Ian Smith
) and both Matt and Ryan are taken with her. Ryan is disappointed when Gemma chooses Matt but isn't crushed for long. Ryan's parents Russell and Petra go overseas and he moves in with Dorothy.
After doing a little digging, Ryan uncovers the truth about his uncle Colin (Robert Alexander) being in prison rather than being dead as Dorothy had led him to believe. After Colin is paroled, he and Dorothy give their marriage another chance but it falls apart when Colin is discovered having an affair with Rosemary Daniels
(Joy Chambers
). Ryan then stands by Dorothy during the fallout.
Ryan later passes his HSC and decides to become a postman. During one of his rounds he begins an illicit affair with married woman Virginia Wenham (Kristie Grant) but it ends quickly when her husband almost catches them one day. After listening to Jim Robinson
's (Alan Dale
) Vietnam War
stories, Ryan decides to enlist in the army. This decision shocks Ryan's friends and Dorothy but they agree to support him all the way and Ryan leaves Erinsborough.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
, played by Richard Norton. He made his first on-screen appearance on 15 February 1990 and remained on the show until 1991.
Casting
In 1990, Richard Norton, then aged 20 spoke of his imminent departure from Neighbours to TV week magazine. Norton spoke of how the role of Ryan McLachlan was his first television experienceand how he was thrust into the character with little background. “You can’t see where your character’s going, why he’s doing what he’s doing or where he’s been. He’s just there, at that moment. What I found out later is that you’ve got to grab the character at the start and decide on something then.” Norton then stated that while he wasn't unhappy with what he done, he would have liked a little more communication with the writers and directors about his character.
Storylines
Ryan arrives in Erinsborough after being expelled from private school. After an initially frosty start, he soon makes friends with Nick PageNick 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), Sharon Davies
Sharon Davies (Neighbours)
Sharon Davies is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jessica Muschamp. She made her first appearance on 29 July 1988. Sharon is the younger sister of Bronwyn Davies...
(Jessica Muschamp), Matt Robinson
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...
) and Lee Maloney (Maree Ackhurst). Sharon takes a shine to Ryan but he is oblivious to this, instead asking her if a friend of hers is interested in him.
When Ryan's aunt, 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....
) becomes principal of Erinsborough High, he finds it hard to swallow and receives some teasing about it.
Gemma Ramsay
Gemma Ramsay
Gemma Ramsay is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Beth Buchanan. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 June 1990 and departed on 25 July 1991.-Storylines:...
(Beth Buchanan
Beth Buchanan
Beth Buchanan is an Australian actress. She is best known for the television roles of Gemma Ramsay in Neighbours, in the early '90s, and Susan Croydon in Blue Heelers from 1994. She is also a long-standing member of the Ranters Theatre company.-Early life:Buchanan is the daughter of musician Tony...
) moves with her aunt Madge
Madge Bishop
Margaret Mary "Madge" Bishop is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Anne Charleston. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 January 1986. Madge was one of the matriarchs of the Ramsay family. She departed in 1992, before making a return in 1996...
(Anne Charleston
Anne Charleston
Anne Charleston is an Australian actress currently based in Galway, Ireland and the UK. She is known for her roles as Madge Bishop in the Australian soap opera Neighbours and Lily Butterfield in Emmerdale.-Early career:...
and uncle 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
Ian Douglas Smith GCLM ID was a politician active in the government of Southern Rhodesia, the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland, Rhodesia, Zimbabwe Rhodesia and Zimbabwe from 1948 to 1987, most notably serving as Prime Minister of Rhodesia from 13 April 1964 to 1 June 1979...
) and both Matt and Ryan are taken with her. Ryan is disappointed when Gemma chooses Matt but isn't crushed for long. Ryan's parents Russell and Petra go overseas and he moves in with Dorothy.
After doing a little digging, Ryan uncovers the truth about his uncle Colin (Robert Alexander) being in prison rather than being dead as Dorothy had led him to believe. After Colin is paroled, he and Dorothy give their marriage another chance but it falls apart when Colin is discovered having an affair with Rosemary Daniels
Rosemary Daniels
Rosemary Daniels is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Joy Chambers. She made her first on-screen appearance on 20 February 1986 and appeared intermittently. Rosemary is the adoptive daughter of Helen Daniels and the sister of Anne Robinson....
(Joy Chambers
Joy Chambers
Joy Chambers is an Australian actress and author. She is best known for such television soap opera roles as Rita Merrick in The Restless Years, Dr Robyn Porter in The Young Doctors, and Rosemary Daniels in Neighbours. Chambers has played Rosemary since 1986. Rosemary is the only character who has...
). Ryan then stands by Dorothy during the fallout.
Ryan later passes his HSC and decides to become a postman. During one of his rounds he begins an illicit affair with married woman Virginia Wenham (Kristie Grant) but it ends quickly when her husband almost catches them one day. After listening to Jim Robinson
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 (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...
) Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
stories, Ryan decides to enlist in the army. This decision shocks Ryan's friends and Dorothy but they agree to support him all the way and Ryan leaves Erinsborough.