Wayne Duncan

Neighbours character

Portrayed by

Jonathon Sammy-Lee

Duration

1993–94

First appearance

4 February 1993

Last appearance

4 March 1994

Introduced by

Alan Coleman

Classification

Former; regular

Profile

Occupation

Teacher at Erinsborough High (1993–94)

Mother	Thelma Duncan
Brothers	Troy Duncan
Other relatives	Helen Daniels Gwen Simpson Laura Dennison Anne Daniels Rosemary Daniels Nikki Dennison Julie Martin Lucy Robinson Hannah Martin

Mother	Thelma Duncan
Brothers	Troy Duncan
Other relatives	Helen Daniels Gwen Simpson Laura Dennison Anne Daniels Rosemary Daniels Nikki Dennison Julie Martin Lucy Robinson Hannah Martin

Wayne Duncan is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Jonathon Sammy-Lee. He made his first screen appearance as Wayne during the episode broadcast on 4 February 1993. Wayne becomes a chemistry teacher at Erinsborough High with an unorthodox approach. He is arrogant, intelligent and articulate – all traits that make him confident in arguments. A country man and strong believer in violence when protecting property – Wayne's attitude and gun possession polarized the way other characters viewed him. He has a destructive romance with Gaby Willis (Rachel Blakely). The pair enjoy sparring throughout their relationship but eventually realise they need to separate.

Wayne also has relationships with Beth Brennan (Natalie Imbruglia) and Lauren Carpenter (Sarah Vandenbergh). One notable storyline for Wayne saw him brutally assaulted by a bike gang, which subsequently saw the leader being found dead and Wayne fighting a murder charge. Sammy-Lee was annoyed when the storyline came to an abrupt end. He decided to leave the role after one year, as he feared that staying longer would type cast him as a soap opera actor. His final appearance aired on 4 March 1994, seeing Wayne return to live on the farm. Critics have noted that Wayne was popular for his attractive appearance and smug persona.

Sammy-Lee secured the role of Wayne following two years of training to be an actor. He viewed the role as a "brilliant way" to learn more about the profession.

"Wayne seems to have had a relationship with everyone but it has to stop somewhere. Nice characters tend to be one-dimensional, but because Wayne has a bit of a short fuse, it gives him a darker more interesting side"

Wayne is a chemistry teacher with an arrogant personality. Wanting to become acquainted with relatives, he arrives in Erinsborough to live with his mother's cousin, Helen Daniels (Anne Haddy). He had been forced out of his old teaching job amid lies that he was romancing a student. This is not helped by infatuated student Annalise Hartman (Kimberley Davies) creating more lies. Wayne enjoys getting into arguments because he is articulate and intelligent. But his attitude towards owning firearms alienates fellow residents, particularly upsetting Pam Willis (Sue Jones). Wayne believes in protecting personal property with a gun and even keeps one while living in Ramsay Street. His views stemmed from a small country town upbringing on a farm.

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Wikipedia