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Actor Ian Smith, who plays Harold Bishop on the Australian drama Neighbors, has revealed that he has terminal cancer and has announced that he will be leaving the show.
The 86-year-old told Australian program 10 News First that he has pleomorphic carcinoma of the lung, a rare form of lung cancer.
“A few months ago I found out that I have cancer. I have a cancer that is so aggressive and incurable that people expect me to die,” he said. spoke.
Actress Anne Charleston, who played Madge, will co-star in some of Bishop’s final scenes.
Dr. Smith said: “I’ve had three rounds of chemotherapy, the first of which was immunotherapy rather than chemotherapy, which is fairly new to the medical world.
“I seriously put my hand up. Just thinking about being a guinea pig and the fact that I don’t want to die, I want to continue living as long as possible in a high quality condition. And if they can do that, I will.” ”I am very happy.
“But I wake up every morning and pray that I’m not in pain, because I know that’s just the beginning of the bad part.”
sad news
A post on the Neighbors X account read: “Harold bids farewell to Ramsay Street.
“We have sad news to share that Ian Smith will soon be stepping down from his beloved role as Harold Bishop.
“Ian first played Harold in 1987 and it was a great honor to welcome him back to the show after all these years.”
The soap said: “It is yet to be revealed in what context Anne will appear, but seeing the iconic couple reunited will be one last treat for fans.”
“Erinsborough will never be exactly the same again, but rest assured that Harold will give the royalty of Ramsay Street the sendoff they deserve.”
old flame
Smith spoke to 10 News First about the death of his wife, Gail, from cancer in 2019.
“Really, if that hadn’t happened, I think I would be in a much worse place right now, but that’s where my life ended,” he said.
“I’ve seen a lot of death.
“I’ve seen the good and the bad, but I hope things go in a positive direction.”
Smith first appeared on Neighbors in 1987, playing the old role of Madge.
Appearing in only a few episodes, his popular character ended up staying until 1991, when Harold was washed away at sea while on vacation.
He returned to the soap in 1996 and made several guest appearances until 2009 – before returning as a regular earlier this year.
