Neighbours Connor ONeill star unrecognisable nearly two decades since soap exit

Patrick Harvey first arrived on our screens as Irish teenager Connor O'Neill in Neighbours in 2002 – and the star looks completely unrecognisable more than 20 years since his soap debut.

After landing roles in Blue Heelers and The Saddle Club, Patrick was introduced to Neighbours fans as Connor – a footballer and friend of Jack Scully.

It was not long before he became a firm fixture in Ramsay Street, striking up a close friendship with fellow icon Jared 'Toadfish' Rebecchi and Mal Kennedy.

READ MORE: Neighbours Scully family now – billionaire husband, suing show and career U-turn

His character was a hit with critics and viewers alike, landing Patrick the Logie Award for Most Popular New Male Talent in 2003.

Connor was subsequently involved in a number of huge storylines in the beloved Australian soap, including his romances with Michelle Scully and Carmella Cammeniti – as well as the horrific plane crash that claimed the life of his girlfriend Serena Bishop.

The character later welcomed a daughter called Madeleine with Lori Lee, before he departed Ramsay Street in 2006.

More than 20 years since his soap debut, actor Patrick Harvey looks completely unrecognisable as he continues to share updates with fans on his career since leaving Neighbours.

The actor shared a photograph of himself on social media behind a microphone, where he sported a big brown beard and glasses – looking worlds away from his soap counterpart.

His official Twitter and Instagram pages lists Patrick as a "Voice over guy," as well as a writer and director.

It is his voice that landed him his famous Neighbours role too, with the actor revealing to Belfast Live that after auditioning for the soap in an Australian accent, the casting agents heard him speak in his Irish accent and asked him to re-audition.

"I was doing voiceovers from when I was nine-years-old as well. At the end, I goes, 'Alright, see ya later' – in a Belfast accent – and she said, 'Stop there, come back, what was that accent? Do it again'. So that was my first audition," said Patrick.

After a further three auditions, Patrick landed a role that was specifically written for him, saying: "I got a call from my agent saying, 'Hi guess what? Neighbours want you to go on for three months, they've written a character with you in mind, an Irish character and they want to give it a trial. A three month contact with the possibility of three years…'

"It ended up being four and a half years."

From there he has continued to appear on our screens, starring in TV series and films such as Utopia, The Cry, Wentworth, RipTide and most recently lending his voice to Call Me Chihiro.

Patrick delighted fans too when he reprised his Neighbours role in 2012.

That's not all, as the actor has taken his talents to the stage, appearing in pantomimes and theatre productions across Australia and the UK.

However away from the limelight, the actor tends to keep his personal life private.

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