Karl Kennedy

 Dr Karl Raymond Kennedy is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, portrayed by Alan Fletcher, who joined the cast in 1994.

Character
Karl Kennedy used to run the local medical practice in Erinsborough. Though a former GP, Karl seemed to be trained in every field of medicine possible, as he has been directly involved with every aspect of any medical problem to happen in Erinsborough since his arrival, including mental health problems and births. Karl was previously married to Susan Smith (Jackie Woodburne) but they separated after Susan developed retrograde amnesia and forgot everything that happened after 1976, including her marriage to Karl and the birth of their children. They eventually reconciled, but separated again some time after and divorced after nearly 30 years of marriage. The divorce was amicable with Susan keeping the family home. Karl found love in the considerably younger Isabelle Hoyland (Natalie Bassingthwaighte) who seduced Karl. She later got pregnant by Gus Cleary (Ben Barrack), and led Karl to believe he was the father of her baby. She had been informed that any other pregnancy was unlikely. Izzy later miscarried. When Susan discovered the baby was not Karl's, with help from her nephew Darcy Tyler (Mark Raffety), she gave Isabelle an ultimatum - she had to tell Karl the truth within 24 hours or she would tell him herself. Eventually the relationship collapsed. Karl nearly died after having a heart attack on a lonely road. Convinced any phone call he made would be his last, he called his ex-wife Susan, making him realise that he had made a mistake divorcing Susan although another reconciliation seems unlikely. Karl began a relationship with Jenny, a local Councillor, who is not popular amongst other Ramsay Street residents. At one point she even pretends that she is engaged to Karl. This relationship ends when Karl realises he is still in love with his ex wife Susan. Karl was a mentor for Zeke Kinski (Matthew Werkmeister), helping him with school work and football, since Zeke's father (and also Susan's second husband) Alex Kinski (Andrew Clarke) died. Susan and Karl have since got back together, but had to stop seeing each other because Rachel (Caitlin Stasey) and Zeke, Susan's stepchildren, thought that she was betraying their late father Alex. Susan and Karl's relationship gets back on track soon though. Karl has now moved back into the Kinski household, reuniting Susan and Karl in their marital home. After the paternity mix-up with infant Kerry Mangel, Sky Mangel considered sueing him but abandoned the idea though Karl decided to quit a career as a doctor and has now taken up home farming, selling home grown eggs.

The long-running series in-joke that Karl's middle name was "Marx" due to his adoptive father's supposed Communist leanings (hence his first name being "Karl", making his name "Karl Marx Kennedy") was finally addressed with the appearance of Karl's biological father, who confirmed that his middle name was actually "Raymond".

Family tree

 * Ron Davies-Smythe (father - biological) (deceased)
 * Tom Kennedy (father - adoptive)
 * Karl Kennedy, married to Susan Smith
 * Malcolm Kennedy (son), married to Catherine O'Brien
 * Libby Kirk (daughter), married to Drew Kirk (deceased)
 * Ben Kirk (grandson)
 * Billy Kennedy (son)
 * Un-named child with Anne Wilkinson (grandson/granddaughter)