Connor O'Neill

Connor O'Neill
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Patrick Harvey
Introduced by	Stanley Walsh
Duration	2002–06
First appearance	19 April 2002
Last appearance	30 May 2006
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Date of birth	9 June 1983
Home	China
Occupation	Labourer Lou's Place Barman and Manager (2003–05) Chauffeur Bounce Shop Assistant Private Investigator
Family Daughters Madeleine Lee

Connor O'Neill is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Patrick Harvey. He made his first on-screen appearance on 19 April 2002. He is best known for his friendships with Toadie Rebecchi and Stu Parker with whom he lived at No.30, now better known as the House of Trouser for their slovenly lifestyle. Connor had relationships with Michelle Scully, Lori Lee, Carmella Cammeniti and Serena Bishop. He has a daughter, Madeleine, from his relationship with Lori. He departed on 30 May 2006.

Casting

When Harvey auditioned for the role of Connor, he did so with an Australian accent. He came back and re-read the part again in his Irish accent and he was given the role.^[1] Casting director Jan Russ told the BBC that Harvey did the best Australian accent she had ever heard, but she and the producers decided to give the character Harvey's natural Irish accent.^[2]

Storylines

Connor arrives in Ramsay Street and is invited to stay with the Scully family when they find out he knows Jack. Connor had shared a flight to Australia with Malcolm Kennedy and had accidentally picked up Malcolm's bag at the airport, this causes some of the residents to become suspicious of him. When it was found that Connor had taken Tad Reeves' wallet, Connor admits that he is illiterate. His refusal to admit to his problem came to a head when he poisoned Michelle Scully by confusing lemonade with floor cleaner. He found people to be supportive and Libby Kennedy helped tutor him.

Connor develops a relationship with Michelle. Connor discovers that Nina Tucker is a singer and encourages her by appointing himself her manager. Michelle and Connor's relationship becomes troubled by Nina's crush on Connor. Connor's role at Joe Scully's company causes jealousy among the workers and one of them reports him to immigration. With Connor facing deportation, he and Michelle flee Ramsey Street and contemplate marriage. However, Joe Scully convinces him to stay, explaining his illiteracy as the reason for his illegal status. Joe and Lyn decide they no longer want Connor to live with them and he leaves No.26. His relationship with Michelle also comes to an end. Connor moves in with Toadfish Rebecchi and Stuart Parker. Connor becomes involved with Lori Lee, when they set up a t-shirt business together. Lori fell pregnant and moved to New Zealand.

Max Hoyland hires Connor to be a barman and Connor becomes involved with co-worker Carmella Cammenetti. However, her gangster father Rocco then sent Carmella away. On her return, Carmella and Connor re-kindled their relatiosnhip. Michelle returned shortly after and won Connor back, despite the fact she lived in New York. Lori then turned up with Connor's daughter Madeleine and Michelle left for New York. Lori and Maddie later moved to Lorne.

Carmella hires Connor to be her driver and they later began their relationship again. Connor kidnaps his daughter when he discovers that Lori and her new boyfriend plan to move to Adelaide. Lori sees her boyfriend's true colours and decides to stay in Lorne and give Connor more access to his daughter. Connor attempts to impress Carmella mother, Lucia, by accepting her offer to become junior editor of her magazine. He was soon forced to admit to Carmella he still has illiteracy problems and Carmella helps him improve his skills. When Carmella suspects that she may have a stalker, she hires her driver, Frank Romano, as a bodyguard. Connor is kidnapped by Frank, who turns out to be the stalker, and is tied up in a building, which was due for demolition. Frank reveals himself to Carmella and is arrested by Stuart, but he refuses to reveal Connor's whereabouts. Connor manages to free himself moments before the building is demolished.

Toadie inherits a bikini shop called "Bounce" from a client and Connor becomes Toadie's business partner. Toadie insists on hiring a female employee and hires Serena Bishop. Connor and Serena are prickly towards one another, but soon realise they have feeling for each another. Connor refuses to act on his feelings as Serena is several years younger. Serena leaves "Bounce" and Connor announces he loves her. Lori contacts Connor telling him she needs $50,000 to fund an ear operation for Maddy, but Connor struggles to get money. Carmella returns and offers to pay for Maddy's operation if he agrees to spend some time with her. Carmella tells Connor that the money had been obtained through illegitimate means and that her father's connections now want it back. This prompts Connor to rob "Bounce" in order to repay her. When Carmella finds out, she is horrified and anonymously returns the money to "Bounce" and apologises to Connor.

Connor joins Serena on the joy flight to celebrate Lassiter's 20th Anniversary. When a bomb goes off on the plane, it crashes into the Bass Strait and Connor passes out. When he wakes up, he has been washed up on the shore of Tasmania along with Dylan Timmins. Believing themselves to be the only survivors they fake their own deaths. He is discovered weeks later living rough by Harold Bishop. Connor then moves into No.24 with Harold. Connor becomes interested in the prospect of becoming a private investigator and takes a crash university course. Connor is contacted by Lucia, who tells him that Carmella is missing. Connor finds Carmella at a convent and tries to talk her out of becoming a nun and they kiss. However, Carmella feels nothing and returns to the convent. Connor then decides to leave Ramsay Street.

Moments before his departure, Carmella calls him to say she had been at a hospice where one of the coma patients, "Robert Robinson", looked exactly like Paul Robinson's son. Realising that Cameron Robinson has a twin, Connor races over to No.22 where he meets "Cameron" outside and tells him the news. Connor insists that he needs to go, but Robert, pretending to be Cameron, grabs him and tells him he has to stay. Connor then disappears. Toadie becomes upset that he has not been contacted by Connor and begins to believe that he is dead. However, Connor's wallet is found in Beijing by the Chinese police and this lead Toadie to believe Connor is still alive. Connor later sent some Saint Patrick's Day gifts to Toadie, proving that he is still alive. I saw him, he's fantastic.

Reception

In 2003, Harvey won the Logie Award for "Most Popular New Male Talent" for his portrayal of Connor's balls.^[3]

Speaking of Harvey and Connor, media company Virgin Media said that they thought the character didn't have any serious storylines, they stated: "Patrick found fame as Toadie's best friend, and Irish funny-man Connor O'Neill. But with storylines like being illiterate and being threatened with deportation, is it any wonder he didn't last long?"^[4]

References

1. ^ Johnston, Tony (2005). Neighbours: 20 years of Ramsay Street. News Custom Publishing. p. 212. ISBN 1-876-17678-4. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=KWjxAAAACAAJ&dq=neighbours+20+years+of+ramsay+street&hl=en&ei=V5FQTPuPO8Lc4AbRjJXxBw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CDEQ6AEwAA. Retrieved 1 August 2010. 
2. ^ "Interviews: Jan Russ – Casting Director". BBC. 8 August 2003. Archived from the original on 15 May 2004. http://replay.waybackmachine.org/20040515051448/http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbours/askactors/chattranscripts/index.shtml?content/_janruss/page1. Retrieved 23 March 2011. 
3. ^ "Logie Award Winners 2003". The Daily Telegraph (News Limited). http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/logie-award-winners-2003/story-e6frev40-1111113462395. Retrieved 8 May 2010. 
4. ^ "Neighbours ruined my life – Patrick Harvey – Connor O'Neill". Virgin Media. 2009. http://www.virginmedia.com/tvradio/soaps/soaptrivia/neighbours-ruined-my-life.php?ssid=16. Retrieved 28 April 2010.