Benito "Ben" Lucini was a main character from February 1990 (Episode 482) to May 1991 (Episode 758). He married Carly Morris in July 1990 (Episode 582). Ben was played by Julian McMahon.
Biography[]
Backstory[]
Benito Lucini was born in 1969 in Italy. He and his family (father Antonio, mother Gina and sister Francesca) came to Australia when he was young. They gained Australian citizenship. Ben joined the army after he left school.
1990-1991[]
In 1990, Ben and his friend Dave took some leave and rented a caravan in the Caravan Park. He and Carly quickly fell for each other, despite Dave's efforts to throw a spanner in the works. Ben left the army and married Carly within months of their first meeting. The wedding nearly didn't go ahead thanks to a buck's night prank by his cousin Angelo and Adam Cameron. Stranded out in the bush, Ben had to make his way back home on foot, wearing nothing but his underwear. He and Carly married and moved into Summer Bay House. In the meantime, Pippa Fletcher's husband Tom had died, so Ben became the de facto main man in the house. He became good friends with Grant Mitchell, who he had previously competed against in an iron man competition. Carly and Ben tried to buy the Norfolk Boatshed but were outbid by Michael Ross. At first Ben was apoplectic until he learned that Michael hadn't been aware that there were other bidders for the business. He accepted a job working as a mechanic with Michael. However, Ben was still struggling to adjust to life outside the army and working for Michael wasn't for him. To Carly's horror, he quit his job and leased a farm. The couple moved into a poky little farmhouse but Carly never really settled. They also faced near financial ruin when many of Ben's farm animals died. The tipping point came when Ben's old army friend Pete Besser came to stay. Pete clashed repeatedly with Carly but he also made him realise how much he missed army life. Ben re-enlisted with the army without having any sort of conversation about it with Carly.
Carly and Ben split up and he went away to join the army. In the meantime, Carly had learned that she was pregnant. She intended to raise her child in Summer Bay as a single parent. On the morning of Pippa and Michael's wedding, Ben unexpectedly showed up to the house. He had taken absence without leave from the army to try and win Carly back. A few hours later, two military policemen arrived to arrest him and take him away. Alf Stewart persuaded them to hold off on arresting Ben for a few hours and to give him a chance to save his marriage. Ben's efforts paid off and Carly agreed to give life as an army life a go. They moved away to Perth.
Although Ben never returned to Summer Bay, Carly made a few trips back. They went on to have three children (Jordy, Michael and Philippa) and are apparently still married in the world beyond Summer Bay.
Memorable info[]
Birthday: 1969
Full Name: Benito Lucini
First Line: "Just been on manoeuvres mate." (to Alf, when he asks why Ben and his mate Dave are in uniform)
Last Line: "See you next week. Bye Sal." (to Carly and Sally)
Family[]
Father Antonio Lucini
Mother Gina Lucini
Siblings Francesca Lucini, 4 other siblings
Spouse Carly Morris (1990-)
Children Jordy Lucini, Michael Lucini, Phillippa Lucini
Cousins Angelo