Steve Mills (Character)
Encyclopedia
Steve Mills was a fictional character
on the New Zealand
soap opera Shortland Street
. He was portrayed by Andrew Binns and was part of the original core cast.
The character appeared in the first ever episode and stayed on the soap for two years, leaving the show in a dramatic fashion, exploding in a car crash alongside best friend Sam
's (Rene Naufahu
) wife T.P Aleni (Elizabeth Skeen). His death is remembered as one of the most iconic deaths on the soap's history. The character was largely used for comedic relief, developing into more dramatic storylines as he neared his death. Initial storylines saw the clumsy Steve fall head over heels for beautiful nurse Sarah Donnelly (Madeleine Lynch) and his subseqent depression at her death. His final storyline saw Steve try to overcome the growing attraction to his step mother and boss Carrie Burton
(Lisa Crittenden
) and denial that her children were not his.
Steve has been described as "lovable" and a Shortland Street "favorite". His comedy has since set a benchmark on the soap, with many characters based on his original sensitive new age characterisation including; Lionel Skeggins
(John Leigh). Mike Galloway (Oliver Driver
) and Kip Denton
(Will Hall).
(Rene Naufahu
). Steve works under the reign of the mercilessly bossy Carrie Burton
(Lisa Crittenden
) and has a huge crush on Alison Raynor
(Danielle Cormack
). Steve is thrilled when Alison moves in but after the two share a kiss, they remain friends. Always loyal to Steve is his pet dog Killer, but disaster strikes in late 1992 when Killer is diagnosed with diabetes. Steve falls for Sarah Donnelly (Madeleine Lynch) and the two start to date. Sarah reveals she has cancer however and dies in Steve's arms at her birthday party.
In 1993, Steve grows depressed over Sarah's death and is shocked when his father Declan Kennedy (Kevin J. Wilson) arrived in town. The estranged father and son were at odds with Steve believing Declan had murdered his mother. Steve donated sperm to polar opposite Carrie, so she could have children. Carrie and Declan ended up falling in love and getting married but when the babies were born, Declan was too busy to father them and Steve willingly gave up his time to help his possible kids. Spending time with the Burtons, Steve fell in love with Carrie, but she was receiving threats from Declan's criminal past and with Declan having fled the country, Carrie grew close to Steve. Carrie decided to flee however and she and Steve shared a kiss in late 1993.
In 1994, Steve grew suspicious of Chris Warner
(Michael Galvin
) spending time with close friend Jo Jordan (Greer Robson
), who was in a relationship with Stuart Neilson
(Martin Henderson
). After catching Chris out he learnt that Chris had really been visiting Carrie as he was the father of the babies. Steve was infuriated and while driving back from Leonard
(Marton Csokas
) and Gina
's (Josephine Davison
) farewell party, the two got into an argument and Steve accidentally drove the car off the road. Steve, Chris and Kirsty
(Angela Dotchin
) escaped but Steve went back for T.P (Elizabeth Skeen), only to be caught in the car as it violently exploded.
), Nick
(Karl Burnett
), Sam and Sam's brother Nat (Joseph Naufahu). Steve's good friend Carmen
(Theresa Healey
) spent some of her lottery winnings on a memoriam for Steve and TP When Shortland Street clinic had a renovation, a memorial plaque was placed on piece of the decor stating "dedicated to Steve Mills."
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...
on the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
soap opera Shortland Street
Shortland Street
Shortland Street is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera, first broadcast on Television New Zealand's TV2 on 25 May 1992. It is the country's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously for over 4500 episodes and 19 years, and is one of the most watched television programs in...
. He was portrayed by Andrew Binns and was part of the original core cast.
The character appeared in the first ever episode and stayed on the soap for two years, leaving the show in a dramatic fashion, exploding in a car crash alongside best friend Sam
Sam Aleni
Sam Aleni was a fictional character on the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Rene Naufahu and was part of the original cast.-1992-1993:...
's (Rene Naufahu
Rene Naufahu
Rene Naufahu is a New Zealand-born actor, screen writer and director of Tongan and Samoan heritage. He is perhaps best known for being an original cast member of the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, playing paramedic Sam Aleni for the show's first four years...
) wife T.P Aleni (Elizabeth Skeen). His death is remembered as one of the most iconic deaths on the soap's history. The character was largely used for comedic relief, developing into more dramatic storylines as he neared his death. Initial storylines saw the clumsy Steve fall head over heels for beautiful nurse Sarah Donnelly (Madeleine Lynch) and his subseqent depression at her death. His final storyline saw Steve try to overcome the growing attraction to his step mother and boss Carrie Burton
Carrie Burton
Carrie Kennedy was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Lisa Crittenden and was part of the original cast.-1992:...
(Lisa Crittenden
Lisa Crittenden
Lisa Crittenden is an Australian actress, noted for her roles in various television series, such as The Restless Years , The Sullivans , Prisoner , Sons and Daughters and the New Zealand produced Shortland Street .She also played a lead role in mini-series Whose Baby? and...
) and denial that her children were not his.
Steve has been described as "lovable" and a Shortland Street "favorite". His comedy has since set a benchmark on the soap, with many characters based on his original sensitive new age characterisation including; Lionel Skeggins
Lionel Skeggins
Lionel Skeggins was a fictional character on the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by John Leigh and after making his debut as a guest character in 1993, he returned from 1994 to the character's disappearance in 1999 as a core cast member....
(John Leigh). Mike Galloway (Oliver Driver
Oliver Driver
Oliver Driver is a New Zealand actor, director, broadcaster and television presenter.-Television:Driver was the host of Let's Be Frank, and the Creative Director of New Zealand's only alternative music television station, ALT TV, The channel is now no longer on air...
) and Kip Denton
Kip Denton
Kip Denton was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-2007-2009:He is a doctor at Shortland Street Hospital, who had filled in for Dr. Craig Valentine while he was in Australia...
(Will Hall).
1992-1994
Steve is introduced in May 1992 as the prankster nurse and flatmate to Sam AleniSam Aleni
Sam Aleni was a fictional character on the TVNZ soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Rene Naufahu and was part of the original cast.-1992-1993:...
(Rene Naufahu
Rene Naufahu
Rene Naufahu is a New Zealand-born actor, screen writer and director of Tongan and Samoan heritage. He is perhaps best known for being an original cast member of the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street, playing paramedic Sam Aleni for the show's first four years...
). Steve works under the reign of the mercilessly bossy Carrie Burton
Carrie Burton
Carrie Kennedy was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Lisa Crittenden and was part of the original cast.-1992:...
(Lisa Crittenden
Lisa Crittenden
Lisa Crittenden is an Australian actress, noted for her roles in various television series, such as The Restless Years , The Sullivans , Prisoner , Sons and Daughters and the New Zealand produced Shortland Street .She also played a lead role in mini-series Whose Baby? and...
) and has a huge crush on Alison Raynor
Alison Raynor
Alison Raynor was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Danielle Cormack and was part of the series original cast.-Creation and Casting:...
(Danielle Cormack
Danielle Cormack
Danielle Cormack is a stage and screen actress from New Zealand. She was one of the original core cast of the long-running soap opera Shortland Street, though she is also known for her role as the Amazon Ephiny in the television series Xena: Warrior Princess, Cynthia Ross in The Cult, and Shota in...
). Steve is thrilled when Alison moves in but after the two share a kiss, they remain friends. Always loyal to Steve is his pet dog Killer, but disaster strikes in late 1992 when Killer is diagnosed with diabetes. Steve falls for Sarah Donnelly (Madeleine Lynch) and the two start to date. Sarah reveals she has cancer however and dies in Steve's arms at her birthday party.
In 1993, Steve grows depressed over Sarah's death and is shocked when his father Declan Kennedy (Kevin J. Wilson) arrived in town. The estranged father and son were at odds with Steve believing Declan had murdered his mother. Steve donated sperm to polar opposite Carrie, so she could have children. Carrie and Declan ended up falling in love and getting married but when the babies were born, Declan was too busy to father them and Steve willingly gave up his time to help his possible kids. Spending time with the Burtons, Steve fell in love with Carrie, but she was receiving threats from Declan's criminal past and with Declan having fled the country, Carrie grew close to Steve. Carrie decided to flee however and she and Steve shared a kiss in late 1993.
In 1994, Steve grew suspicious of Chris Warner
Chris Warner
Dr. Christopher "Chris" Warner is a fictional character and current main protagonist on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He is portrayed by Michael Galvin. He is the only original character to still be on the show....
(Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin
Michael Galvin is a New Zealand actor, singer and playwright, well known for his role as Dr. Chris Warner on the soap opera Shortland Street, a character he has played almost continuously since the shows debut in 1992.-Early life:...
) spending time with close friend Jo Jordan (Greer Robson
Greer Robson
Greer Robson-Kirk born is a New Zealand television actress well known for her role in the Television Drama, Shortland Street.-Biography:...
), who was in a relationship with Stuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson
Stuart Neilson was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Martin Henderson and was part of the original cast, with a lot of the first episode focusing around him....
(Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson
Martin Henderson is a New Zealand actor, well known to American audiences for his starring role in the ABC TV series Off the Map, while remaining known in his home country for his teenage role as Stuart Neilson in the soap opera Shortland Street.-Life and career:Henderson was born in Auckland, New...
). After catching Chris out he learnt that Chris had really been visiting Carrie as he was the father of the babies. Steve was infuriated and while driving back from Leonard
Leonard Dodds
Dr. Leonard Rossi-Dodds was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Marton Csokas, who has since gone on to receive international acclaim...
(Marton Csokas
Marton Csokas
-Early life:Csokas was born in Invercargill, New Zealand. His mother, a nurse, is of Irish and Danish descent; his Hungarian-born father, also named Márton Csókás, worked as a mechanical engineer...
) and Gina
Gina Rossi
Gina Rossi-Dodds was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Josephine Davison and was part of the original cast.-1992-1995:...
's (Josephine Davison
Josephine Davison
Josephine Davison is a New Zealand actress. She is well known for playing Gina Rossi-Dodds in the New Zealand soap Shortland Street, Morgana in Power Rangers: S.P.D. and the voice of Itassis in Power Rangers: Mystic Force...
) farewell party, the two got into an argument and Steve accidentally drove the car off the road. Steve, Chris and Kirsty
Kirsty Knight (character)
Kirsty Knight is a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street and was portrayed by Angela Dotchin as part of the 1992 original cast up until 1998....
(Angela Dotchin
Angela Dotchin
-External links:...
) escaped but Steve went back for T.P (Elizabeth Skeen), only to be caught in the car as it violently exploded.
Post Death
Steve and TP's death weighed heavily on Sam from the rest of his time on the soap, with his personality and appearance changing to a more ruthless and selfish persona gradually. Sam would gain the ownership to Steve's old house, and a dual funeral would be held a few days later for Steve and TP, where eulogies were given by Dr McKenna (Paul GittinsPaul Gittins
Paul Gittins is a New Zealand actor who is best known for playing Doctor Michael McKenna in Shortland Street from 1992 to 1995 and 1998 to 1999, and he has also appeared in The End of the Golden Weather, Xena: Warrior Princess, Hercules: The Legendary Journeys, City Life, The Whole of the Moon and...
), Nick
Nick Harrison
Nick Harrison was a fictional character on the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. He was portrayed by Karl Burnett and was the longest running original cast member on the show first appearing in 1992 and running for 13 years until 2005....
(Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett
Karl Burnett is a New Zealand actor born 27 February 1976 best known for his portrayal of Nick Harrison on the long-running New Zealand soap opera, Shortland Street. He was 16 years old when offered the role of Nick Harrison on the popular New Zealand soap Shortland Street in 1992...
), Sam and Sam's brother Nat (Joseph Naufahu). Steve's good friend Carmen
Carmen Roberts
Carmen Roberts was a fictional character in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street. She was portrayed by Theresa Healey and appeared on the show from her arrival in mid 1993 to her death in late 1995...
(Theresa Healey
Theresa Healey
Theresa Healey is a New Zealand actress, known mostly for her role as nurse Carmen Roberts in the New Zealand soap opera Shortland Street.-Early life:...
) spent some of her lottery winnings on a memoriam for Steve and TP When Shortland Street clinic had a renovation, a memorial plaque was placed on piece of the decor stating "dedicated to Steve Mills."