Peter Phelps (born 20 September 1960 in Sydney) is an Australian actor, singer and writer. He is notable for his role as Trevor Cole in Baywatch. Phelps is also known for his roles in the internationally successful Australian series Sons and Daughters and Stingers and has appeared in feature films including Blackwater Trail with Judd Nelson. He is the brother of Professor Kerryn Phelps.
Peter Phelps | |
|---|---|
 Phelps in 2012 | |
| Born | 20 September 1960 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer, writer |
| Years active | 1977−present |
| Known for | John Palmer in Sons and Daughters Trevor Cole in Baywatch Peter Church in Stingers |
| Spouse | Donna Fowkes (2000–present) |
| Children | Aja Blue Phelps (b. 2002) Polly Elsie Rose Phelps (b. 2005) |
| Parent(s) | George Thomas Phelps Shirley Amy Gunston |
| Relatives | Kerryn Phelps (sister) Bryan Robson (cousin) |
| Awards | AFI: Best Actor in a Television Drama 1993 Logie: Most Popular Actor 2002. |
| Website | peterphelps.com.au |
Career
editPhelps began his acting career in the early 1980s with an ongoing role in the Network Ten teen soap opera The Restless Years produced by the Reg Grundy Organisation. After that series ended he had a starring role in new Grundy soap opera Sons and Daughters. It was Phelps who came up with the "Pat the Rat" moniker in the series.
In 1988 he had a brief role in the mini series The Dirtwater Dynasty. Peter featured as David Eastwick, the first-born son of the main character Richard Eastwick, played by Hugo Weaving (who is fewer than six months older than Phelps).
From 1989–1990, he was one of the lifeguards (Trevor Cole) in the first season of Baywatch, and had a minor role in the film Point Break. He also had roles in A Country Practice and The Flying Doctors. In 1993, Phelps won an Australian Film Institute Best Actor award for his role in the G.P. episode, "Exposed".[1]
From 1998 until 2004, he starred in Stingers, a role that won him the 2002 Logie Award for Most Popular Actor.
Phelps also played a recurring role as doctor Doug "Spence" Spencer on the medical drama, All Saints starting 4 October 2005.
In 2009, Phelps had a busy year. He appeared in two television dramas — Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities playing detective inspector Joe Messina; and as Vince Marchello (Station Co-ordinator) in Rescue: Special Ops. Also in 2009, he also had a role as a police officer in the film Stone Bros.
In 2009, he appeared in a new public awareness campaign by the NSW Rural Fire Service about the need to prepare for bushfires. This included television and radio advertisements. The campaign was subsequently adopted by the Tasmania Fire Service.[2]
In 2021, Phelps appeared in channel 7's series Australia's Sexiest Tradie.[3]
In 2023 Phelps appeared in channel 7 soap Home and Away as Gary Morrow.[4] Phelps also appeared in the theatre play La Cage Aux Folles.[5] Phelps in 2024 appeared in 7plus series Roast Night which was written by his co-star Rick Donald.[6] Phelps was later announced to appear in ABC series Return to Paradise (2024 TV series).[7]
Personal life
editIn 2015, Phelps was one of many victims who were scammed by financial advisor Brad Sherwin who stole more than $400,000 of Phelps' superannuation.[8]
Filmography
editTelevision appearances
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Optics | Rob Ryan | TV series |
| 2024 | Plum | Mo Hanlon | 2 episodes |
| Return to Paradise | Vince | TV series 1 episode | |
| Roast Night | Wayne Turner | 6 episodes | |
| 2012-24 | Home and Away | Alan Henderson / Gary Morrow | 28 episodes |
| 2021 | Australia's Sexiest Tradie | Boss Man Wayne | 6 episodes |
| 2020 | Drunk History Australia | Lee Robinson / Olympic Crowd | 1 episode |
| 2019 | Les Norton | Mick Matthews | 1 episode |
| Blue Water Empire | Commanding Officer | TV series | |
| 2017 | Blue Murder: Killer Cop | Abo Henry | 1 episode |
| 2013-15 | Wonderland | Warwick Wilcox | 23 episodes |
| 2014 | Old School | Malcolm Dwyer | 8 episodes |
| 2014 | Modern Family | Wise Australian | 1 episode |
| 2013 | Mr & Mrs Murder | Paul Craven | 1 episode |
| 2009-11 | Rescue: Special Ops | Vince Marchello | 48 episodes |
| 2009 | Underbelly | Joe Messina | 13 episodes |
| 2007 | Chandon Pictures | Eddie Connolly | 2 episodes |
| 2005-07 | All Saints | Doug Spencer | 16 episodes |
| 2006 | Small Claims: The Reunion | Paul Lloyd | TV movie |
| 1998-04 | Stingers | Peter Church | 192 episodes |
| 1998 | Water Rats | Jimmy | 3 episodes |
| 1997 | Reprisal | Borodin | TV movie |
| 1997 | One Way Ticket | Mick Webb | TV movie |
| 1996 | Police Rescue | Alex Willis | 3 episodes |
| The Feds: Betrayal | Brian Petrie | TV movie | |
| 1995 | Blue Murder | Abo Henry | 2 episodes |
| Fire | Nick Connor | 13 episodes | |
| 1994 | Heartbreak High | Phil North | 4 episodes |
| 1993-94 | R.F.D.S | Dennis Taylor | 13 episodes |
| 1981-93 | A Country Practice | Chris / Hector / Jeff | 10 episodes |
| 1993 | G.P. | Sam Hill | 1 episode |
| 1991 | The Young Riders | Hack Wilkins | 1 episode |
| Chances | David Hensen | 1 episode | |
| 1990 | Rafferty's Rules | James | 1 episode |
| 1989-90 | Baywatch | Trevor Cole | 21 episodes |
| 1989 | Baywatch: Panic At Malibu Pier | TV movie | |
| 1988 | Rock 'N' Roll Cowboys | Eddie | TV movie |
| 1986-87 | The Challenge | Will | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | The Dirtwater Dynasty | David Eastwick | 5 episodes |
| Australians | Les | 1 episode | |
| 1986 | Prime Time | TV series | |
| 1984 | The Cowra Breakout | Terry Moyes | 5 episode |
| 1982-84 | Sons and Daughters | John Palmer | 421 episodes |
| 1981-82 | The Restless Years | Kevin Ryan | 6 episodes |
Film appearances
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Him | Neil Espers | |
| Beverely | Short | ||
| 2019 | Locusts | Sgt Harvey | |
| 2016 | Drone | Blake | |
| Embedded | Cassidy | ||
| 2010 | Caught Inside | Skipper Joe | |
| 2009 | Stone Bros. | The 'New Age' Copper | |
| 2008 | Forever Strong | Referee | |
| The Square | Jake | ||
| 2007 | Without Warrant | The Buyer | |
| 2006 | Footy Legends | Billy Major | |
| 2003 | Ned Kelly | Constable Lonigan | |
| 2002 | Teesh and Trude | Rod | |
| 2001 | Lantana | Patrick | |
| 1996 | Zone 39 | Leo Melgaw | |
| 1995 | Blackwater Trail | Frank | |
| 1995 | Rough Diamonds | Dozer Brennan | |
| 1993 | Merlin | John Pope | |
| 1991 | Point Break | Aussie Surfer | |
| 1989 | Maya | Peter | |
| 1988 | Breaking Loose: Summer City II | Ross | |
| 1987 | Starlight Hotel | Patrick | |
| The Lighthorsemen | Dave | ||
| 1986 | Playing Beatie Bow | Judah | |
| 1983 | Undercover | Theo |
Stage appearances
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Club | |||
| Miranda by Stephen Sewell | |||
| Nicholas Nickleby | |||
| The Sum of Us | |||
| Twelve Angry Men | |||
| 2023 | La Cage aux Folles (play) |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Category | Award | Series | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Best Actor in a Leading Role in a TV Drama | AFI Award | G.P. | Won |
| 2002 | Best Supporting Male Actor | FCCA Award | Lantana | Nominated |
| 2002 | Most Popular Actor | Logie Award | Stingers | Won |
Writings
editBooks
edit- Sex without Madonna: The True Confessions of a Hired Gun in Tinseltown (autobiography), Pan Macmillan Publishers Australia, 1994
- The Bulldog Track: A grandson's story of an ordinary man's war and survival on the other Kokoda trail, Hachette Australia, 2018[9][10]
Magazine contributor
editReferences
edit- ^ "Default Parallels Plesk Panel Page". afi.org.au.
- ^ NSWRFS. YouTube.
- ^ Rigden, Clare (2 September 2021). "Rick Donald's quest to be crowned our Sexiest Tradie". The West Australian. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ Foster, Dan (21 January 2023). "Home and Away introduces Felicity's foster father Gary". Back to the Bay. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ McLoughlin, Sean (10 September 2023). "New cast to join la cage aux folles". Aussie Theatre.
- ^ "Watch Roast Night Online: Free Streaming & Catch Up TV in Australia". 7plus.com.au. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ Knox, David (12 August 2024). "Airdate: Return to Paradise (Aussie Death in Paradise spin-off) | TV Tonight". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 12 August 2024.
- ^ "Australian actor Peter Phelps lost $400,000 at hands of disgraced investment adviser". www.9news.com.au. 20 May 2015. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
- ^ "Peter Phelps shares the story of his grandfather who made it home from PNG via the Bulldog Track". Redland City Bulletin. 9 July 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
- ^ "The other Kokoda trail". abc.net.au. abc.net.au. 2 August 2018. Retrieved 6 August 2018.
