Peter Adams (actor)

  1. Home
  2. Wiki

Peter Adams
Born
Peter John Adams

(1938-05-18)18 May 1938
Taumarunui, New Zealand
Died13 December 1999(1999-12-13) (aged 61)
Melbourne, Australia
OccupationActor
Years active1961–1998
Known for
SpouseKirsty Child (1968–1999, his death)

Peter John Adams (18 May 1938 – 13 December 1999) was a New Zealand-born Australian actor, best remembered for his performances on Australian television in soap operas and serials.

Early life

[edit]

Born in Taumarunui, King Country, North Island, New Zealand,[1][2] Adams was the son of a Church of England clergyman.[3]

Career

[edit]

Beginning his acting career in New Zealand, Adams first came to the attention of critics in 1948, for his singing voice.[3] In 1954, he performed in a production of The Mikado at Kings College.[3] In 1958, he began a two year run with the New Zealand Players Company, with performances including The Importance of Being Earnest, The Long, The Short and The Tall, What Every Woman Knows, The Corn is Green and A Streetcar Named Desire.[3]

He emigrated to Australia in 1960,[4] and undertook club work and television roles, before joining the John Alden Shakespeare Company, where he performed in Othello, Macbeth and The Merchant of Venice and Lock Up Your Daughters.[3] Two years later, he toured New Zealand in Woman in a Dressing Gown, after which he secured a role as an announcer for New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation for two years.[3]

When he returned to Australia, he appeared in stage productions of Instant Marriage, Robin Hood and Sweet Charity.[3]

Adams appeared in The Actor Who Laughed at Sydney's Community Theatre (now Marian Street Theatre). The evening of opening night, Sydney was hit by torrential rain, causing the city to grind to a halt. As the actors set out for the theatre in Killara, most were stranded, including Adams who was stuck in a train in the Wynyard tunnel. In desperation he jumped off and dangerously ran back along the tracks to the station. When all your cast eventually arrived, the audience were given a choice of either starting the performance at the late hour, or returning the next night – and chose the latter.[5]

Adams appeared in the Australian soap opera Number 96 as Andy Marshall from 1974 to 1975 and had a five-week stint in medical soap opera The Young Doctors as comedian, Clarrie Baker in 1977.

His defining role came in 1977 when he was cast as Detective Jeff 'JJ' Johnson, a lead in the police procedural series Cop Shop. The character became a hit with audiences, winning Adams several Logie Awards. In 1980, he won Best Lead Actor in a Series and in 1981, the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor.[6][7] He left the series for a role in musical theatre, but later returned, staying until the series was cancelled in December 1983.[8]

Adams subsequently appeared in Prisoner as the tough Acting Governor Bob Moran, for three months in 1986. In 1994 he appeared in the television movie Halifax f.p. – The Feeding with Rebecca Gibney.[9]

While predominantly known for his television roles, Adams also continued to work in theatre. In 1985, he toured Victoria appearing in Warwick Moss' two-man play Down an Alley Filled with Cats. In 1995, he directed the 1995 Geelong Lyric Theatre Society production of Les Misérables.[10] In 1987, he appeared in the Darwin Theatre Company production of Trumpets and Raspberries.[11]

Adams had his own radio show on Melbourne's 3AW for 18 months.[12]

Personal life and death

[edit]

Adams met his first wife, Mary in New Zealand, with whom he returned to Australia after a two year stint working for NZBC.[3]

After starring together with actress Kirsty Child in stage productions of Out of the Crocodile, Arms and The Man and Gaslight at the Community Theatre in Sydney, they began a romantic relationship and were later married.[5][1]

Adams died from cancer, aged 61, on 13 December 1999.[1]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1973 Come Out Fighting Garry Day Feature film
1989 Blowing Hot and Cold Jack Phillips Feature film

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1955 Alfred Hitchcock Presents Tim Grady Season 1, episode 6: "Salvage"
1961 The Outcasts Miniseries, 1 episode
1963 Flowering Cherry TV play
1969 Riptide Reporter / John Barrow 2 episodes
1970 Skippy the Bush Kangaroo Jo Bently 1 episode
Delta Bartlett 1 episode
Barrier Reef Kenneth Norris 1 episode
1971 Dynasty Matt Dawson 1 episode
1965–1973 Homicide Mike Evans / Tony Davis / Dr Cousins / Detective / Charlie Stevens / Gary Lloyd / Charlie Sampson 7 episodes
1970–1974 Division 4 Ken Harris / Clive Collins / Harry Jones / Kenneth O'Connell / Hinton / Ernie Callan / Arthur Bull 7 episodes
1974–1975 Number 96 Andy Marshall 68 episodes
1976 The Lost Islands Pilot Jimmy Williams 1 episode
Moynihan 1 episode
King's Men 1 episode
1977 Bluey Alex 'Kanga' Murray 1 episode
The Alternative Noel Denning TV movie
The Young Doctors Clarrie Baker 16 episodes
Bobby Dazzler Arthur Carroll 1 episode
Hotel Story 1 episode
Say You Want Me TV movie
1977–1984 Cop Shop Detective Jeff 'J.J.' Johnson 493 episodes
1978 A Good Thing Going Dave TV movie
1981 Bellamy Donald Miniseries, 1 episode
1985 The Fast Lane Price 1 episode
1986 Handle with Care Geoff TV movie
Prisoner Acting Governor Bob Moran 26 episodes
Darwin, 1942: Australia's Greatest Shame a John Barry, KC TV movie
1987 Neighbours Stephen Armstrong 4 episodes
1988 Australians Mr Dutton Miniseries, 1 episode: "Lottie Lyell"
1989 Mission: Impossible Brian Sean McCarron 1 episode
1994–1989 A Country Practice Ted Kagen / Alan Lang 4 episodes
1991 The Flying Doctors Artie Blake 1 episode
1994 Halifax f.p. – The Feeding Peter O'Hare TV movie
1996 The Territorians Sarge Kennedy TV movie
1997 Medivac Judge Benson 2 episodes
1998 Gargantua Dr Hale TV movie

Theatre

[edit]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1954 The Mikado King's College, Auckland[3]
1958–1959 The Importance of Being Earnest Lane His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, Wellington Opera House with New Zealand Players[3][13]
1959 The Long, The Short and The Tall His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland with New Zealand Players[3]
What Every Woman Knows His Majesty's Theatre, Dunedin, His Majesty's Theatre, Auckland, Wellington Opera House with New Zealand Players[3]
c.1959 The Corn is Green New Zealand Players[3]
c.1959 A Streetcar Named Desire Stanley Kowalski New Zealand Players[3][4][14]
Death of a Salesman [4][14]
The Norman Conquests Tom [4][14]
1961 The Merchant of Venice Cremorne Orpheum, Sydney, Elizabethan Theatre, Sydney, Conservatorium, Sydney with John Alden Shakespeare Company[3]
Othello
Macbeth
Lock Up Your Daughters Palace Theatre, Sydney with John Alden Shakespeare Company[3]
1962 The Miracle Worker James Keller Comedy Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's[15]
1963 Woman in a Dressing Gown Willie Comedy Theatre, Melbourne, Australia & NZ tour[3][16]
1965 Instant Marriage Tivoli Theatre, Melbourne, Tivoli Theatre, Sydney[3]
1965–1966 Robin Hood Tivoli Theatre, Sydney[3][17]
1966 A Phoenix Too Frequent The Landlord St Martins Theatre, Melbourne[18]
A Bunch of Ratbags Slaughterman Emerald Hill Theatre, Sydney[19]
1967 Sweet Charity Oscar Lindquist Her Majesty's Theatre, Sydney, Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne, Her Majesty's Theatre, Adelaide with J. C. Williamson's[20][21]
The Birthday Party Goldberg St Martins Theatre Company, Melbourne[22]
c.1967 Bye Bye Birdie Albert Menzies, Sydney[14][23]
1968 Relatively Speaking Greg Princess Theatre, Melbourne[24] & Australian tour[4][23]
1969 A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Bri Old Tote Theatre, Sydney[25]
Out of the Crocodile Community Theatre, Sydney[5][14]
Arms and the Man Bluntschli
Richard III King Richard
Gaslight Manningham
1969–1970 Man of La Mancha Don Quixote (Cervantes) (standby) Her Majesty's Theatre, Melbourne with J. C. Williamson's[26]
1971 Man of La Mancha Dr. Carrasco
1972 Danton's Death Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC[14]
The Chocolate Frog Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC[14]
A Touch of the Poet MTC[14]
1973 Jugglers Three Playhouse, Canberra, UNSW Parade Theatre, Sydney with MTC[14]
1981 Same Time, Next Year George Alexander Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company & TAS/QLD tour[27]
1984 The Removalists Police Sergeant Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne with Playbox Theatre Company[4][28]
1985 Down an Alley Filled with Cats Lead role Monash University, Melbourne,[29] VIC regional tour[4] & interstate tour[14]
1985–1986 Guys and Dolls Nathan Detroit Australian national tour[4][30][12]
1986 The Odd Couple Oscar Madison St George Leagues Club, Kogarah[4][14][31]
1987 A Chorus of Disapproval Suncorp Theatre, Brisbane with Queensland Theatre[4]
What the Butler Saw Dr Prentice Sydney Opera House with Gary Penny Productions[4][32]
Trumpets and Raspberries State Theatre Company of Northern Territory[11]
The Club with Gateway Productions[33]
1988 A Small Family Business Northside Theatre[14][34]
1989 Educating Rita Frank Bryant Phillip St Theatre, Sydney,[14] Alexander Theatre, Melbourne[35] with Gateway Productions[33]
1990 The Blessed Fountain Regal Theatre, Perth
1991 Gaslight Rough Theatre of Comedy[14]
1992 Diving for Pearls Ron Space Theatre, Adelaide with STCSA[36][37][38]
No Going Back Karl / Bunce Russell St Theatre, Melbourne with MTC[14][39]
1993 Brilliant Lies Vince Playhouse, Adelaide with QTC / STCSA & Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC[40][36]
Forget-Me-Not Lane MTC[14]
1996 My Father's Father Karl Fairfax Studio, Melbourne with MTC[14][41]
1997 The Comedy of Errors Solinus Playhouse, Melbourne with MTC[42]
1999 Witness (reading) Jewish Holocaust Museum, Melbourne[43]
In Duty Bound Gateway Productions

As director

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1963 Woman in a Dressing Gown Assistant Stage Manager Comedy Theatre, Melbourne[16]
1989 Educating Rita Director [14]
The Freedom of the City Director Australian national tour with Gateway Productions[14]
1990 The Club Director St Martins Youth Theatre, Melbourne[14]
1995 Les Misérables Director Geelong Lyric Theatre Society[10]

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Work Award Category Result
1977 The Alternative Penguin Awards Best Actor Won[44]
1978 Cop Shop Logie Awards Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role Won[45]
1979 Penguin Awards Best Sustained Performance by an Actor Won[45]
1980 Logie Awards Best Lead Actor in a Series Won[45]
Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor Won[45]
Sammy Awards Best Actor in a TV series Won[45]
1981 Penguin Awards Best Sustained Performance by a Series Commendation[45]
1986 Guys and Dolls Green Room Awards Best Male Lead in a Musical Won[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Cop Shop star, 61, dies of cancer". The Daily Telegraph. 14 December 1999.
  2. ^ "Vic: Former Cop Shop colleagues pay tribute to Adams". AAP General News. AAP Information Services Pty Limited. 13 December 1999.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Guys and Dolls". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "What the Butler Saw". Theatregold. Retrieved 25 August 2025.
  5. ^ a b c "Alexander Archdale and the Community Theatre". Theatre Heritage Australia. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  6. ^ "1980 TV WEEK Logie Awards". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  7. ^ "1981 TV WEEK Logie Awards". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  8. ^ MacKay, Don (28 December 1999). "Actor a hit on stage and TV". The Australian.
  9. ^ "Halifax, fp – The Feeding (1994)". users.on.net. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
  10. ^ a b "Geelong Lyric Theatre Society". Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
  11. ^ a b "Darwin Theatre Company – History". Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
  12. ^ a b "Guys and Dolls". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  13. ^ "The Importance of Being Earnest". Gisborne Photo News. 30 April 1959.
  14. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u "My Father's Father". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  15. ^ "Miracle Worker, The (1962)". Theatre Heritage Australia. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  16. ^ a b "Miracle Worker, The Woman in a Dressing Gown". Theatre Heritage Australia. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  17. ^ "Prisoner Cell Block H cast in panto mini feature". www.pantoarchive.com. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  18. ^ "A Phoenix Too Frequent". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  19. ^ "A Tribute to Don Battye (1938-2016)". Theatregold. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  20. ^ "Sweet Charity". www.abouttheartists.com. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  21. ^ "Sweet Charity". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  22. ^ "The Birthday Party". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  23. ^ a b "Relatively Speaking". Theatre Heritage Australia. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  24. ^ "Relatively Speaking". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  25. ^ "The Arts and Entertainment". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  26. ^ "Man of La Mancha". www.theatreheritage.org.au. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  27. ^ "Same Time, Next Year". Malthouse Theatre. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  28. ^ "The Removalists". Malthouse Theatre. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  29. ^ "Sound" (PDF). Monash University. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  30. ^ "Guys and Dolls". www.murraybramwell.com. 17 January 1986.
  31. ^ "Tony Randall raises the roof with a fast-witted portrayal" (PDF). Sydney Morning Herald. 9 March 1986.
  32. ^ "Adding Spice to the Bedroom Farce" (PDF). Trust News. November 1987.
  33. ^ a b "Fifty years of Scopus talent". The Australian Jewish News. Vol. 65, no. 46. 13 August 1999. p. 14 – via Monash Collections.
  34. ^ "A Small Family Business" (PDF). The Trust. November 1988.
  35. ^ "Katy Manning and Peter Adams in 'Educating Rita' as Rita and Frank". Monash Collections. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  36. ^ a b "Brilliant Lies for MTC". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  37. ^ "Guide to the State Theatre Company of South Australia: programs and related material collected by the National Library of Australia". National Library of Australia. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  38. ^ "ONDIT – Adelaide University Students' Association Weekly". University of Adelaide. Retrieved 28 August 2025.
  39. ^ "No Going Back". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  40. ^ "Brilliant Lies for QTC/STCSA". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  41. ^ "My Father's Father". University of Melbourne Archives. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
  42. ^ "The Comedy of Errors". Theatregold. Retrieved 26 August 2025.
  43. ^ "Witness Play Reading". The Australian Jewish News. 16 April 1999.
  44. ^ "TV's Penguin Awards". The Canberra Times. 7 November 1977 – via National Library of Australia.
  45. ^ a b c d e f "Awards". Crawford Productions. Retrieved 27 August 2025.
[edit]