Popular Home and Away actor Ben Unwin dead at 41: ‘Actor’s body found by police after concerns for his welfare’
Popular Home and Away star Ben Unwin, who played the role of bad boy Jesse McGregor on the long-running TV soap, has died at the age of 41.
NSW police confirmed his death in a statement to Yahoo Lifestyle on Tuesday, but did not disclose how the actor died.
‘Police attended Minyon Falls, Whian Whian, responding to a concern for welfare,’ they said in the statement.
Tragic: Popular Home and Away actor Ben Unwin has died at age 41. The star is seen posing on the red carpet with co-star Kate RItchie at the Logies in 2003
‘The body of a 41-year-old man was located. The death has not been treated as suspicious.’
According to the publication, the star passed away last week.
News of his death appeared to confirm the former actor died just days shy of his 42nd birthday.
On Tuesday, former Home And Away co-star and actress Tempany Deckert took to Twitter to write: ‘RIP Ben.’
Ben Unwin played the role of bad boy Jesse McGregor on the long-running TV soap. Pictured with (L) Bec Hewitt (nee Cartwright) and Ada Nicodemou (R)
Ben’s character Jesse was as first seen in Summer Bay in 1996, living on the wrong side of the law, as a thief.
During his seven years on the popular Channel Seven soap, Jesse helped Alf Stewart form the iconic Bait Shop (then called A&J’s Baits and Bits).
He was later falsely accused of burning it down for insurance money, and had a stint in jail for robbery where he met Leah’s (played by Ada Nicodemou) husband Vinnie.
iconic: During his seven years on the popular Channel Seven soap, Jesse helped Alf Stewart (Pictured: Actor Ray Meagher) form the iconic Bait Shop (then called A&J’s Baits and Bits)
Wrong side of the law: Jesse was a thief on the show and went to prison for robbery, and was also falsely accused for burning down the iconic Bait Shop (then called A&J’s Baits and Bits)
Ben appeared on the soap between 1996 and 2000, and was nominated for a Logie in 1997 for Most Popular New Talent.
After a brief two-year absence from screens, he later returned in 2002 for a further three years on the show.
After leaving Summer Bay in 2005, the actor quit showbiz for a career change.
Ben went on to complete a law degree and in recent years was working as a senior solicitor in Sydney.
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Career change: Ben left showbiz to complete a law degree and in recent years was working as a senior solicitor in Sydney