Karl Kennedy

Karl Raymond Kennedy is a fictional character in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Alan Fletcher. He first appeared in 1994 and has been in the show since. Karl Kennedy runs the local medical practice in Erinsborough, the fictional Melbourne suburb in which Neighbours is set. Though a GP, Karl seems 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 used to be married to Susan Smith 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 amiable with Susan keeping the family home. Karl found love in the considerably younger Isabelle Hoyland who seduced Karl. She later got pregnant by Gus, 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, 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 is currently beginning a relationship with Jenny, a local Councillor. He is currently a mentor for Zeke Kinski, helping him with school work and football. Susan and Karl have since gotten back together, but had to stop seeing each other because Rachel and Zeke, Susan's step children, thought that she was betraying their late dad Alex Kinski. 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 martial home.

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") 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 Kennedy (daughter), married to Drew Kirk (deceased)
 * Ben Kirk (grandson)
 * Billy Kennedy (son)