Adam Cameron is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera '' Home and Away'', played by
Mat Stevenson
Mat Stevenson (born 15 April 1969) credited variously as Matthew Stevenson and Matt Stevenson, is an Australian actor, known for his TV roles in soap opera's and miniseries. He is best known for his role as Adam Cameron in TV soap opera '' Ho ...
. Stevenson had previously filmed a guest role on a rival soap opera when he was cast. Adam first appeared on-screen 28 June 1989 until Stevenson left the series in 1994. Adam was reintroduced into the series for a short time in 1999. Adam is characterised as an "intelligent and good-natured guy", though Stevenson said he is a "layabout" who will not do anything that "interferes with having a good time".
Casting
On 23 May 1989, David Brown from ''
TV Week
''TV Week'' is a weekly Australian magazine that provides television program listings information and highlights, as well as television-related news.
Content ranges from previews for upcoming storylines of popular television programs, particu ...
'' reported that Stevenson had been cast in the role of Adam. ''Home and Away's'' executive producer Andrew Howie told Brown that he had planned to make Adam a central character in the series. Howie added that the character would arrive on a boat and end up remaining in Summer Bay. Stevenson had previously played a guest role on fellow soap opera '' Neighbours'' as petty criminal
Skinner
Skinner may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Skinner (surname), a list of people and fictional characters with that surname
* Skinner (profession), a person who makes a living by working with animal skins or driving mules
*Skinner, a rin ...
. Stevenson told Cindy Jones from ''
The Sun-Herald
''The Sun-Herald'' is an Australian newspaper published in tabloid or compact format on Sundays in Sydney by Nine Publishing. It is the Sunday counterpart of ''The Sydney Morning Herald''. In the 6 months to September 2005, ''The Sun-Herald'' ...
'' that playing Adam was a role-reversal in comparison to Skinner, a part which helped him become more level-headed. Stevenson chose to move from Melbourne to Sydney for filming. Stevenson told the publication that he planned on staying with the serial for at least one year. The actor was nervous and unsure of how he would settle into the show but the crew soon helped him settle in.
In 1990, Stevenson told a reporter from ''TV Week'' that he was unhappy with the work he carried out on the serial. However; he remained until 1994 when Stevenson quit the serial.
Character development
Stevenson told ''The Sun-Herald'' that his character only visits Summer Bay to "grab a hamburger" but ends up staying in the area. Adam's parents died beforehand and with the inheritance money he "plans to sail around the world" by building a yacht. When he arrives in the town, three established characters are on the receiving end of trouble from hooligans. Adam attempts to defuse the situation but finds himself in "deep water" and stranded in Summer Bay when they vandalise his yacht.
Stevenson later said that Adam is "a bit of a layabout" who is "capable of a kind word and good deed every now and then". However, Adam would "rather not" do either if doing so "interferes with having a good time or a lazy time". Stevenson said that he liked playing Adam, but noted he was nothing like his character because he is more responsible than Adam is. A columnist for '' Inside Soap'' said that Adam is a "one-time joker" and a "happy-go-lucky type of character".
Stevenson told a writer from ''
Greg Benson
Gregory Benson is an American comedian, actor, and director. His production company, Mediocre Films, creates comedic short films, generally for YouTube. He is a frequent director for '' The Guild''.
). Stevenson told ''Look-in'' reporter that he and Benson shared a similar friendship and would also "joke around" on set. During filming, Stevenson handed Benson a cup of coffee with a cockroach in it and ruined the scene when Benson could not stop laughing.
Writers created a romance story between Adam and
Carly Morris
Carly Lucini (also Morris) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by actress Sharyn Hodgson. She was one of the soap's original female protagonists, appearing as one of the Fletchers' foster children in ...
(
Sharyn Hodgson
Sharyn Hodgson (born 25 August 1968) is an Australian former actress, best known as an original character in TV serial ''Home and Away'' playing troubled teenager Carly Morris (later Luccini), she has subsequently returned to the role guest app ...
), cut short when they decided he was better suited to Emma Jackson ( Dannii Minogue). An attraction between Adam and Emma was originally played upon their introduction into the series. Stevenson told David Brown from ''
TV Week
''TV Week'' is a weekly Australian magazine that provides television program listings information and highlights, as well as television-related news.
Content ranges from previews for upcoming storylines of popular television programs, particu ...
'' that "nothing eventuated until Adam began a relationship with Carly. They went through a rough patch and Adam and Emma came together. She decides she's keen on him and goes about wooing him." Stevenson was happy with the redirection of his character, adding that it was a "good angle" to have a more lasting romance.
In 1999, after many cast members had left the series, producers decided to bring back an old character. The character was later revealed to be Adam. Stevenson said that he "jumped" at the chance to return to ''Home and Away''. He said it took him one week to settle back into the role and admitted that not much had changed on the series. Stevenson later told Jason Herbison of ''Inside Soap'' that he enjoyed playing Adam again so much that he considered asking the producer for a full-time return. Adam's return storyline saw him moving into James Fraser's (Michael Piccirilli) house alongside
Shauna Bradley
Shauna Bradley is a fictional character from the Australian television soap opera '' Home and Away'', played by Kylie Watson. The actress received an audition for ''Home And Away'' in February 1999, but decided not to attend it as she did not th ...
(
Kylie Watson
Kylie Watson (born 7 May 1978) is an Australian actress, interior designer and model. She is best known for playing Shauna Bradley in the Australian soap opera '' Home and Away'' between 1999 and 2002. She is now a successful interior designer ...
). Though Adam later decides to leave again and
Harry Keller
Harry Keller (22 February 1913 – 19 January 1987) was an American film editor, producer and director, who made a number of westerns and worked for many years at Universal Pictures.
In 1958, Keller was tasked by Universal Pictures with directing ...
(
Justin Melvey
Justin Melvey (born 7 May 1969) is an Australian actor who has appeared in a number of television series in Australia and the US.
Career
Melvey is best known to Australian audiences for his role as Harry Reynolds in the evening soap opera ''Ho ...
) takes his room.
Storylines
Adam is first seen when he rescues Carly,
Roo Stewart
Ruth "Roo" Stewart (also Morgan) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera '' Home and Away'', played by Justine Clarke from 1988 to 1989. The character made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 January 19 ...
(
Justine Clarke
Justine Clarke (born 16 November 1971) is an Australian actress, singer, musician, author and television host. She has been acting since the age of seven and has appeared in some of Australia's best-known TV shows. She is best known as a presen ...
) and Bobby Simpson ( Nicolle Dickson) from being assaulted by Morris "Revhead" Gibson (Gavin Harrison) and several of his friends. Adam manages to distract Revhead and the gang by stealing Revhead's car allowing the girls to escape. They thank Adam for his heroics. Adam plans to sail to the
Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is the world's largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over over an area of approximately . The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland, ...
and begin charter journeys on his yacht but Revhead and his friend
Skid
__NOTOC__
Skid or Skids may refer to:
* Skid, a type of pallet
* Skid (aerodynamics), an outward side-slip in an aircraft turn
* Skid (automobile), an automobile handling condition where one or more tires are slipping relative to the road
* Ski ...
(Chris Harding) trash the yacht as revenge. After getting the yacht fixed Adam receives a booking from Millicent Staples (Julie Haseler) and is attracted to her. When they arrive on an island, Millicent's true colours are revealed when she and her associates steal the yacht and maroon Adam. Adam is eventually found by Bobby and Carly and is upset when his yacht has been found burned out, by the police, who reveal to him that Millicent is a smuggler. This especially hurts as the Yacht was the last portion of his inheritance from his late parents.
Adam manages to put the incident behind him and begins getting involved in many antics with local guys Matt, Martin Dibble (Craig Thomson) and
Lance Smart
Lance Smart is a fictional character from the Australian Channel Seven soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Peter Vroom. Vroom appeared from the pilot episode as one of the serial's original characters. Lance is characterised a "slow witted ...
(Peter Vroom). He also begins a relationship with Carly. When Rory Heywood (
Gregor Jordan
Gregor Jordan (born 1966) is an Australian film director.
Jordan's films include '' Two Hands'' (1999), ''Buffalo Soldiers'' (2001), and '' Ned Kelly'' (2003).
''Two Hands'' won the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Direction and Best Sc ...
) is eaten by a shark, Adam vows to catch it and ultimately does. After Adam and Carly split up, He has a brief romance with Emma then becomes involved with Marilyn Chambers (
Emily Symons
Emily Symons (born 10 August 1969) is an Australian-born actress, active on both Australian and British television. She is known for playing Anne Costello in the short-lived soap opera '' Richmond Hill'' in 1988 and when that series ended, from ...
). Adam and Marilyn live together as a couple at the Beach House for a while but they later split up and Adam moves out.
While taking a boat out for a spin with Bobby and Luke Cunningham ( John Adam), Adam hits a large piece of driftwood which causes an accident and Bobby is thrown overboard. Bobby is hospitalised and she spends a week in a coma and then the decision is reached to turn her life support machine off. Bobby's husband, Greg Marshall (Ross Newton), blames Adam for the accident and evicts him from the house. When Adam tries to attend the funeral, Greg attacks him and throws him out of the church. Adam is left to feel like an outcast and is generally treated as a pariah by most of the town. Bobby's adopted son, Sam ( Ryan Clark) is angry to find Adam is responsible and throws a stick at him. Adam moves into Laura Brennan's ( Kris McQuade) old shack near the back lot of the Caravan Park along with Irene Roberts ( Lynne McGranger) and her son Nathan (David Dixon). One day while Adam and Irene are out, Sam hides out in the house and accidentally starts a fire. Adam acts quickly to save Sam and is hailed as a hero. After being forgiven, Adam leaves Summer Bay.
Five years later, Adam returns to Summer Bay as the new manager of The Bonza Burger Kiosk in the Surf Club and begins throwing his weight around by threatening to sack
Sally Fletcher
Sally Louise Fletcher (also Copeland and Keating) is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Kate Ritchie. She made her first screen appearance during the serial's pilot episode, which was broadcast on 17 ...
( Kate Ritchie) and generally making her life difficult. Adam is then embroiled in a prank war with Sally's boyfriend
Vinnie Patterson
Vincent "Vinnie" Patterson is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera ''Home and Away'', played by Ryan Kwanten. He made his first on screen appearance on 14 July 1997 and departed on 1 March 2002.
Development
In 1999, Vinnie was d ...
Bec Cartwright
Rebecca June Hewitt ( Cartwright; born 23 July 1983) is an Australian actress and singer. From 1998 to 2005, Hewitt played Hayley Smith Lawson on the soap opera '' Home and Away''. As Bec Cartwright, Hewitt released an eponymous pop music alb ...
), who had argued with him earlier about his treatment of Sally, is living there. Adam then opts to move in with doctor James Fraser and Shauna Bradley. Adam is attracted to Shauna but she has no interest in him and things are not eased when Shauna is being stalked and accuses Adam of taking things from her room. After James evicts Adam, he decides to leave the bay once more after securing a transfer with another Bonza Burger franchise.
Reception
''TV Week's'' John Burtt said that "during his time in the Bay, larrikin Adam had more than a few run-in with Alf. He also romanced Carly, Emma and Marilyn." Robin Oliver of ''
The Sydney Morning Herald
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper ...
'' opined that Adam was "the character most in need of a good old-fashioned come-uppance." A columnist for ''Inside Soap'' said that "Adam sails pretty close to the wind when it comes to staying on the right side of the law, and some of his little business ventures are dodgy to say the least." A writer from ''TV Guide'' opined that Adam and Grant splashed around the waters of Summer Bay in their "merrily macho way". Unimpressed by their showmanship they wanted them to be killed off, joking "where the hell is that shark now that we need him?"
Internet Movie Database
IMDb (an abbreviation of Internet Movie Database) is an online database of information related to films, television series, home videos, video games, and streaming content online – including cast, production crew and personal biographies, ...