Helen Daniels

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 This article does not cite any references or sources. (February 2008)
Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
Helen Daniels
First appearance March 18, 1985
Episode 1
Last appearance October 17, 1997
Episode 2965
Cause/reason Died of old age at No.26.
Created by Reg Watson
Portrayed by Anne Haddy
Episode count 1-2965
Information
Nickname(s) Gran
Gender Female
Age 74
Date of birth 1923
Date of death 1997
Occupation Artist
Home James Director.
Title Mrs
Family Gloria Simpson (mother, died)
Laura Dennison (sister)
Gwen Simpson (sister)
Nikki Dennison (niece)
Spouse(s) Bill Daniels (1940-1969,died), Michael Daniels (1991, annulled) and Reuben White (died 1995)
Children Rosemary Daniels (adoptive daughter)
Anne Robinson (daughter) (deceased)
Relatives Jim Robinson (son-in-law)

Helen Daniels (née Simpson) was a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by the late actress Anne Haddy. She appeared from the very first episode in 1985 until the character's death in 1997, making Helen the longest-serving original character. She was the show's main protagonist and matriarch for over 12 years and remains one of the all-time most popular characters[1].

[edit] Back story

She married her first husband Bill Daniels at age 17 and he died in 1969, with him she had one daughter Anne and one adopted daughter Rosemary. In 1975, after Anne had had four children, Paul, Scott, Julie and Lucy, with her husband Jim, Anne died and so Helen helped Jim with the family.

[edit] 1985 and beyond

In the show's storyline Helen helped run the Robinson household. During her time in Erinsborough she endured the deaths of her son-in-law Jim, as well as her grandchild Julie. Her other grandchildren gradually departed, and Julie's widower Philip and his children, Debbie and Hannah moved-in to the Robinson house. During her 12 and a half years on the show, Helen was charged with drink driving, buried a granddaughter, had an affair with her daughter's fiancé, was kidnapped, was evicted, was widowed, told her daughter she was adopted and had a bout of depression after son in law Jim Robinson died.

In the storyline Helen remarried twice, first in 1991 to Michael Daniels, her first husband's cousin. Michael was soon revealed as a bigamist and so the marriage was annulled. She later married Reuben White in 1995; however, he died soon afterwards.

After becoming increasingly frail and spending a long time in hospital, Helen returned home on her birthday in 1997. After watching a ten-year-old video of Scott and Charlene's wedding, with Philip, Debbie, Hannah and her friends Harold and Madge Bishop around her, she fell asleep on the sofa and died. A memorial service was held at Lassiter's lake where her ashes were laid.

In 2005, a charity foundation was set up by her grandson Paul, called The Helen Daniels Foundation which worked to fund local projects.

Helen became the third character to receive the tribute credits at the time she died.

[edit] Family tree