Darren Stark

Darren Stark is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Todd MacDonald. He made his first on screen appearance on 20 July 1993 and was originally played by Scott Major. When the character was released from prison in 1996, MacDonald took over the role and remained with the show until 1998. MacDonald has since returned twice for guest stints, plus a cameo appearance in the serial's twentieth anniversary episode.

Actor Scott Major originated the role when the character appeared in a recurring capacity for three months in 1993. Producers decided to reintroduce the character in 1996. Thousands of actors auditioned for the role, including 19 year old Todd MacDonald. MacDonald's audition and the subsequent recalls were held in Sydney. He was then flown to Melbourne, where the actors were "whittled" down to five, before MacDonald was told he won the part. MacDonald was "thrilled" about being cast. In April 2005, Kris Green of Digital Spy revealed that MacDonald would be reprising his role to join many ex cast members returning for the show's 20th anniversary episode. In November 2007, David Knox of TV Tonight reported MacDonald had returned to Neighbours once again.

Major described Darren as "really aggressive and completely out for himself." Kirsten Gannon (Nikola Dubois) witnesses the kiss and reveals all, because she is feeling vindictive.

Darren returns to Erinsborough, where he takes over Macauley's electrician business. Libby is shocked when he turns up to mend the faulty wiring at Number 28. Darren tells Libby that Brett has kept him informed of the events of her life, including her relationship and marriage to Drew Kirk (Dan Paris). Ben, Libby's toddler son takes a liking to Darren and she is impressed. After several weeks of tiptoeing around each other, Darren and Libby finally pick up where they left off six years earlier. Shortly after the wedding of Steph Scully (Carla Bonner) and Max Hoyland (Stephen Lovatt), Darren and Libby finally sleep together after taking things slow for a number of weeks. Karl still doesn't trust Darren, but Darren doesn't seem to care. When Darren is accused of robbing Joe Scully's (Shane Connor) building site, it puts a strain on his relationship with Libby. Eventually the real culprits are revealed as Joe's son Jack (Jay Bunyan) and crooked police officer Olivia MacPherson (Sylvie de Crespigny) but Darren tells Libby that she will never completely trust him and leaves, despite her begging him to stay. He makes one last phone call to her before leaving an engagement ring in the telephone box. Several weeks later, Darren sends flowers to Libby and asks her and Ben to join him in Shepparton. Libby and Ben then leave to join him. The following year, Libby and Darren both appear in Annalise Hartman's (Kimberly Davies) documentary about Ramsay Street. In November 2007, Darren returns shortly after Libby arrives back in the area. It transpires that Darren was unfaithful while in Shepparton with their neighbour, Lynda Stephens (Nicola Wright). Libby eventually forgives Darren but true to form, Darren betrays her again by kissing Janae, who is going through some relationship problems with her boyfriend, Ned Parker (Daniel O'Connor). Kirsten, Ned's ex and the mother of his child Mickey (Fletcher O'Leary) witnesses this. Janae tells Ned, but Darren hides it from Libby, until Janae accidentally admits it aloud when music at a barbecue is turned off. Darren tells Libby and they break up and after saying a teary goodbye to Libby, Lou, Harold, and Ben he leaves Erinsborough one more time.

In 2005, four novellas based on characters from Neighbours were released. The books were available to buy online and at some Australia Post outlets. Darren and Libby Kennedy were the focus of one of the books entitled Facing Tomorrow. It explains what happened after the couple left Erinsborough in 2004 and follows their new life together.

While played by Major, Sharon Black of the Evening Herald called the character a "detention centre trouble maker". He was also branded a "bad guy" by Clare Horton of Huddersfield Daily Examiner, and a "bad boy" by a writer for British weekly magazine NOW.