Inside Home & Away star Dieter Brummer and Melissa George’s stormy relationship as actor dies aged 45

HOME and Away actor Dieter Brummer admitted he had a strained relationship with former on-screen girlfriend Melissa George.

The Aussie actor was found dead at his Sydney home on Saturday, aged just 45.

Police are not treating his death as suspicious and say they found the star after being called out to conduct a welfare check.

Dieter starred alongside Melissa on Home and Away and although their on-screen chemistry as a couple was palpable, they were not on good terms when cameras were switched off.

"We may have been love interests on the show but the chemistry was far from real," Dieter, who played heartthrob Shane Parrish on the long-running soap, told Woman's Day, in 2012.

In fact, the hunk even begged Home and Away bosses to kill his character off in 1996 to escape the tension on set.

Shane Parrish got a dramatic ending and subsequently died of blood poisoning.

The feud didn't go unnoticed as their co-star Ray Meagher, who played Alf Stewart, echoed Dieter's sentiments.

"I'm not sure that they got on personally 100 per cent, 100 per cent of the time."

Though not much is known about why the relationship turned so sour, Dieter did tell Woman's Day that Melissa's behaviour may be to blame.

"Mel was incredibly ambitious right from the outset," he said, "I think she wanted to be the next Kylie Minogue."

"She was a big fan and she aspired to be a big star just like Kylie. I don't think she had much time for the cast of Home and Away."

Melissa later confirmed their feud in the Home and Away special, Endless Summer, in 2018.

We may have been love interests on the show but the chemistry was far from real

Dieter Brummer

However, she made no mention of her own behaviour and simply blamed the pressure of fame for their ongoing row.

"There was a lot of pressure on us", she said. "We had to look like the perfect darling couple in public."

The feud was reignited when Melissa slammed the show that made her famous after Australia's The Morning Show branded her a "Home and Away actress."

"My next call will be to Home and Away to ask them to pay me because nobody does more promotion for that f***ing show than me", she said.

"I don't need credibility from my country anymore; I just need them all to be quiet."

Dieter clapped back, stating her comments were "unnecessary and a bit ridiculous", before adding "but then, that's Mel."

And when Melissa confirmed she would be open to a Summer Bay return, in a surprising change of tune, Dieter turned away from the spotlight and set up his own business as a window cleaner.

'OUR WORLD WILL NEVER BE THE SAME'

Police said they turned up at Dieter's home at around 1.30pm.

"Officers from The Hills Police Area Command responded to reports of a concern for welfare at a home on Glenhaven Road, Glenhaven," a police spokesperson said.

"The body of a man was located inside the home. His death is not believed to be suspicious. A report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner."

Upon hearing the news, the Brummer family said their world would "never be the same".

"On behalf of my family, we post this today with a heavy heart," the Facebook post began.

"We lost our handsome, talented, funny, complicated and beloved Dieter on Saturday morning.

"He has left a massive hole in our lives and our world will never be the same.

"Our thoughts go out to all of you who knew him, loved him, or worked with him over the years."

In a statement on Monday, a spokesperson for Channel Seven, the Aussie broadcaster which airs the show, said: "Home and Away and Channel Seven are deeply saddened to hear of Dieter Brummer's passing.

"Dieter was a much-loved Home and Away cast member and celebrated by Australian and international audiences for his award-winning portrayal of Shane Parrish. 

"We send our sincere condolences to Dieter's family and friends during this very difficult time."

Dieter was a soap pin-up and soap legend for many, so fans have taken to social media to pay their respect about the devastating news.

One wrote on Twitter: "I’m in shock after hearing about Dieter Brummer. Shane and Angel on Home and Away were couple goals in the 90’s. I had Smash Hits posters of him on my school books. So very unexpected and sad."

A second said: "Oh my. Such sad news about Dieter Brummer. I remember watching the story line when he was in Home and Away. My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time. #RIPDieterBrummer."

A third simply added: "So sad to learn Australian actor Dieter Brummer has passed away aged 45 he may have gone but not forgotten he will be missed dearly my sincere condolences thoughts and prayers go out to his family friends at this sad and difficult time #RIPDieterBrummer."

A fourth chimed in: "My husband has just told me that my teenage heart-throb Dieter Brummer has died at 45. He was the one and only for me back then. I’m sure I still have posters of him in my mum's loft. #RIP #dieterbrummer #shane."

The actor, who was born in 1976, was just a teen when he got the role of bad boy Shane Parrish.

After his stint on Home & Away, Dieter starred in rival soap Neighbours from 2011 and 2012.

He also starred in the likes of Medivac, The Man from Snowy River and blockbuster films Tom's Funeral and The Finder.