Darren Stark
Darren Stark is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Todd MacDonald. He made his first on-screen appearance on 20 July 1993 and was originally played by Scott Major. When the character was released from prison in 1996, MacDonald took over the role and remained with the show until 1998. MacDonald has since returned twice for guest stints, plus a cameo appearance in the serial's twentieth anniversary episode.
Casting
, who would later appear in the serial as Lucas Fitzgerald, originated the role of Darren when the character appeared in a recurring capacity for three months in 1993. Producers decided to reintroduce the character in 1996. Thousands of actors auditioned for the role, including 19 year old Todd MacDonald. MacDonald's audition and the subsequent recalls were held in Sydney. He was then flown to Melbourne, where the actors were "whittled" down to five, before MacDonald was told he won the part. He then had to choose between Neighbours and the lead role in a touring production of Romeo and Juliet, which he had also successfully auditioned for. He choose Neighbours and said he was "thrilled" about being cast. He was contracted until May 1997, and admitted that he was worried about being typecast in a soap opera, so he only signed up for one year, but he later agreed to do a further six months. He commented "Then we'll renegotiate the contract. I guess they'll work out whether Darren goes back to jail or stays."MacDonald felt the show gave him "valuable experience in front of the camera". But he found it difficult being in the public eye, and recounted a time when he was recognised at a cricket match and the crowd called out his character's name to him. He called it "one of the worst nights of my life." He explained that he started avoiding people and found it hard to take public transport, but added that "sometimes it's very warming to be recognised." After 20 months in the role, MacDonald left Neighbours and filmed his final scenes in late 1997. MacDonald told a TV Week reporter that he always planned to leave after around 18 months and was not going because of anything he liked or disliked about the show. He stated "This show has taught me a hell of a lot. I feel like I'm graduating again." MacDonald planned to look for TV, stage or film work and wanted to stay in Melbourne, where he had been based for Neighbours. MacDonald initially refused to reveal how his character departed the show, but said he was not being killed off and the door was open to a possible return. His exit scenes aired in April 1998.
Development
Before he is sent to juvenile detention, Major described his version of Darren as "really aggressive and completely out for himself." Following the character's recast and return, Amanda Ruben of TV Week reported that his stint inside had transformed him, but his return to Erinsborough would not be "smooth sailing." MacDonald told her that Darren has come home and wants to "make good", but he has trouble with everyone's preconceived ideas of his character. MacDonald stated: "He's been on a prison farm and at a detention centre for three years, so he's picked up a few bad habits and isn't used to dealing with people in such an environment as Ramsay Street." MacDonald said the character's background, particularly his stint in prison for armed robbery, was what attracted him to the role and he felt that it was something he could "get my teeth into." Darren's presence on Ramsay Street causes "a stir" among its residents. Ruben also reported that Darren was set for a "sizzling" romance storyline with Libby Kennedy.After a six year absence, MacDonald reprised the role in early 2004 for a ten-week guest stint. He revealed that he had been asked to return several times over the years, but prior commitments had prevented him from accepting. He said the timing was finally right and he was enjoying working with friends. He stated "Coming back was like going back in time, in a way. There are new faces now, but on particular days and with particular scenes, it's just like it was when I left." Darren returns to Erinsborough to try and reconcile with Libby. MacDonald said Darren never stopped loving Libby, explaining "The feeling is that he's gone away and is now on the straight road. And it's pretty clear from the start that he wants Libby back." In April 2005, Kris Green of Digital Spy revealed that MacDonald would be reprising his role to join many ex-cast members returning for the show's 20th anniversary episode. In November 2007, David Knox of TV Tonight reported MacDonald had returned to Neighbours once again.
MacDonald made his final appearance as Darren in January 2008. The character's final storyline began in December 2007, as he shares a kiss with Janae Timmins, which leads to the breakdown of his relationship with Libby. Janae's love rival Kirsten Gannon witnesses the kiss and threatens to tell Janae's partner Ned Parker because she is feeling vindictive. O'Connor commented that Janae was in "a bit of an emotional state when she kissed Darren. Darren was there and it happened, but now she feels terrible about it and doesn't wait long to tell Ned." Ned keeps the news from Libby, as she has recently been injured in a warehouse collapse. She leans on Darron for support, while he is convinced that she will not find out about the kiss. Valentine felt that Libby's feelings for Darren could never compare to those she had for her late husband Drew Kirk, saying "I don't think she's ever really loved Darren the way she loved Drew." She thought Libby had put Drew on a pedestal and would not let anyone get as close to her again. After learning about the storyline, Valentine believed her character should not become hysterical or angry, as Darren has cheated on Libby three or four times at that point. She told TV Week's Jackie Brygel: "Darren has been this person since they were 18 years old. I think, at this point, Libby will have to go, 'You know what? See you later!' It's almost expected." When Libby eventually learns of the kiss, she ends the relationship with Darren.
Storylines
1993–1998
Darren is first seen in a detention centre with Michael Martin and it is evident that there is a deep-seated enmity between the two.On his release, Darren heads to Erinsborough, where his mother Cheryl Stark is living. Michael tries to warn his family about Darren but little does he know that Darren is working his way into his sister Debbie's life by using his cellmate Freddo's name. Darren manages to manipulate Debbie by alienating her from her friends. Cheryl later rents Number 22 Ramsay Street and she and Darren move in, enabling him to get closer to Debbie.
Debbie's ex-boyfriend, Rick Alessi is determined to get her away from Darren,
but every attempt he makes backfires and seems to draw Debbie closer to Darren. Rick witnesses Darren kissing Louise Barker and tells Debbie who refuses to believe it. Rick learns Darren has a plan to drag Debbie into a robbery, so he helps break Michael out of the detention centre, disguised as a woman. Rick and Michael track Darren and Debbie down at a local service station where Darren pulls a knife on the cashier and Michael bursts in several seconds later and is shot by the cashier. Darren tries to flee but is arrested and subsequently jailed.
Three years later, Darren is paroled and returned to live with his mother and grandmother, Marlene Kratz in Ramsay Street. On his first day back in the area, he runs into Debbie, who is very cold with him. Darren struggles to find work and even contemplates breaking the law once again. He risks his life when he finds out some money is hidden in a derelict house and chooses to break in on the day of demolition. Darren manages to escape alive.
Libby takes a shine to Darren and they become close much to ire of Libby's father Karl. When Karl's surgery is firebombed and Darren happens to be in the area and is thrown off the bridge by the explosion, which is witnessed by Debbie, Darren is the prime suspect. It later emerges Gary Collins is the culprit, who had a grudge against Karl, who had been treating his son Pete.
After the surgery episode, Darren's luck worsens when he is framed for stealing several CDs when a shoplifter thrusts them at him during a visit to the mall. Darren is re-imprisoned and this seems to enforce Karl's beliefs that he is trouble. Libby and Cheryl are convinced Darren is innocent. Darren temporarily breaks up with Libby as he doesn't want her waiting for him if he goes back to jail. Cheryl later finds a security tape exonerating her son. The couple reunite but Karl and Cheryl disagree with the relationship and things reach breaking point when Karl comes home one afternoon and learns that Darren has been in Libby's room and is convinced the couple have been having sex. After a massive argument between Karl, his wife Susan and Cheryl, Darren and Libby temporarily move out. After several days in a bedsit, They decide to return home as it is detrimental to Libby's VCE exams. Cheryl is killed the day the couple return home when she tries to stop Darren's younger sister, Louise from running into the road. Darren and his sister Danni are devastated. After seeing Cheryl's body in the morgue Darren blames Karl, who was on hand to witness Cheryl's accident and attend to her. It is revealed Cheryl had been taking anti-depressant tablets which reacted with the morphine Karl had given her. An enquiry reveals Cheryl would have died of her injuries, regardless but it does not help Darren's mood.
When Darren's younger brother, Brett arrives home for Cheryl's funeral, Darren is cold with him. They later begin bonding but ultimately fall out over Libby, who Brett had befriended while Darren was in jail. Lou later returns to reconcile with Cheryl but is unaware that she had died when he arrives at Number 24 during her wake. Darren is incensed when he learns Lou is the beneficiary of Cheryl's estate and tries to fight it but ultimately gives in and moves next door with Marlene, Lou and Lolly. Darren also manages to repair things with Brett before he and Danni leave.
On Christmas Day 1996, Darren, Libby's brother, Malcolm and Karl renovate the pub previously owned by Cheryl. Malcolm suffers an accident which involves a plank crushing his trachea and Darren urges Karl to help him. Karl, who had given up medicine following Cheryl's death, manages to operate on Malcolm successfully and Darren's grudge abates when he realises Karl was not responsible for his mother's death.
After several weeks of ups and downs, Libby and Darren's relationship also seems to be back on track, but things change when Darren offers Malcolm's girlfriend, Catherine O'Brien driving lessons. After several arguments, Darren and Catherine realize they are attracted to each other and Darren cancels the lessons. Fate intervenes when Catherine's sister, Sarah Beaumont asks Darren to put up a picture rail, leaving Darren and Catherine alone to give into their desires. Marlene catches them, but they are unaware. Catherine's guilt gets the best of her and she confesses all to Malcolm, who promptly punches Darren in the nose and disappears for the night, causing Karl to worry. Libby finds out second from Sarah and promptly dumps Darren. Darren tries to win her back but it fails when she spots Catherine at Number 22. Things aren't helped when Darren proposes and Libby rejects him. He decides to cut his losses and throw the engagement ring into Lassiter's Lake.
After Malcolm and Catherine reconcile and leave for London, Darren needs an extra person to help him run Handy Sam's – his and Malcolm's business formerly owned by Sam Kratz. Darren hires Wayne Peterson to help him with the coffee shop renovations. Wayne tries to romance Debbie but it ultimately backfires one night when she rejects him and he gets aggressive, luckily Darren is on hand to warn him off. Darren and Debbie begin dating again despite their history. Their relationship is shaky as Libby is still in the picture albeit dating someone else, causing Debbie to become jealous. Darren and Debbie later agree on a mutual break-up
When a group of Ramsay Street residents go out to Dinner, the lift breaks down and Darren tries to investigate the problem by climbing through the hatch. The lift starts again and Darren is endangered until Libby manages to rescue him. Darren returns the favor and rescues Libby when she endangers herself while putting up a banner at Eden Hills University on the side of the building and is left hanging. Darren decides to leave Erinsborough and move to Byron Bay but Libby chases his bus down and convinces him to stay. Darren later scores a job working for Martin Pike, a uni friend of Libby's. Martin's sister, Sondra tries to seduce Darren but he rejects her, risking the job and livelihood.
Darren faces temptation again in the form of Shannon Jones, a university friend of his housemate Toadfish Rebecchi. Darren, Libby, Toadie and Shannon attend the uni ball. When Libby leaves after an argument with Darren, Shannon spots Darren outside and they kiss, which Darren later admits. Libby forgives him but it does not last very long after discovering video evidence of a second kiss between Darren and Shannon recorded by Paul McClain and Hannah Martin. Libby realises Darren can't be trusted and he leaves town but not before a lengthy chat.