Benito Alessi
Encyclopedia
Benito Alessi is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera
Neighbours
, played by George Spartels
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 28 July 1992 and remained until 28 May 1993.
(Elspeth Ballantyne
) when they were at school. Cathy fell pergnant when she was sixteen and she and Benito were forced to give their daughter up for adoption. Benito and Cathy married and had two sons Marco
(Felice Arena
) and Rick
(Dan Falzon
). Benito makes sure he provides his sons with a secure future. When Marco leaves school to travel, Benito puts his efforts into ensuring that Rick will succeed at school instead. However, Rick is expelled from his boarding school and is forced to enrol at Erinsborough High, which disappoints Benito.
Benito's niece, Christina
(Gayle Blakeney
), and her husband, Paul
(Stefan Dennis
), lease Number 22 Ramsay Street to him and Cathy. Paul gives Benito a job managing the Robinson Corporation and Lassiter's Hotel. Benito clashes with both Jim Robinson
(Alan Dale
) and Doug Willis (Terence Donovan
) and he is not popular with his secretaries, Gaby Willis (Rachel Blakely
) and Julie Martin (Julie Mullins). Julie believes that her husband should have got Benito's job and when she sees him spending time at Lou Carpenter
's car yard, where he owns shares, she tells Paul. Paul then sacks Benito. Benito does not mind too much as he grows to love working at the car yard. However, Lou is less happy with Benito's commitment to the car yard as he does not like Benito's attitude to car sales and his uptight attitude. They decide to paint a white line down the middle of the car yard, to divide it between them. They come to realise that they are being stupid and make up.
When Rick and Debbie Martin
(Marnie Reece-Wilmore
) win tickets to see Michael Jackson
in London, Benito forbids Rick from going. Cathy forms a plan with Helen Daniels
(Anne Haddy
) and they agree to accompany Rick and Debbie to London without Benito's knowledge. Benito is angry when he learns the truth and he grounds Rick upon his return and banneds him from seeing Debbie. He later gives in and allows them to keep dating. Cathy tells Benito that she wants another baby and he tries to talk her out of it. Benito reveals that he had a vasectomy after Rick was born, which surprises Cathy. He then agrees to have the vasectomy reversed, but on the same day that Benito leaves hospital, Cathy is told that she is unable to have any more children. Benito and Cathy tell Marco and Rick about the daughter they gave away and Marco decides to find her. He brings Lindsay (Jane Longhurst) to dinner one evening and tells his parents who she is. Benito and Cathy meet with Lindsay and explain why she was given up for adoption.
Benito is offered a job in Sydney and he and Cathy agree to move. Benito is keen to impress his first clients, some Japanese businessmen, and he asks for Gaby's help. Gaby, her boyfriend Wayne Duncan
(Jonathan Sammy Lee) and his brother, Troy (Damian Walshe-Howling
), take the businessmen out on the town. Benito is furious when he finds out what the Duncan brothers are going to show the businessmen, but he is happy when he lands the account.
said Benito's most notable moment was "Admitting to Cathy that he'd had a vasectomy
without her knowledge."
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
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
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 George Spartels
George Spartels
George Spartels is an Australian actor of Greek descent, who is best known for his role on the television soap opera Neighbours, playing Benito Alessi. He was married to actress Elizabeth Alexander....
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 28 July 1992 and remained until 28 May 1993.
Storylines
Benito was born to Italian parents, he met CathyCathy Alessi
Catherine "Cathy" Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Elspeth Ballantyne. She made her first on-screen appearance on 29 July 1992 and remained until her departure on 4 August 1993.-Storylines:...
(Elspeth Ballantyne
Elspeth Ballantyne
Elspeth Ballantyne is an Australian actress, born in Adelaide. Having started her career as a laboratory Technician, she then attended the prestigious drama school, the National Institute for Dramatic Arts...
) when they were at school. Cathy fell pergnant when she was sixteen and she and Benito were forced to give their daughter up for adoption. Benito and Cathy married and had two sons Marco
Marco Alessi
Marco Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Felice Arena. He made his first on-screen appearance on 5 May 1992 and departed the series on 18 November 1992.-Casting:...
(Felice Arena
Felice Arena
Felice Arena is an Australian children's author and illustrator, and occasional actor. He is best known for the bestselling and award-winning Specky Magee series, and his hilarious Farticus Maximus books...
) and Rick
Rick Alessi
Riccardo "Rick" Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Dan Falzon. He made his first on-screen appearance on 8 June 1992 and he remained until his departure on 9 March 1995.-Casting:...
(Dan Falzon
Dan Falzon
Dan Falzon is an Australian actor of Maltese descent, best known for his role as Rick Alessi on the television soap opera Neighbours. He also appeared in the Channel Nine drama The Alice, as a park ranger. He also formed the short lived pop group Milk with his brother, releasing the single...
). Benito makes sure he provides his sons with a secure future. When Marco leaves school to travel, Benito puts his efforts into ensuring that Rick will succeed at school instead. However, Rick is expelled from his boarding school and is forced to enrol at Erinsborough High, which disappoints Benito.
Benito's niece, Christina
Christina Alessi
Christina Alessi is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Gayle Blakeney. She made her first on-screen appearance on 18 January 1990, when she moved into Ramsay Street with her twin sister, Caroline. Christina marries Paul Robinson and gives birth to their son,...
(Gayle Blakeney
Gayle & Gillian Blakeney
Gayle and Gillian Blakeney are Australian identical twins who performed together as actresses and as a dance/pop duo in the 1990s. Born in Brisbane on 9 July 1966. Gayle is older by nine minutes. They are most widely known for their stint in the soap opera Neighbours.-Early career:The girls knew...
), and her husband, 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...
), lease Number 22 Ramsay Street to him and Cathy. Paul gives Benito a job managing the Robinson Corporation and Lassiter's Hotel. Benito clashes with both 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...
(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...
) and Doug Willis (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 he is not popular with his secretaries, Gaby Willis (Rachel Blakely
Rachel Blakely
Rachel Blakely is an Australian actress. Her works include films such as Love Until, Young Hercules and Counterstrike, as well as guest appearances on television shows such as Xena: Warrior Princess, State Coroner and Flipper; from 2006 to 2007 she starred as Glenda Fry in the Australian...
) and Julie Martin (Julie Mullins). Julie believes that her husband should have got Benito's job and when she sees him spending time at Lou Carpenter
Lou Carpenter
Louis "Lou" Carpenter is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Tom Oliver. He made his first on-screen appearance on 30 March 1988. Lou appeared for a brief time, before leaving and later returning in January 1992 as a regular cast member. He is the longest...
's car yard, where he owns shares, she tells Paul. Paul then sacks Benito. Benito does not mind too much as he grows to love working at the car yard. However, Lou is less happy with Benito's commitment to the car yard as he does not like Benito's attitude to car sales and his uptight attitude. They decide to paint a white line down the middle of the car yard, to divide it between them. They come to realise that they are being stupid and make up.
When Rick and Debbie Martin
Debbie Martin
Deborah "Debbie" Martin is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Marnie Reece-Wilmore. She made her first on-screen appearance on 27 July 1985. Debbie was initially played by Mandy Storvik and later Katrina McEwan. Reece-Wilmore was cast in the role in 1992...
(Marnie Reece-Wilmore
Marnie Reece-Wilmore
Marnie Reece-Wilmore is an Australian actor from Sydney. She is best known for her role in Neighbours during the 1990s.-Early work:...
) win tickets to see Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
in London, Benito forbids Rick from going. Cathy forms a plan with 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:...
) and they agree to accompany Rick and Debbie to London without Benito's knowledge. Benito is angry when he learns the truth and he grounds Rick upon his return and banneds him from seeing Debbie. He later gives in and allows them to keep dating. Cathy tells Benito that she wants another baby and he tries to talk her out of it. Benito reveals that he had a vasectomy after Rick was born, which surprises Cathy. He then agrees to have the vasectomy reversed, but on the same day that Benito leaves hospital, Cathy is told that she is unable to have any more children. Benito and Cathy tell Marco and Rick about the daughter they gave away and Marco decides to find her. He brings Lindsay (Jane Longhurst) to dinner one evening and tells his parents who she is. Benito and Cathy meet with Lindsay and explain why she was given up for adoption.
Benito is offered a job in Sydney and he and Cathy agree to move. Benito is keen to impress his first clients, some Japanese businessmen, and he asks for Gaby's help. Gaby, her boyfriend Wayne Duncan
Wayne Duncan
Wayne Duncan is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jonathon Sammy-Lee. He made his first on-screen appearance on 4 February 1993. Wayne became a teacher at Erinsborough High...
(Jonathan Sammy Lee) and his brother, Troy (Damian Walshe-Howling
Damian Walshe-Howling
Damian Walshe-Howling is an Australian actor, best known for his role as Andrew "Benji" Veniamin in the Australian underworld drama, Underbelly, for which he won the Best Supporting or Guest Actor in a Drama Series at the 2008 AFI Awards.-Biography:He also starred on Blue Heelers as Constable Adam...
), take the businessmen out on the town. Benito is furious when he finds out what the Duncan brothers are going to show the businessmen, but he is happy when he lands the account.
Reception
The BBCBBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
said Benito's most notable moment was "Admitting to Cathy that he'd had a vasectomy
Vasectomy
Vasectomy is a surgical procedure for male sterilization and/or permanent birth control. During the procedure, the vasa deferentia of a man are severed, and then tied/sealed in a manner such to prevent sperm from entering into the seminal stream...
without her knowledge."