Donald Fisher (Home and Away)
Donald Fisher | |||||||||||||||||||
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Home and Away character | |||||||||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Norman Coburn | ||||||||||||||||||
Duration | 1988–2005, 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||
First appearance | 17 January 1988 | ||||||||||||||||||
Last appearance | 11 September 2007 | ||||||||||||||||||
Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||
Introduced by |
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Book appearances | The Bobby Simpson Story Scandal at Summer Bay | ||||||||||||||||||
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Donald Fisher is a fictional character in the Australian television soap opera Home and Away played by actor Norman Coburn as a regular character, from the soap's inception in 1988 to 2003. The role initially had the name Raymond Phillips however producers changed the name prior to final filming. He acts as the main antagonist in the show's pilot episode, willing to go to any lengths to ensure local teen Bobby Simpson is locked up, however his character soon softens. He spends almost his entire tenure on the show as the Principal of Summer Bay (at which he is given his iconic nickname "Flathead"), where he is stern but fair to all the students. Although departing as a main character in 2003, Coburn has since returned for brief appearances in 2004, 2005 and 2007. Coburn's long-running portrayal of Fisher earned him a place in the 2002 Guinness World Records alongside castmates Ray Meagher and Kate Ritchie as the longest serving cast member of an Australian soap opera.[1]
Casting
When actor Norman Coburn received the role of "money-grabbing politician" Donald Fisher, he thought it would be for a short stint.[2] He stayed with the show as it provided him with financial security for his family.[2] While filming the pilot in 1987, the producers decided they needed to change the character's mean persona and job, as they thought he would be "more useful" as the headmaster of Summer Bay High.[2] Coburn explained, "They came to me halfway through and said, 'We don't want him to be a villain any more – can you soften him up and make him a bit nicer?' I responded, 'It's a bit late now!'"[2]
Coburn chose to leave the serial in 2003, after 15 years in the role. He felt that he had done everything he wanted to do and it was time to move on.
In 2015, Home and Away producers planned to bring the character back into the series. Writers created a month long euthanasia story in which Donald would have been suffering with dementia. In addition he would seek the help of his friend Alf Stewart (Ray Meagher) to die.[3] In 2022, the show's former script executive Dan Bennett revealed that Donald's return had been written but was blocked by Seven Network. Bennett claimed that network executives believed "no one would care" about the story and forced its cancellation. Other parts of the story continued on-screen without Donald's presence.[3]
Storylines
Donald is first seen when he arrives at the Caravan Park of Summer Bay House and informs
Donald later is accused of poisoning Eric, the Fletcher's pet dog, and Jessie,
When Donald's ex-wife
At the start of 1989, Bobby begins searching for her biological parents. Donald, after finding out his former sister-in-law, Morag Bellingham (Cornelia Frances) is Bobby's mother, visits Morag in hospital and asks if he is Bobby's father. Morag confirms he is but Donald wants this kept a secret. After Donald refuses to sell his house to the Macklin development at Morag's suggestion, she threatens to tell Bobby the truth. Donald remains unflappable and refuses to change his stance on the matter. After the truth comes out, Donald and Bobby have a shaky start but ultimately become close and she begins calling him "Dad".
The following Year,
Donald's world is shattered when Bobby dies in a boating accident aged 22 and tries to take responsibility for his adoptive grandson, Sam Marshall (Ryan Clark (who calls him "Uncle Donald") but is unable to so sends him to live with Pippa and her new husband. Fisher celebrates his 50th birthday in February 1995. When Shane and Angel marry, Donald is present to give Angel away. Later that year Donald loses his home and his last remaining photos of Bobby in a bushfire caused by Jack Wilson (Daniel Amalm).
Donald begins dating local beautician Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons), and they later become engaged despite Marilyn being 27 years old and him being 51. They eventually marry in 1996. Shortly after the wedding, Donald's daughter Rebecca (Belinda Emmett) returns to the Bay full-time to teach at the school. When Rebecca marries Travis Nash (Nic Testoni) on the beach in the 1997 season finale, Donald is present as celebrant. After Pippa leaves, Donald becomes Sam's guardian when he fails to adjust to Travis and Rebecca as his new foster parents
Marilyn later falls pregnant and gives birth to a son, Byron Vincent, named after
In 2000, Donald is pleased to be given the honour of walking Sally down the aisle at her wedding to Keiran Fletcher but ultimately hands the honour over to Sally's foster brothers
In 2003, Donald decides to retire from teaching and leaves the Bay for the Whitsundays with his new partner, June Reynolds. Later that year, Donald returns to be the celebrant at Sally's wedding to local doctor, Flynn Saunders (Joel McIlroy).
Donald returns when he hears Seb and his girlfriend
Reception
The episode featuring the earthquake where Donald and several other students were at risk in the school was nominated for an
During his review of the show's first episode for The Sydney Morning Herald, Robin Oliver called Fisher "the town nasty" and noted that the script made him "too vile to be readily acceptable", however, later scripts saw him softened.[10]
Brian Courtis of The Age criticised Donald's exit in 2003: "Don certainly merited more than this teary-eyed, Goodbye-Mr-Chips dismissal. Old "Flathead", never happy at the cheeriest of times, has reason to look sad and sorry in his farewell episode of Home And Away (7pm, Seven). It is sloppy, sentimental, touching... showing almost unspeakable verisimilitude to real life. There is a last dollop of poetry for his final class of kids, an endless minor-key tinkling of the piano as Fisher's groper-wide mouth gulps at the thought of leaving his beloved waters, and then, with students, staff and locals, the big, emotional, surprise farewell party before he tootles off to Queensland, Valhalla of all Australian soapie greats."[11] Virgin Media described Donald as having "a fearsome demeanor" and "always had the interests of his pupils at heart."[12]
References
- ISBN 978-0-85112-124-6.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Herbison, Jason (15–21 November 2003). "Farewell Flathead!". Inside Soap (46): 40–41.
- ^ Hearst Magazines UK). Retrieved 18 March 2022.
- ^ "AFI Award Winners Feature Categories 1958-2009". Australian Film Institute. 2009. Archived from the original on 20 September 2009. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- Australian Writers Guild. Archived from the original(PDF) on 29 October 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2011.
- ^ "Episode 2036 – The One Where Marilyn Says I Do". Channel 5. (Northern & Shell). Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "Episode 2485 – The One Where Fisher Goes Overboard". Channel 5. (Northern & Shell). Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "Episode 3455 – The One Where Fisher Leaves". Channel 5. (Northern & Shell). Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "Episode 4469 The One Where Fisher Comes Back". Channel 5. (Northern & Shell). Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ Brian, Courtis (28 February 2003). "Where Soap Springs Eternal". The Age. Retrieved 5 December 2012.
- ^ "Home And Away: Who's Who?". Virginmedia.com. (Virgin Media Inc.). 25 January 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2012.