Francis Bell (1944-1994)

[CAEF]

An underrated actor, who played loud plumber Max Ramsay in Neighbours in 1985 and 1986.

Francis left the show suddenly in 1986 due to a bad back and he decided not to return so during his sick leave, his contract was terminated. His character was said to have gone to Brisbane and he decided not to return to Erinsborough.

Francis suffered severe depression and died aged 50 on 3 May 1994 after jumping from an 11 storey towerblock in Auckland. He had been severely depressed in the last weeks of his life.

[Deleted]

I always loved Max. He was a loudmouth, but his heart was in the right place.
The only thing I didn't like about him was how hard he was with Danny - while favouring his other son Shane.

[CAEF]

I think it was because he suspected that Danny was not his son, as Danny was concieved when Max and Maria had temporarily split up. Max later quizzed Maria and she admitted he was the son of Tim Duncan. Max was knocked for six but always had his suspicions. In late 1985, Danny was playing Cupid with Max and Kate Drew. Kate was Danny's teacher. At a cafe Danny was listening to their chat, hoping to find Max and Kate getting together. Max then said he has a secret, that he is not Danny's father. Danny knew why Max always yelled at him and favoured his blood son Shane. But when Danny confronted Max, they hugged and Max said biology means nothing. Their relationship improved after that.

I wish Max had stayed on for years. They could have got a lookalike actor and recast Max a year or 2 afterwards.

[Holey]

May 25, 2019 14:46:07 GMT CAEF said:

I think it was because he suspected that Danny was not his son, as Danny was concieved when Max and Maria had temporarily split up. Max later quizzed Maria and she admitted he was the son of Tim Duncan. Max was knocked for six but always had his suspicions. In late 1985, Danny was playing Cupid with Max and Kate Drew. Kate was Danny's teacher. At a cafe Danny was listening to their chat, hoping to find Max and Kate getting together. Max then said he has a secret, that he is not Danny's father. Danny knew why Max always yelled at him and favoured his blood son Shane. But when Danny confronted Max, they hugged and Max said biology means nothing. Their relationship improved after that.

I wish Max had stayed on for years. They could have got a lookalike actor and recast Max a year or 2 afterwards.

I agree, when they brought brother Tom in to replace Max it was not the same. 

[CAEF]

May 25, 2019 15:05:18 GMT Holey said:

May 25, 2019 14:46:07 GMT CAEF said:

I think it was because he suspected that Danny was not his son, as Danny was concieved when Max and Maria had temporarily split up. Max later quizzed Maria and she admitted he was the son of Tim Duncan. Max was knocked for six but always had his suspicions. In late 1985, Danny was playing Cupid with Max and Kate Drew. Kate was Danny's teacher. At a cafe Danny was listening to their chat, hoping to find Max and Kate getting together. Max then said he has a secret, that he is not Danny's father. Danny knew why Max always yelled at him and favoured his blood son Shane. But when Danny confronted Max, they hugged and Max said biology means nothing. Their relationship improved after that.

I wish Max had stayed on for years. They could have got a lookalike actor and recast Max a year or 2 afterwards.

I agree, when they brought brother Tom in to replace Max it was not the same. 

Tom was a rubbish replacement. He looked nothing at all like his brother Max, and was just a lame copy of him. He tried too hard to be Max, and failed. Francis Bell was natural.

[Deleted]

May 25, 2019 14:46:07 GMT CAEF said:

I think it was because he suspected that Danny was not his son, as Danny was concieved when Max and Maria had temporarily split up. Max later quizzed Maria and she admitted he was the son of Tim Duncan. Max was knocked for six but always had his suspicions. In late 1985, Danny was playing Cupid with Max and Kate Drew. Kate was Danny's teacher. At a cafe Danny was listening to their chat, hoping to find Max and Kate getting together. Max then said he has a secret, that he is not Danny's father. Danny knew why Max always yelled at him and favoured his blood son Shane. But when Danny confronted Max, they hugged and Max said biology means nothing. Their relationship improved after that.

I wish Max had stayed on for years. They could have got a lookalike actor and recast Max a year or 2 afterwards.

Oh yeah I remember now.
Good memory CAEF.

[Deleted]

I would love to see Danny or Shane come back......even if by new actors. It would be nice to have some Ramsey's back in Ramsey street again.

[Deleted]

Old I mean Ramsay not Ramsey.

[CAEF]

Shane last appeared in 1987 so over 30 years. Time to bring him back I say.

[Deleted]

Agreed 100% CAEF!!!

[CAEF]

Trouble is the younger viewers show too much bias towards the Brennans and Kennedys, Steigers and Piper, Finn and Sonya etc.