Neighbours star Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop, reveals he has 'aggressive, non-fixable' cancer
Ian Smith, the actor famous for his role as Harold Bishop on Neighbours, has disclosed that he has been diagnosed with terminal cancer.
The 85-year-old made his debut on Ramsay Street in 1987, portraying a cherished character on and off for the past fifty years. He took a break for 15 years but returned to the Australian soap only a few months ago.
He has now shared that he has completed filming his final scenes for Neighbours, following the diagnosis of a rare type of lung cancer known as pulmonary pleomorphic carcinoma.
"I learned a few months ago that I have cancer," Smith shared with the Australian news program 10 News First. "It's an aggressive type of cancer that can't be cured, and the doctors think I may not have much time left."
The show released clips from his last day of filming, where he expressed to his co-stars that he had lived a "remarkable life" and encountered "incredible individuals" throughout his experience on the series.
Harold came to Erinsborough as a former love interest of Madge (Anne Charleston), and the two eventually tied the knot, becoming one of the most cherished couples in the soap opera.
Tragedy hit in 1991 when he was swept out to sea and believed to be dead. Fans of Neighbours will recall those memorable closing moments, where a devastated Madge is left with nothing but his glasses, which had ended up on a rock.
But this is Soapland, a place where anything is possible. In 1996, Harold made a comeback, although he had lost his memory. He continued to appear on screen until 2009.
During that period, the character experienced a series of dramatic events: his home was broken into by a girlfriend who was addicted to gambling, he had a stroke that fundamentally changed his behavior, and he attempted to choke the individual he held responsible for the plane crash that took his son's life.
After leaving the show, Smith went on to make a few short guest appearances in the soap. This included a role in what was believed to be the very last episode in 2022, when the series was canceled by Channel 5.
In 2023, Neighbours made a comeback after being acquired by the streaming service Amazon Freevee, and in May, Smith revealed that he would be fully returning to the show.
"After 15 years away, the iconic Harold Bishop is making his comeback to Erinsborough," the show announced in a statement on social media. "We are excited to have Ian Smith return to the show and feature in the opening credits, where he truly belongs."
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After wrapping up his last scenes, Smith revealed that he shed "genuine tears" on his final day of filming.
The video featured him with fellow cast members like Stefan Dennis (Paul Robinson), Jackie Woodburne (Susan Kennedy), Alan Fletcher (Karl Kennedy), and Annie Jones (Jane Harris). There was also an unexpected appearance from Charleston, who is said to be portraying a different character after Madge's passing in 2001.
Dennis was overcome with emotion as he expressed, "During the past two decades since I've returned, I've developed an extraordinary connection with this person... I care for you deeply."
Smith mentioned that he had received various treatments, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy. He expressed his willingness to be a test subject, stating, "I don't want to die. I want to maintain a good quality of life for as long as possible. If they can help me achieve that, I would be very grateful."
