Ryan Moloney (born 24 November 1979) is an Australian actor, known for his portrayal of the fictional character Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi in the Australian soap opera Neighbours from 1995 until his departure in 2024.[2][3]

Ryan Moloney
Moloney in September 2024
Born (1979-11-24) 24 November 1979 (age 45)[1]
EducationHeathmont College/Emmaus College
OccupationActor
Years active1993–present
Spouse
Alison Hayward
(m. 2003)
Children2

Career

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Moloney's first acting experience was with the Merilyn Brend Children's Teenagers and Adults Theatre Company in outer-eastern Melbourne when he was ten years old. He starred in their youth repertory production of The Purple Pumpernickel. His first role in a feature film was playing a thug in Say a Little Prayer (1993),[2] based on the Robin Klein novel Came Back to Show You I Could Fly.

Moloney initially auditioned for the role of Brett Stark in Neighbours.[4] He did not get the role but later appeared as a one-off character named Cyborg in 1994.[5] He was later recalled to play Jarrod "Toadfish" Rebecchi, brother of established character Kevin "Stonefish" Rebecchi. This was a one-scene role, which aired on 23 January 1995.[6] This became a recurring guest role and as the character proved popular it became a regular role in 1996.[7] In April 2004 he was nominated for a Golden Rose of Montreux award for Best Actor in a Soap for his work in Neighbours.[2]

Moloney appeared in the Cinderella pantomime as Buttons in 2005 and 2007.[2][8]

In 2012, Moloney made an appearance on Big Brother's Bit on the Side.[9] That same year, he appeared with his former Neighbours co-star, Mark Little, in an episode of Celebrity Wedding Planner broadcast on 3 September 2012.[10]

In 2013 Moloney appeared on Celebrity Big Brother broadcast on Channel 5. He finished in third place.[11] Ryan stated in an interview with Lorraine Kelly

Shortly into it, I watched some footage that they had shot and edited in a particular way and I realised that I couldn't actually be myself in there because they can edit it however they want. And the fact that I got to protect the Neighbours brand. But in terms of an experience, it was a crazy experience. It was a one-in-a-lifetime experience.[12]

Moloney subsequently took up the roles of Jack in Dick Whittington at Dunstable's Grove Theatre in 2013 and Buttons in Cinderella at the Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks in 2014.[13] He appeared in a documentary special celebrating Neighbours' 30th anniversary titled Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite, which aired in Australia and the UK in March 2015.[14][15]

Moloney has filmed a part in the upcoming film titled Residence, playing Cyril the King.[16] Following the cancellation of Neighbours in 2022, Moloney featured in The Masked Singer.[17] He returned to Neighbours when filming resumed in April 2023, broadcast September 2023. [3]

On 27 June 2024, Moloney announced that he would be leaving Neighbours after playing Toadie for almost 30 years.[18][19] He also announced that he would be pursuing a directing career and had begun training. He also directed an episode of Neighbours.[20] Moloney later admitted that it was not his choice to leave. However, he had been thinking about leaving the show in 2022, before it was cancelled, but agreed to return for the revival.[21] In September 2024, Moloney embarked on a one-man show around the UK called Toad on the Road.[22]

Personal life

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Moloney is married to Alison Hayward and the couple have two children, Erin Moloney and Jack Moloney.[23]

Moloney is an active patron of the Down Syndrome Association of Victoria,[2] and has been involved with the Victorian Police Department's Films For Schools Youth project.[2][when?] He also participates in the Forgotten Children Rescue Foundation charity.[2]

In 2010, Moloney became a spokesman for weight loss company Lite and Easy, successfully losing 17 kg in 13 weeks.[24] He also competed in the St. George Melbourne Marathon, completing the race in the official time of 03:46:32.[25]

In early 2011, Moloney revealed that he was training to be a pilot.[26] He took on the hobby in between filming for Neighbours and aims to fly commercial planes in the future.[26]

He attended school at Heathmont College and Emmaus College.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 Say a Little Prayer Thug
1994 Neighbours Cyborg 1 episode (episode #2123)
1995–2024 Neighbours Toadfish Rebecchi Regular role
2000 Enemies Closer Terry
2005 Dick & Dom in da Bungalow Himself[27] Also called 'Toadie from Neighbours'
2006 Massacre of the Innocents Simon Short film
2013 Celebrity Big Brother 11 Himself Reality
2015 Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite Himself Documentary
2015 Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell The Duke of Wales Comedy
2022 The Masked Singer Himself
TBA Residence Cyril the King Film

References

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  1. ^ "Ryan Moloney". 10Play. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Ryan Moloney – Neighbours". Retrieved 1 August 2009.
  3. ^ a b "Neighbours stars respond to bombshell wedding cliffhanger". Radio Times. 18 September 2023.
  4. ^ Darren, 16 June 2007. "Interview with Moloney". perfectblend.com. Retrieved 1 August 2009
  5. ^ "A hair-raising ride for Toadie on Neighbours after 20 years". The West Australian. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  6. ^ "It's 25 Years Since Toadfish First Appeared On Neighbours". www.ladbible.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  7. ^ David Balls, 27 February 2009. "Ryan Moloney (Toadie, 'Neighbours')". Digital Spy, Retrieved 1 August 2009
  8. ^ "No soft soap as star says panto is easier than Neighbours – Theatre – Sheffield Telegraph". Sheffield Telegraph. 18 December 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2011.
  9. ^ "Tuesday 3 July – Big Brother's Bit on the Side". Channel 5 (UK). Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  10. ^ Lewis, Anna (3 September 2012). "Heat chats to Neighbours' Toadie aka Ryan Moloney about life on Ramsay Street". Heat. Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on 8 January 2013. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  11. ^ Wood, Stephanie (25 January 2013). "Toadie hops off home: Ryan Moloney finishes third in Celebrity Big Brother 2013 live final! Here's his best bits - 3am & Mirror Online". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 27 January 2013.
  12. ^ "Ryan Moloney discusses his Celebrity Big Brother experience on Lorraine". YouTube. Archived from the original on 13 December 2021.
  13. ^ "Neighbours' Ryan 'Toadfish' Maloney revealed as Sevenoaks panto star". Sevenoaks Chronicle. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 27 December 2014.
  14. ^ Knox, David (28 February 2015). "Airdate: Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite". TV Tonight. Retrieved 3 March 2015.
  15. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (4 March 2015). "Neighbours 30th anniversary schedule confirmed by Channel 5". Digital Spy. Retrieved 5 March 2015.
  16. ^ "Cast". Residence the film. Retrieved 23 May 2022.
  17. ^ Mitchell, Harriet (7 August 2022). "Neighbours legend unmasked on The Masked Singer Australia". Digital Spy. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
  18. ^ Cain, Sian (27 June 2024). "Neighbours star Ryan Moloney announces he is leaving soap after nearly 30 years of playing 'Toadie'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  19. ^ Zammitt, Erin (27 June 2024). "Neighbours' Ryan Moloney to leave soap after almost 30 years". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  20. ^ McIntosh, Steven (27 June 2024). "Toadie quits Neighbours after 30 years on screen". BBC News. Retrieved 27 September 2024.
  21. ^ Alexander, Susannah (30 July 2024). "Neighbours fans shocked by Toadie Rebecchi axing revelation". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  22. ^ Anderton, Joe (3 February 2024). "Neighbours star Ryan Moloney announces UK tour dates". Digital Spy. Retrieved 29 September 2024.
  23. ^ "Ryan takes to the air". Channel 5. Northern & Shell. 1 May 2011. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  24. ^ Lite and Easy Website, Profile Ryan Moloney Archived 2 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "St George Melbourne Marathon". www.multisportaustralia.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  26. ^ a b Kilkelly, Daniel (4 January 2011). "'Neighbours' star takes on pilot training". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi UK. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
  27. ^ The Legend Continues[usurped] Da Bungalow Online
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