Zeke Kinski

Zeke Kinski
Neighbours character
Portrayed by	Matthew Werkmeister
Introduced by	Ric Pellizzeri
Duration	2005–2011
First appearance	22 August 2005
Last appearance	11 March 2011
Classification	Former, regular
Profile
Date of birth	17 March 1992
Home	London
Occupation	Student at Erinsborough High (2005–09) PirateNet DJ (2009–2011) Eden University Student (2010–11) London School of Economics Student (2011–)
Family Father Alex Kinski Mother Francesca Kinski Stepfather Karl Kennedy Stepmother Susan Kennedy Brothers Malcolm Kennedy (Step) Billy Kennedy (Step) Sisters Katya Kinski Rachel Kinski Libby Kennedy (Step) Grandfathers Tom Kennedy (Step) Aunts Carmel Tyler (Step) Liz Conway (Step) Cousins Elly Conway (Step) Nephews Ben Fitzgerald (Step) Jackson Kennedy (Step)

Ezekiel "Zeke" Kinski is a fictional character from the Australian soap opera Neighbours, played by Matthew Werkmeister. He made his first on-screen appearance on 22 August 2005. Zeke is the son of Alex Kinski and the younger brother of Katya and Rachel. His storylines have included the death of his father, being trapped in the warehouse collapse, developing an anxiety disorder, joining Pirate Net and forming many romantic relationships. In October 2010, it was announced that Wermeister and his character were to leave Neighbours. Zeke made his final appearance on 11 March 2011.

Casting

In August 2005, it was announced that a new family would be arriving; widower Alex Kinski (Andrew Clarke) and his two teenage children, Rachel (Caitlin Stasey) and Zeke. Matthew Werkmeister was on holiday when he was invited to attend the audition for the show. However, he almost missed out on the role when his father took the call about the audition and refused to drive the five hours it took to get there. Werkmeister said that he was "horrified" when he found out and called his agent back to find out if he could still attend the audition, which he was. Werkmeister received a call back and he performed a scene with Caitlin Stasey, who was cast as Zeke's sister. Four days later, Werkmeister was told he had won the part and he said he was "absolutely ecstatic".

In 2009, media reports circulated that Werkmeister was planning on quitting the program, however it was then confirmed he was committed to the role as a spokesperson for Neighbours commented: "Matt Werkmeister is on a contract with Neighbours which will take him well into next year."

In October 2010, it was announced that Werkmeister had quit Neighbours along with two other members of the cast, Jane Hall and Erin Mullally. Werkmeister said "When I started on Neighbours I was only thirteen, I didn't shave or drive a car so I really have grown up on the show. I've learnt so much, worked with some great people who are now some of my closest friends."

Character development

The official Neighbours website credits Zeke with the nickname "Zeke the freak" and describe him as originally being a "kooky outcast" and "supremely bright but socially inept". They also describe him as always seeing life as black and white, usually finding it hard to adjust to new situations.

One of Zeke's earliest storylines was dealing with the death of his father, in the aftermath Zeke was seen refusing to talk, using it as a coping mechanism. Of the plot Werkmeister stated: "I'm glad that story is over, it was annoying trying to find those damn cards with words! Although it was nice doing something different for a while."

Zeke was initially portrayed as being anti-social and clever, leading fans to believe he could have the characteristics of Asperger's Syndrome, of this Werkmeister explained: "It wasn't really written at first, so me and the writers made up his quirks." As his character progressed the writing changed as Zeke grew older, of this Werkmeister stated: "I think Zeke is now starting to grow out of it as he meets new people and picks up how to be more social, but he will always be very knowledgeable."

Zeke storylines began to take a more adult theme at the end of 2007, writers introduced a series of changes to his character, of this Werkmeister commented: “Zeke is about to make the transition from little boy to grown-up teenager, which will be good for me because I can broaden his character traits, he becomes more socially aware and gets a new girlfriend.” Werkmeister has spoken of his love of watching Zeke grow up over the years on-screen.

Storylines

Backstory

Zeke is the intelligent son of Francesca and Alex Kinski and the younger brother of Katya (Dichen Lachman) and Rachel. Rachel and Zeke were home-schooled by their parents and they led sheltered lives until they enrolled at Erinsborough High. Katya was thrown out of the home following Francesca's death and Zeke had no contact with her. When he discovered that Rachel had made friends with Bree Timmins (Sianoa Smit-McPhee), he let himself be introduced to TV, junk food and other items of popular culture.

2005–2011

Alex later began a relationship with Susan Kennedy (Jackie Woodburne) and the family moved in with her. Alex married Susan after discovering that he had terminal leukaemia, he died hours after the wedding. Katya arrived and tried to fight for custody of her siblings and took them to live with her. However, they later moved back in with Susan. Zeke began a relationship with Bree, but they decided that they weren't meant to be together. Zeke then started dating Lolly Allen (Adelaide Kane) for a short while and was upset when she decided to move back home to be with her birth father and siblings. Zeke was held hostage along with Katya, Toadfish Rebecchi (Ryan Moloney), Stephanie Scully (Carla Bonner) and Charlie Hoyland by Guy Sykes (Fletcher Humphrys). Zeke distracts Guy by hitting him with a book and Toadie wrestles Guy to the ground as everybody escapes. Katya later left for a nursing job with a football team. Susan re-married her former husband Karl Kennedy (Alan Fletcher), but decided to retain Kinski as her surname in order to show Zeke and Rachel that their relationship remained the same. Susan later changed her name back to Kennedy with Zeke and Rachel's blessing. Karl's father, Tom (Bob Hornery), moved into the Kinski-Kennedy household. Zeke and Tom bonded after Tom mistook Zeke for Karl due to his dementia. Zeke was upset when it was decided that Tom should live in a home but eventually accepted this after seeing that Tom was much happier with full time care.

Zeke, along with his girlfriend Taylah Jordan (Danielle Horvat) and his friends became trapped in a collapsed warehouse, where an illegal dance party was held. Zeke became upset when Karl went into the warehouse to help his daughter Libby Kennedy (Kym Valentine) first. Though this turned out to be because Karl assessed that Zeke was less badly hurt, Zeke, believed no one would choose him first in an emergency because he had very little biological family left. Taylah's dad Brad Jordan (Brendan O'Connor) forbids Zeke and Taylah from seeing each other, but caught Zeke asleep in her room. He then decided to send Taylah away. A change occurred in Zeke when he began hanging out with a new gang of friends, which included Justin Hunter (Chris Toohey) and Kyle Canning (Chris Milligan). On a rafting trip with the school Zeke, along with Bridget Parker (Eloise Mignon) and Libby, went missing when their raft capsized. Zeke life jacket and his badly damaged helmet were found, but Zeke remained missing. The family were later forced to accept that Zeke wasn't coming back and they held a memorial for him at the General Store.

Lucas Fitzgerald (Scott Major) and Elle Robinson (Pippa Black) found a drawing that looked like Zeke on a stall. They then went to Phil Andrews (Robert Mammone) and asked if he knew Zeke. Elle broke into Phil's house and found a t-shirt that belonged to Zeke. It was later revealed that Zeke was alive and staying with Phil. Zeke called Susan, but told her he didn't know who she was. Susan and Karl rushed to Phil's house and found Zeke, who believed that he was Phil's son. Zeke was suffering from a Dissociative Fugue and had no memory from before the rafting accident. His memories slowly started to come back after he recognized Rachel at the hospital. It was then discovered that Zeke is suffering from an anxiety disorder caused by the rafting accident and his subsequent abduction. Harry Ramsay (Will Moore) notices Zeke behaving oddly and raises it to Karl through the column he has in a newspaper. Karl takes Zeke on a rafting trip to help him face his fears.

Zeke finds a pirate radio station called Pirate Net and decides to join as a DJ. He becomes "Lost Boy" and all the teens begin to listen to him. When Sunny Lee (Hany Lee) arrives in Ramsay Street, she is embarrassed by "Lost Boy" and begins to find out who he really is. Libby and Daniel Fitzgerald (Brett Tucker) find out who "Lost Boy" is. Zeke talks to Donna on his last show and then reveals his real identity. Sunny had a crush on Zeke. During drama camp, Sunny and Zeke are locked in a closet where they talk. They go to kiss, but are interrupted. Sunny and Zeke then decide to take their relationship slowly. Sunny and Zeke attend a music festival and when Sunny runs off into the bush, she falls down a ravine. Zeke finds her, but he too falls down the ravine and has an anxiety attack. They are later rescued by Declan Napier (James Sorensen) and Lucas.

Robin Hester (Benjamin Jay) turned up at the Kennedy house to interview Karl. Susan introduced him to Harry and he introduces him to the other teens. Zeke becomes aware that Robin has a crush on Sunny and tries to keep him away from her. Zeke later attacks Robin in the General Store in front of Susan who believes that his anxiety disorder is back. Robin locks Zeke in a storeroom at Pirate Net, so he can spend more time with Sunny. Sunny and Robin go back to the station to see if Zeke is there and Robin pretends to find the storeroom key and unlocks the door. Zeke attacks Robin again, scaring Sunny. Zeke later apologises and Sunny realises that Zeke was right all along. Sunny asks Robin to meet her at Charlie's and tells him that she and Zeke broke up. Robin confesses to locking Zeke in the storeroom, Zeke appears and tells Robin to stay away.

Sunny is later forced to go back home by her parents and Zeke tells her that will go to Korea with her, but Sunny departs on her own. Zeke attends "Schoolies week" and he meets Mia Zannis (Alicia Bonnadio). Mia shows up in Erinsborough to see Zeke and he discovers that she is involved in an animal activist group. They plan to testing facility in the area and Zeke goes along with them. However, when an alarm is set off, Zeke is caught by security and arrested for trespassing. During his court appearance argues with the judge and is placed in jail for contempt of court. When Zeke returnes to court, he is given a 6 month good behaviour bond. Paul Robinson (Stefan Dennis) purchases Pirate Net and turns it into a commercial radio station. He makes Rebecca Robinson (Jane Hall) CEO and she asks Zeke to be programme manager. Zeke is unhappy at having to promote products on air from Paul. Zeke meets Mia again when he does community service. Mia tries to set him up as the ring leader of the animal activist group. She works with Detective Alec Skinner, but Zeke eventually finds out about Mia's plan and plants the evidence on her. Zeke becomes concerned about Susan's health when she starts receiving threats. He and Libby team up to discover who is behind the threats and they, along with Susan, confront her university tutor. When Paul sells Pirate Net to the school, Zeke helps teach the students how to use the equipment. Zeke believes that he is being left out of Donna and Ringo's wedding and asks if he can plan Ringo's bucks night. Ringo tells him that Declan is already planning it because he understands what Ringo wants. Zeke speaks to Toadie who tells him to get even, and Zeke begins planning something. As Declan is busy with his new job, Zeke offers to take over from him and Declan agrees. While at Charlie's bar, Zeke, Ringo, Lucas and Michael Williams (Sandy Winton) make a bet – whoever gets the number of the next girl to walk in the door, wins. Poppy (Gabriella Darlington) and Ruby Rogers (Yesse Spence) enter the bar and Zeke and Ringo get to know the girls. Zeke tells them that his sister goes to university in the UK and Poppy guesses that it is Oxford. Michael wins the bet, when Ruby gives him her number. Zeke and Ringo help Karl pick out a present for his and Susan's wedding anniversary. Zeke is devastated when Ringo dies and he loses his best friend. Zeke volunteers to help out at the Erinsborough High School social committee team. He tells Donna that Ringo applied to a New York fashion school on her behalf and he, Declan and Kate encourage her to go. Zeke invites Jade Mitchell (Gemma Pranita) to stay at his when she has nowhere to go and he tries to flirt with her. She later tells him that Sophie Ramsay (Kaiya Jones) has a crush on him and that he needs to sit her down and talk about it. He tries to take advice from Declan and Toadie, but he eventually sits Sophie down and tells her that nothing will happen between them. Kate confronts Zeke because Sophie is upset and he says that he will go apologise, but Kate tells him to leave it. Sophie later comes to see him and she tells him that she is over him. Zeke finds Summer at PirateNet and he asks her to co-host a show with him. He tells her that he has applied and won the chance to do a semester at the London School of Economics. He later invites Summer to stay at the Kennedys' house. Lisa Devine (Sophie Tilson) spreads the rumour that Zeke and Summer are together and Zeke tells Summer that they should avoid each other in public until the rumour dies down. Zeke later departs for London.

In other media

In 2009, Neighbours became the first Australian series to establish Twitter accounts for its characters. Zeke was one of four characters to have an account set up, with the others being Declan, Donna and Ringo. They began sending daily updates to their fans, which are "complementary to the show's on-air storylines". FremantleMedia Enterprises vice-president of licensing Ben Liebmann said, "We thought it was a really great way to continue or allow the audience to engage with the Neighbours world off-screen". The messages are overseen by the Fremantle digital team, which is integrated with the story department of the Neighbours production team.

Reception

In 2008, Werkmeister was nominated for the "Best Young Actor" award at the Inside Soap Awards.

In 2009 Ruth Deller of entertainment website Lowculture profiled Zeke in one of her monthly columns featuring popular and unpopular soap opera characters. She called him irritating stating: "I have often stuck up for Zeke in the past whilst others have derided him. After all, losing both parents at a young age and having Katya, Rachel and Libby for sisters seem fairly good reasons for him acting like an arse. I don’t even mind the OCD storyline, though I suspect I’m in a minority there. However, even I have to concede that he’s been acting like a twat lately, and mooning over Sunny, of all people, isn’t going to win me back around."

External links

• Character profile on the Neighbours official AU website
• Character profile on the Neighbours official UK website
• Zeke Kinski on Twitter