From Home and Away to a quiet life as a lawyer: Everything we know about Ben Unwin.

As a friend, actor turned solicitor Ben Unwin was loving, supportive and loyal.

Tributes are flowing in for “Onion” as he was affectionately known, after the former Home and Away actor died aged 41 in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales.

A NSW police statement released to Yahoo Lifestyle said police responded to a welfare call on August 14 when they found his body. His death is not being treated as suspicious.

Here is some of the news coverage. Post continues after video.

The Australian actor was most known for his time in Summer Bay, but he actually started his career in 1991 as a 13-year-old in the Aussie sitcom Eggshells. The show ran for two seasons and 15 episodes on the ABC.

He joined the cast of Home and Away in 1996, a month after completing high school, and was there until 2005 (with a two year hiatus between 2000-2002).

His character was “bad boy” Jesse McGregor, which was especially written for him after he failed to get the part he auditioned for.

Jesse was an ex-con who went on to woo the ladies of Summer Bay, including Ada Nicodemou's character Leah, Laurie Foell's character Josie, and Jodi Gordon's character Martha.

He was also on the show with Isla Fisher, Kate Ritchie and Bec Hewitt, and his bad boy persona won him nominations in 1999 for Best Actor and Sexiest Male from the Inside Soap Awards. In 1997, he was nominated for Most Popular New Talent at the Logies.

In 2005, Unwin quit Home and Away to pursue work in America, and tried his hand in the music world. He directed videos for Boy George and Culture Club (I Just Wanna Be Loved and Your Kisses Are Charity), before packing in show business for law.

In 2016, a Woman's Day article reported that he was working as a senior solicitor in Newcastle, specialising in civil and commercial litigation.

There is no public information about his family or dating life, only some pictures of his sister who he went to the Australian Cosmopolitan Annual Style Awards with in 2003.

But his former Home and Away cast mates have given us a glimpse into the man they knew.

"We had years of laughter, be it giggles on set trying to get through scenes as lovers or doubled over belly laughs at the pubs after work," wrote co-star Kimberley Cooper on Instagram.

She also told News.com.au, "He was a gift to come to work with everyday and to be on the receiving end of his friendship was to know unwavering support, loyalty and love".

 

View this post on Instagram

 

My first tv week cover was with you. We had years of laughter, be it giggles on set trying to get through scenes as lovers or doubled over belly laughs at the pubs after work. I will be sad for now, but I promise to tell stories of great joy about our times together. You forever hold a special place in my heart. Love you Onion ❤️

A post shared by Kimberley Cooper (@kimberleycooper80) on Aug 19, 2019 at 11:13pm PDT

Lynne McGranger told The Daily Telegraph, "sending my deepest condolences to his family and friends," while Ada Nicodemou told Nine.com.au she woke up to the news and was "deeply saddened".

Channel 7 was also saddened by the news, writing in a statement: "Ben's work in the role of Jesse McGregor is remembered with much affection".

Unwin died a day before his 42nd birthday, with police called to a remote property near Minyon Falls in the Whian Whian State Conservation area in response to a "concern for welfare".

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