Steve Parker
| Steve Parker | |||||||||||||||||||||
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| Neighbours character | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Steve Bastoni | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 2007–09 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | 23 July 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | 24 July 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Ric Pellizzeri | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Profile | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation | Veterinarian | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Home | Oakey | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| Father | Gary Fuller |
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| Mother | Kitty Parker |
| Adoptive father | Jim Parker |
| Half-brothers |
Stuart Parker Ned Parker |
| Wife | Miranda West |
| Adoptive sons | Riley Parker |
| Adoptive daughters | Bridget Parker |
| Granddaughters | India Napier |
| Aunts | Raylene Manson |
| Nephews | Mickey Gannon |
Steven "Steve" Parker is a fictional character from the Australian Network Ten soap opera Neighbours, played by Steve Bastoni. In 2007, Neighbours decided to return to focusing more on family dynamics and the characters of Steve and his family were created and introduced to help boost falling ratings in Australia. Steve made his first on-screen appearance on 23 July 2007 along with his wife and daughter. The family moved into Ramsay Street and Steve opened a veterinary practice in the Lassiters complex. His storylines included taking the blame for the death of Chris Knight, being kissed and poisoned by Nicola West, breaking up and later reuniting with Miranda, becoming a grandfather and the death of his daughter. In March 2009, the decision was taken to write the Parker family out of the show after Bastoni and Eloise Mignon quit. Steve departed on 24 July 2009 with his wife, following Bridget's funeral.
In 2007 Neighbours suffered one of its worst decline in ratings and several key changes took place, including the introduction of a new family.Network Ten drama executive Dan Bennett revealed that the show would return to the focus on relationships and family dynamics. The Parker family made their first appearance on-screen in July 2007, marking the start of the show's renovation.
Former Police Rescue star, Steve Bastoni was cast in the role of the family's patriarch, Steve Parker. Bastoni said "My agent rang and said, 'Would you consider (the Steve Parker role in) Neighbours?'". Bastoni agreed to the role as he had struggled to find work after moving to Melbourne from Sydney with no prospects. Bastoni called the role on Neighbours "a little gift from God". Bastoni previously guested in the serial in 1985 as a bank teller called Alex Baxter.
In March 2009, it was announced that the Parker family were to be written out of the show after Bastoni and Mignon decided to quit. Bastoni said in an interview that the character of Steve Parker had nowhere else to go and added, "I only planned to be on the show for a year to 18 months but I've been here two years now and have done enough".
Steve Parker is the brother of Stuart and Ned Parker. He was living in Sydney with his family until they made the decision to move to Erinsborough. Steve had ties to Ramsay Street before he arrived as he grew up in Oakey with Drew Kirk. Steve and Miranda have two children, Riley and Bridget, who they adopted when they were young. Steve is a vet who specialises in caring for native wildlife and he enjoyed sharing his work with Bridget.
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