The list of actors from the show who have died under heartbreaking circumstances is long.
Dieter Brummer who played Home and Away heartthrob Shane Parrish was only 45 years old when he was found dead in his home on Saturday.
His heartbroken family has paid an emotional tribute to the star, saying he “left a massive hole” in their lives.
“Dieter was a much-loved Home and Away cast member… We send our sincere condolences to Dieter’s family and friends during this very difficult time,” a spokesperson from Channel 7 said, adding its voice to the flood of online tributes.
Dieter isn’t the first Home and Away star to die under tragic circumstances, with some people suggesting that the Summer Bay cast is “cursed”.
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Dieter Brummer is the latest star to pass away under tragic circumstances. Photo: Seven
Ben Unwin was found at the bottom of a waterfall
Ben Unwin played bad boy Jesse McGregor on the soap opera for four years from 1996, when he left the show. He returned in 2002 and continued to play the character until 2005.
In 2019, the 41-year-old was found dead at the bottom of “cursed” waterfall, Minyon Falls in northern NSW.
The 90-metre high waterfall is reportedly a deathtrap where many others have died. NSW police did not treating Ben’s death as suspicious.
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Ben Unwin was found at the base of a 90-metre high waterfall. Photo: Seven
Annalise Braakensiek died mysteriously
Model Annalise Braakensiek, who played Lise on the show, also died in 2019, aged 46.
Instagram posts immediately before her death were full of cryptic messages.
“Everything seems to feel twisted and upside down at the moment,” the international model wrote in one post.
In another, she talked about the “challenging year” she’d had following her divorce from husband Danny Goldberg.
Police suspected no foul play, and believed her death may have been caused by an overdose.
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Annalise Braakensiek shared a series of cryptic posts on Instagram before her death in 2019. Photo: Getty
Jessica Falkholt died in a car crash
Jessica Falkholt was a more recent addition to the Summer Bay cast, playing Hope Morrison in 2016.
Her stint on the show was short. In 2018, the 29-year-old was in a horrific car accident that claimed the lives of her parents, Lars and Vivian, plus her younger sister Annabelle and the other driver.
Although Jessica was brought to hospital and underwent a series of surgeries, her life support was eventually turned off and the young star passed away.
Jessica Falkholt died in a tragic car accident that claimed the lives of her younger sister and her parents. Photo: Press Association
Russell Kiefel collapsed on stage
OG fans of Australian soaps will remember Russell Kiefel, who played Roy O’Neale on Home and Away and Russell Brennan on Neighbours.
He was a divisive character in Summer Bay: a repentant dad who was trying to make amends for abusing his kids when they were growing up.
The 65-year-old star was also a script writer for Home and Away, and performed on stage.
During a performance of And I’m the Queen of Sheba in Darwin, he collapsed on stage and died just a few days later.
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Russell Kiefel was still a working actor when he collapsed on stage in Darwin. Photo: Seven
Megan Connolly died of an overdose
Megan Connolly was the youngest cast member to pass away. She reportedly died in 2001 of a heroin overdose at 27 years old.
She’d just taken over the role of Rebecca Nash, after her predecessor, Belinda Emmett, who was diagnosed with breast cancer.
Belinda died five years after Megan.
It seems Megan Connolly’s character on the show was cursed. Her predecessor also died, from breast cancer. Photo: Getty
