Stephen Gottlieb
Encyclopedia
Stephen Gottlieb is a fictional character
from the Australian soap opera Neighbours
, played by Lochie Daddo
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 12 October 1992.
).
) rejected their parents' ways, while their younger sister, Serendipity
(Raelee Hill
) embraced them.
When Stephen became the manager of a record store in Elliot Park, he proposed to long-time girlfriend, Libby and she accepted. One night at a party, Mark spiked Stephen's drink, leaving him unable to drive Libby home. Mark, also ended up too drunk to drive Libby himself, forcing her to take a cab. Libby died when the cab crashed and Stephen blamed Mark for her death. After Mark left for France to train as a chef, Stephen finally felt he could move on with his life.
(Kristian Schmid). The two begin to chat and they realize they have a lot in common as Stephen's fiance, Libby had not long died in a car crash and is buried in the same cemetery as Todd. After spending a lot of time with Phoebe, Stephen begins to fall for her but he realizes that she is still grieving for Todd. After several months of dating, Stephen propose to Phoebe on her 18th birthday and she accepts.
The couple plan to marry before the baby is born but on the eve of the wedding Phoebe goes into labour and Stephen delivers the baby in the living room at Number 30. Phoebe names the baby Hope, after she is born prematurely.
When Phoebe wants to put Todd's surname, Landers on Hope's birth certificate, Stephen feels like Todd would always haunt them. After Helen Daniels
(Anne Haddy
), Todd's surrogate grandmother explains that Todd would have been happy with Phoebe's choice of husband, Stephen is reassured. On the day of Stephen and Phoebe's wedding, local nurse Pam Willis (Sue Jones) brings them a healthy Hope in time for the ceremony.
After Stephen loses his job at the record store after refusing to take bribes from record companies to falsify record sales, He and Phoebe are given a lifeline by Cathy Alessi
(Elspeth Ballantyne
) who puts them in charge of the Coffee Shop. They job share and take it in turns to look after Hope.
When the Gottliebs advertise for a tenant, Russell Butler (Stephen Whittaker) spots the notice and takes it down so no-one else will apply for the room. On the surface, Russell seems normal but as time goes on Stephen and Phoebe soon find out that Russell's behaviour is odd and he begins to drive a wedge between the couple by stirring up trouble. When Russell tries to kiss Phoebe one afternoon, she tells Stephen who demands Russell moves out. However, this is problematic as Russell intends to stay until the lease expires. After Stephen lashes out and punches Russell, he has him charged with assault and then pays Stephen rent at the last minute to avoid eviction. It is revealed that Russell had spent time in a mental institution after suffering a breaking down following his wife and baby leaving him, due to his drug use.
Fearful for his family's safety, Stephen sends Phoebe and Hope to stay with Phoebe's former guardian Dorothy Burke
(Maggie Dence
) in the country for several days. In desperation, Stephen then asks Lou Carpenter
(Tom Oliver
) to have some heavies "persuade" Russell to leave. Unfortunately the plan backfires and Wayne Duncan
(Jonathon Sammy-Lee) is mistaken for Russell and badly beaten instead. Stephen and Lou apologize to Wayne and Russell gets the message that he isn't welcome in Ramsay Street. The Gottliebs have better luck with Beth Brennan
(Natalie Imbruglia
) as their next tenant as she is a friend.
When the local pub, The Waterhole explodes, Stephen is one of the casualties and is the first to be found Iin the wreckage. He wakes up in hospital and is disoriented and has no memory of Phoebe, who has keeping a bedside vigil. Stephen then has an operation to remove a blood clot on his brain and recovers and regains his memory. He is left paralysed and soon feels like a burden to Phoebe and decides to go to a rehabilitation centre but changes his mind at the last minute.
Stephen struggles to get to come to terms with being in a wheelchair and when his estranged brother, Mark arrives in Erisborough, he is less than happy to see him as he still blames him for Libby's death. After Mark's persistence to reconcile with his brother, Stephen finally accepts him. Stephen then undergoes a gruelling rehabilitation programme.
During Helen's birthday party at the newly reopened Waterhole, Stephen surprises Phoebe by getting up out of his wheelchair and walks towards her unaided. Stephen reveals that Wayne has been helping for weeks. Several days later, the Gottliebs leave Ramsay Street to manage their own record store in Anson's Corner.
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 Lochie Daddo
Lochie Daddo
Christopher Lachlan "Lochie" Daddo is an Australian actor and television presenter. His elder brothers are actors Andrew and Cameron Daddo, and Andrew's twin, Jamie Daddo.-Career:...
. He made his first on-screen appearance on 12 October 1992.
Casting
In an interview with TV Week Magazine in 1993, Daddo, shortly after quitting Neighbours, said that his character Stephen never really came into his own and his world revolved around that of established character Phoebe Bright (Simone RobertsonSimone 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:...
).
Backstory
Stephen was the eldest of three children born to Dave Gottlieb and Sally Dawes on hippy commune. He was christened Freedom, but as they grew up, Stephen and his brother Mark (Bruce SamazanBruce Samazan
Bruce Samazan is an Australian actor who appeared in several soap operas and drama series on Australian television, the only actor to have played regular roles in Australia's "Big Three" soap operas of the 1990s .-E Street:Samazan was a brickie's labourer, until 1989 when he accompanied his...
) rejected their parents' ways, while their younger sister, Serendipity
Serendipity Gottlieb
Serendipity "Ren" Gottlieb is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Raelee Hill. She made her first on-screen appearance on 25 August 1994. Serendipity is Stephen and Mark Gottlieb's only sister. She is a hippy who arrives in Erinsborough to see Mark...
(Raelee Hill
Raelee Hill
Raelee Hill is an Australian actress best known for her roles in some of her country's most successful television series...
) embraced them.
When Stephen became the manager of a record store in Elliot Park, he proposed to long-time girlfriend, Libby and she accepted. One night at a party, Mark spiked Stephen's drink, leaving him unable to drive Libby home. Mark, also ended up too drunk to drive Libby himself, forcing her to take a cab. Libby died when the cab crashed and Stephen blamed Mark for her death. After Mark left for France to train as a chef, Stephen finally felt he could move on with his life.
1992–93
Stephen first appears at the cemetery where he sees pregnant teenager Phoebe visiting the grave of her recently deceased lover, Todd LandersTodd Landers
Not to be confused with Simpsons character Todd FlandersTodd 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...
(Kristian Schmid). The two begin to chat and they realize they have a lot in common as Stephen's fiance, Libby had not long died in a car crash and is buried in the same cemetery as Todd. After spending a lot of time with Phoebe, Stephen begins to fall for her but he realizes that she is still grieving for Todd. After several months of dating, Stephen propose to Phoebe on her 18th birthday and she accepts.
The couple plan to marry before the baby is born but on the eve of the wedding Phoebe goes into labour and Stephen delivers the baby in the living room at Number 30. Phoebe names the baby Hope, after she is born prematurely.
When Phoebe wants to put Todd's surname, Landers on Hope's birth certificate, Stephen feels like Todd would always haunt them. After 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:...
), Todd's surrogate grandmother explains that Todd would have been happy with Phoebe's choice of husband, Stephen is reassured. On the day of Stephen and Phoebe's wedding, local nurse Pam Willis (Sue Jones) brings them a healthy Hope in time for the ceremony.
After Stephen loses his job at the record store after refusing to take bribes from record companies to falsify record sales, He and Phoebe are given a lifeline by Cathy Alessi
Cathy 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...
) who puts them in charge of the Coffee Shop. They job share and take it in turns to look after Hope.
When the Gottliebs advertise for a tenant, Russell Butler (Stephen Whittaker) spots the notice and takes it down so no-one else will apply for the room. On the surface, Russell seems normal but as time goes on Stephen and Phoebe soon find out that Russell's behaviour is odd and he begins to drive a wedge between the couple by stirring up trouble. When Russell tries to kiss Phoebe one afternoon, she tells Stephen who demands Russell moves out. However, this is problematic as Russell intends to stay until the lease expires. After Stephen lashes out and punches Russell, he has him charged with assault and then pays Stephen rent at the last minute to avoid eviction. It is revealed that Russell had spent time in a mental institution after suffering a breaking down following his wife and baby leaving him, due to his drug use.
Fearful for his family's safety, Stephen sends Phoebe and Hope to stay with Phoebe's former guardian 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....
) in the country for several days. In desperation, Stephen then asks 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...
(Tom Oliver
Tom Oliver
Tom Oliver is an English television, film and theatre actor best known today for playing the role of Lou Carpenter in the Australian soap opera Neighbours.-Career:...
) to have some heavies "persuade" Russell to leave. Unfortunately the plan backfires and 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...
(Jonathon Sammy-Lee) is mistaken for Russell and badly beaten instead. Stephen and Lou apologize to Wayne and Russell gets the message that he isn't welcome in Ramsay Street. The Gottliebs have better luck with Beth Brennan
Beth Brennan
Elizabeth "Beth" Willis is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Natalie Imbruglia. She made her debut on-screen during the episode airing on 6 January 1992. She married Brad Willis in 1993, and the couple left Erinsborough for Perth. Behind the...
(Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Imbruglia
Natalie Jane Imbruglia is an Australian singer-songwriter, model and actress. In the early 1990s, Imbruglia was known to audiences as Beth Brennan in the popular Australian soap Neighbours. Three years after leaving the programme, Imbruglia launched a singing career with the international hit,...
) as their next tenant as she is a friend.
When the local pub, The Waterhole explodes, Stephen is one of the casualties and is the first to be found Iin the wreckage. He wakes up in hospital and is disoriented and has no memory of Phoebe, who has keeping a bedside vigil. Stephen then has an operation to remove a blood clot on his brain and recovers and regains his memory. He is left paralysed and soon feels like a burden to Phoebe and decides to go to a rehabilitation centre but changes his mind at the last minute.
Stephen struggles to get to come to terms with being in a wheelchair and when his estranged brother, Mark arrives in Erisborough, he is less than happy to see him as he still blames him for Libby's death. After Mark's persistence to reconcile with his brother, Stephen finally accepts him. Stephen then undergoes a gruelling rehabilitation programme.
During Helen's birthday party at the newly reopened Waterhole, Stephen surprises Phoebe by getting up out of his wheelchair and walks towards her unaided. Stephen reveals that Wayne has been helping for weeks. Several days later, the Gottliebs leave Ramsay Street to manage their own record store in Anson's Corner.