Willis family

The Willis family are a fictional family from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours. The first member of the family to appear on-screen was Brad Willis in a guest capacity on 31 October 1989. His younger sister Cody arrived on 24 November 1989. The head of the family, Doug, moved into Ramsay Street the following year with his wife, Pam. Their eldest children, Adam and Gaby, joined them in 1990 and 1991 respectively. Doug's sister, Faye Hudson, arrived on 28 November 1991 and her son, Cameron Hudson joined her in March 1992. Gaby's son Zac was born on 25 July 1994.

Brad Willis

Brad Willis
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Benjamin Grant Mitchell (1989) Scott Michaelson (1991–93)
Duration	1989, 1991–93
First appearance	31 October 1989
Last appearance	15 December 1993
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Home	Perth
Occupation	Barman Surfboard Maker
Family Wife Beth Brennan (1993–) Father Doug Willis Mother Pam Willis Brothers Adam Willis Sisters Gaby Willis Cody Willis Sons Ned Willis Grandfathers Bert Willis Seamus Beresford Grandmothers Moina Beresford Aunts Faye Hudson Cousins Cameron Hudson Nephews Zac Willis

Bradley "Brad" Willis first appeared as a guest character in two 1989 episodes played by Benjamin Grant Mitchell, later to play Cameron Hudson. The character returned in 1991, played by Scott Michaelson.

Brad was a very sporty, athletic man, especially into surfing, and was highly popular with women. He had relationships with Lucy Robinson and Lauren Carpenter as well as his eventual wife Beth Brennan. Brad and Beth married in 1993, leaving Erinsborough for Perth.

Cody Willis

Main article: Cody Willis

Cody Willis, played by Amelia Frid, made her first on-screen appearance on 24 November 1989. Frid successfully auditioned for the role of Cody and she called the experience a "right time, right place thing", she also added that "it was all kind of surreal."^[1] Cody became the second member of the Willis family to arrive in Ramsay Street and she dates both Josh Anderson (Jeremy Angerson) and Todd Landers' (Kristian Schmid).^[2] Cody is described as a "studious girl".^[2]

Doug Willis

Doug Willis
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Terence Donovan
Introduced by	Don Battye (1990) Ric Pellizerri (2005)
Duration	1990-94, 2005
First appearance	1 August 1990
Last appearance	27 July 2005
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Home	Darwin
Occupation	Builder
Family Wife Pam Beresford (1967-) Father Bert Willis Sisters Faye Hudson Sons Brad Willis Adam Willis Daughters Gaby Willis Cody Willis Grandsons Ned Willis Zac Willis Nephews Cameron Hudson

Douglas "Doug" Willis , played by Terence Donovan made his first on-screen appearance on 1 August 1990. Donovan departed in 1994, but returned briefly for the show's 20th anniversary in July 2005.

In 2005, Donovan reprised his role of Doug to join many ex-cast members who returned for Neighbours' 20th anniversay.^[3] Doug is described as being a "bit of a Regular Joe who didn't like rocking the boat or standing out from the crowd." He is also "a man's man" who is not afraid of using his fists and takes great pleasure from making home-brewed beer with Lou Carpenter (Tom Oliver).^[4]

Doug began working as a builder to support his mother and sister, Faye (Lorraine Bayly) after his ex-marine father, Bert (Bud Tingwell) returned to the seas. While accepting a dare on a Buck's night to hail a cab naked, Doug met Pam Beresford (Sue Jones) and they both fell in love. Doug and Pam married in 1967 and had three children.

Doug and Pam purchase Number 28 Ramsay Street. They have dinner with Beverly (Shaunna O'Grady) and Jim Robinson (Alan Dale) and Doug winds Jim up by flirting with Beverly. When Cody's grades suffer due to her dating Todd Landers (Kristian Schmid), Doug and Pam ban her from seeing him. Doug goes into business with Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) and they try to develop a retirement village project in the bush. Local councillor Felicity Brent (Rhona McLeod) tries to oppose it, but fails. Doug and Paul fall into debt over the development costs. The Willises take a further financial hit due to Cody's student exchange fees and them bailing Brad (Scott Michaelson) out of jail. Gaby (Rachel Blakely) returns and bails the family out. Brenda Riley (Genevieve Lemon) takes a shine to Doug and constantly flirts with him. Pam accuses Doug of having an affair, but he assures her that he is not.

Faye arrives to stay with the family and Doug is willing to put up with his sister, as she is lonely. However, when Faye tries to get Doug back together with his childhood sweetheart, Alexandra Lomax (Chantal Contouri), he asks her to leave. Faye then moves to Number 32. Jill Weir (Lynn Semler) takes an interest in Doug and leans on him and Pam for support during a custody battle with her mother-in-law over her son, Ross (Che Broadbent). Jill later starts to pursue Doug and he is resistant at first, but gives in after assuming Pam is having an affair with Jim. Doug and Jill have a one night stand, but Doug regrets it and confesses to Pam. She throws him out and files for divorce. However, when Doug and Brad are lost at sea, Pam realises how much she really loves him and they reconcile, when he returns. Doug's father, Bert, arrives and Doug is frosty with him as he walked on the family when he was young. Doug becomes angry when he discovers that Gaby has been in contact with Bert for many years. After learning that Bert is dying, Doug makes peace with his father.

Doug faces more money problems when his company is audited and goes into debt. He sells the business to Constructacon and he is kept on as a foreman. However, he is fired due to poor conditions on the site. Doug sinks into depression and several neighbours try to help him, but he rejects their offers. Doug soon lands a job as a sales representative. Doug and Lou Carpenter begin making their own home-brewed beer and they hide it in the shed of a property Doug is renovating. Doug boss, Andrew "Macca" MacKenzie (John Morris), is not happy, but later joins Doug and Lou in their venture. Gaby gives birth to Zac (Jay Callahan), delighting her parents. Gaby leaves for Darwin and Doug and Pam sell up and join her. Cody dies the following year and Pam brings her body to Darwin to be buried. Years later, Doug receives an invitation from Annalise Hartman (Kimberley Davies) to attend a screening of her documentary about Ramsay Street and he returns to Erinsborough with Philip Martin (Ian Rawlings). Doug and Philip sneak into Number 22 and paint a fake beard on a sleeping Lou. Doug and Philip catch up with old friends and enjoy a barbecue and watch the documentary. Lou then joins Doug and Philip on a camping trip up north.

The BBC said Doug's most notable moment was "Having an affair with Jill Weir."^[5]

Pam Willis

Pam Willis
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Sue Jones
Introduced by	Don Battye (1990) Bill Searle (1996)
Duration	1990–94, 1996
First appearance	6 August 1990
Last appearance	1 April 1996
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Home	Darwin
Occupation	Nurse
Family Husband Doug Willis (1967–) Father Seamus Beresford Mother Moina Beresford Sons Adam Willis Brad Willis Daughters Cody Willis Gaby Willis Grandsons Zac Willis Ned Willis

Pamela "Pam" Willis (née Beresford), played by Sue Jones debuted on-screen during the episode airing on 6 August 1990. Pam was Erinsborough's district nurse, and highly valued by the whole community. Her marriage to Doug at one point ran into trouble when he had an affair with Jill Weir, though this was eventually sorted out. Pam departed Neighbours in 1994, but she made a brief return in 1996 for several episodes involving the aftermath of the shooting and death of her youngest daughter, Cody.

Pam is characterised by her helpful personality, she loves her four children and continually tries to help them out. Pam extended her caring nature through her time on the show working as a nurse.^[6]

Pam is a qualified nurse. She met Doug Willis (Terence Donovan) after he got into her car, while nude. The couple fell in love and married in 1967 and they had a son, Adam (Ian Williams). Two years later, Pam fell pregnant again, but lost the baby to SIDS. The experience led her to become a fundraiser for awareness of the condition. In the 1970s, three more children followed, Gaby (Rachel Blakely), Brad (Scott Michaelson) and Cody (Amelia Frid). After Gaby and Brad left home, Pam and Doug decided to look for a smaller house.

Beverly Marshall (Shaunna O'Grady) and her husband, Jim (Alan Dale), invite Pam and Doug to dinner at their house, after the Willises purchase Number 28. Doug's flirting with Beverley angers Jim, but Pam defuses the situation by explaining that she is aware of her husband's flirty nature. The family quickly settle in and Pam returns to nursing. She is delighted when Adam and Cody decide to follow her into medicine. Cody's relationship with Todd Landers (Kristian Schmid) causes friction between the Willis family and the Robinsons. Shortly after Cody leaves for a scholarship in America and Adam relocates to Newcastle, Pam and Doug are joined by Brad and Gaby.

Pam becomes a personal nurse to Garth Kirby (Roy Baldwin), a friend of Doug's. Garth suffers from a terminal illness and he asks for Pam to help end his suffering, but she refuses. Garth dies and an autopsy reveals that he overdosed on his medication. The police charge Pam as they believe she killed him. Pam's nephew, Cameron Hudson (Benjamin Grant Mitchell) arrives to defend her in court and he realises that Pam left her bag unattended long enough for Garth to steal the medication and later kill himself. Pam is cleared of all charges, but her supervisor, Gail Williams (Hilary Henshaw), gives her a hard time. Pam and Jim begin spending a lot of time together as they work on a fundraising board. Jim admits he has feelings for her, but Pam rebuffs him. Pam later discovers Doug has had a one-night stand with Jill Weir (Lyn Semmler) and she throws him out. Pam seeks comfort in Jim's arms and they kiss. When Doug and Brad go missing at sea, Pam is worried. When they are found, Pam halts her divorce plans and forgives Doug.

Pam finds herself at odds with Brad's new girlfriend, Lauren Carpenter (Sarah Vandenbergh) as Brad had been previously engaged to Beth Brennan (Natalie Imbruglia), but had cheated on her with Lauren. When it emerges Brad is gambling, Pam falls out with him further leading him to move in with Lauren and her father Lou (Tom Oliver). However, Brad and Pam patch up their differences, before Brad leaves on a crusie ship for several months. Pam is thrilled when Brad and Beth get back together and get engaged. When Pam and Beth's mother, Bunny (Jan Huggett), start interfering, Brad and Beth decide to elope. Pam, Doug and Bunny track down the couple, but Brad and Beth do not have the heart to tell their parents that they are already married, so they agree to a second wedding ceremony at Number 26. Shortly after Cody returns from America, Pam notices the changes in her mood. This stems from the fact Cody's marriage to Drew Grover (Christopher Kirby) has ended and a lot of her old friends have since moved on. Pam later becomes suspicous when Cody begins seeing Michael Martin (Troy Beckwith) who has recently been released from juvenile detention. This causes a rift between Pam and Julie (Julie Mullins), Michael's stepmother. When Pam and Julie spot Michael and Danni Stark (Eliza Szonert) with syringes, they believe Michael is junkie, but it transpires that Danni is a diabetic and the syringes contain her insulin.

Gaby gives birth to Zac (Jay Callahan) and Pam is delighted to become a grandmother. Gaby leaves for Darwin and Pam and Doug decide to move up there too. They sell Number 28 to the Kennedy family. Cody is shot during a siege between police and drug dealers and Pam hurries back down to Erinsborough to be by her bedside. Karl (Alan Fletcher) and Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) invite Pam to dinner in her old home. When Pam goes into hospital to visit Cody that evening, Cody seems as if she may make a full recovery, but she goes into cardiac arrest and is rushed into theatre She dies, leaving Pam devastated. Pam arranges for Cody's funeral to be held in Darwin, but a memorial service is held for her at Lassiter's Lake. Pam then returns home.

Josephine Monroe praised Pam in her book titled "Neighbours: The first 10 years" stating: "A real salt-of-the-earth-type. Pam could always be relied on to help out, especially if it benefited one of her four children."^[6] The BBC said Pam's most notable moment was "Kicking Doug out of the house after having he told her about his affair with Jill Weir."^[7]

Adam Willis

Adam Willis
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Ian Williams
Duration	1990–91
First appearance	9 August 1990
Last appearance	13 September 1991
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Date of birth	1969
Occupation	Doctor
Family Father Doug Willis Mother Pam Willis Sisters Gaby Willis Cody Willis Grandfathers Bert Willis Seamus Beresford Grandmothers Moina Bersford Aunts Faye Hudson Cousins Cameron Hudson

Dr. Adam Willis, played by Ian Williams, made his first appearance on 9 August 1990. As a medical student, he opted to live with his parents who moved onto Ramsay Street with his younger sister, Cody. During Adam's time on the street, he was involved in a love-triangle with Neighbours Caroline Alessi and Jim Robinson. Adam eventually began dating Gemma Ramsay and later left for Newcastle to finish his medical studies. Gemma later followed and several years later they were engaged.

Gaby Willis

Main article: Gaby Willis

Gabrielle "Gaby" Willis, played by Rachel Blakely made her first on-screen appearance 12 August 1991. A highly ambitious woman who works in the Robinson Corporation, though her aggressive nature is somewhat tempered after she gives birth to son Zac. Gaby becomes the proprietor of the upmarket boutique "Gabrielle's" until her departure in 1994. In 2005, Blakely was one of over twenty ex-cast members who returned to Neighbours to appear in Annalise Hartman's documentary film about Ramsay Street.^[3]

Faye Hudson

Faye Hudson
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Lorraine Bayly
Duration	1991–92
First appearance	28 November 1991
Last appearance	14 May 1992
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Home	Paris
Occupation	Housewife
Family Husband Kevin Hudson Father Bert Willis Brothers Doug Willis Sons Cameron Hudson Cousins Cyril Nephews Adam Willis Brad Willis Nieces Gaby Willis Cody Willis Other relatives Zac Willis Ned Willis

Faye Hudson (nee Willis) is Doug's sister. She made her first on-screen appearance on 28 November 1991. She left Erinsborough in 1992.

Cameron Hudson

Cameron Hudson
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Benjamin Grant Mitchell
Duration	1992–93
First appearance	24 March 1992
Last appearance	23 April 1993
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Occupation	Lawyer Journalist Stand-up Comedian
Family Father Kevin Hudson Mother Faye Hudson Grandfathers Bert Willis Uncles Doug Willis Cousins Adam Willis Gaby Willis Brad Willis Cody Willis

Cameron Hudson, the son of Faye Hudson, arrived on Ramsay Street in 1992 to defend his aunt, Pam Willis, who was accused of murdering Garth Kirby. He left town in 1993.

Zac Willis

Zac Willis
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Jay Callahan
Duration	1994
First appearance	25 July 1994
Last appearance	17 October 1994
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Date of birth	25 July 1994
Home	Darwin
Family Father Jack Flynn Mother Gaby Willis Grandfathers Doug Willis Grandmothers Pam Willis Uncles Adam Willis Brad Willis Aunts Cody Willis Cousins Ned Willis

Shannon Zachary "Zac" Willis is the son of Gaby Willis and Jack Flynn. He made his first on screen appearance on 25 July 1994, the day of his birth.

Reception

During a feature on Neighbours, Anna Pickard of The Guardian tried to choose the characters she would be most starstruck by if she met them. She said "It would have to be the Willis family. All of them. Pam, Doug, Adam, Gaby, Brad and Cody".^[8]

References

1. ^ Kidd, Ian (10 June 2008). "Interview with Neighbours Actress, Amelia Frid (Cody Willis)". Perfectblend. http://perfectblend.net/features/interview-frid.htm. Retrieved 7 January 2011. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Monroe, Josephine, p. 72
3. ^ ^{a b} Green, Kris (14 April 2005). "More Neighbours returns confirmed". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/soaps/news/a20611/more-neighbours-returns-confirmed.html. Retrieved 29 April 2011. 
4. ^ Monroe, Josephine, p. 53
5. ^ "Character: Doug Willis". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 October 2003. http://replay.web.archive.org/20031007040204/http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/index.shtml?content/_dougwillis/page1. Retrieved 29 April 2011. 
6. ^ ^{a b} Monroe, Josephine, p. 54
7. ^ "Character: Pam Willis". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 October 2003. http://replay.web.archive.org/20031007074508/http://www.bbc.co.uk/neighbours/whoswho/characterbiogs/index.shtml?content/_pamwillis/page1. Retrieved 2 May 2011. 
8. ^ Pickard, Anna (18 October 2005). "The perfect blend". The Guardian (Guardian Media Group). http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2005/10/18/the_perfect_ble.html. Retrieved 7 January 2011. 

• Monroe, Josephine (1996). Neighbours: the first 10 years. Penguin Group. ISBN 978-0-7181-4212-4.