Peter Adams (actor)
Peter John Adams (18 May 1938 – 13 December 1999) (Note: Adams is not to be confused with the American actor of the same name born as James Harvey Adams II (1917-1987)[1]) was a New Zealand-born Australian actor, best remembered for his performances on Australian television in soap operas and serials,
Peter Adams  | |
|---|---|
![]() Publicity Photo of Peter Adams  | |
| Born | Peter John Adams 18 May 1938 Taumarunui, New Zealand  | 
| Died | 13 December 1999 (aged 61) Melbourne, Australia  | 
| Occupation | Actor | 
| Years active | 1961–1998 | 
| Known for | 
  | 
| Spouse | Kirsty Child (1968–1999, his death) | 
Born in Taumarunui, King Country, North Island, New Zealand, Adams later emigrated to Australia. He was married to actress Kirsty Child.[2][3]
Career
    
Adams appeared in the Australian soap opera Number 96 as Andy Marshall in 1974-75 and had a five-week stint in medical soap opera The Young Doctors as comedian, Clarrie Baker in 1977. Adams' defining role came in 1977 when he was cast as a leading character, Detective Jeff Johnson, in the police procedural series Cop Shop. His character "JJ" became a hit with audiences, winning Adams several Logies. In 1980 he won Best Lead Actor in a Series and in 1981, the Silver Logie for Most Popular Actor.[4][5] He left that series for a role in musical theatre, but later returned, staying until the series was cancelled in December 1983.[6] He 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.[7]
While predominantly known for his television roles, Adams also worked in theatre. In 1985 he toured Victoria appearing in Warwick Moss' two-man play Down An Alley Filled With Cats. Adams directed the 1995 Geelong Lyric Theatre Society production of Les Misérables.[8] In 1987 he appeared in the Darwin Theatre Company production of Trumpets and Raspberries.[9]
Death
    
Adams died from cancer, aged 61, on 13 December 1999.[2]
Partial filmography
    
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) (Season 1 Episode 6: "Salvage") – Tim Grady
 - Number 96 (1974–75) – Andy Marshall
 - The Young Doctors (1977) – Clarrie Baker
 - Cop Shop (1977–83) – Detective Jeff 'J.J.' Johnson
 - Bellamy (1981)
 - Prisoner (1986) – Acting Governor Bob Moran
 - Halifax f.p. – The Feeding (1994)
 
References
    
- "Peter Adams". IMDb.
 - "Cop Shop star, 61, dies of cancer". The Daily Telegraph. 14 December 1999.
 - "Vic: Former Cop Shop colleagues pay tribute to Adams". AAP General News. AAP Information Services Pty Limited. 13 December 1999.
 - "1980 TV WEEK Logie Awards – TV Week – Logie Awards". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
 - "1981 TV WEEK Logie Awards – TV Week – Logie Awards". Archived from the original on 24 March 2012. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
 - MacKay, Don (28 December 1999). "Actor a hit on stage and TV". The Australian.
 - "Halifax, fp – The Feeding (1994)". users.on.net. Retrieved 16 August 2020.
 - "Geelong Lyric Theatre Society". Archived from the original on 20 June 2014. Retrieved 29 April 2016.
 - "Darwin Theatre Company – History". Archived from the original on 10 April 2011. Retrieved 28 September 2011.
 
