Peter John Adams (18 May 1938 – 13 December 1999) was a

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 List of islands of New Zealand, smaller islands. It is the ...

-born Australian actor, best remembered for his performances in Australian television. Born in Taumarunui, New Zealand, Adams later emigrated to Australia. He died of cancer in Melbourne in 1999 at the age of 61.

Career

Television work

Adams appeared in the Australian

soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...

Number 96 96 (ninety-six) is the natural number following 95 and preceding 97. It is a number that appears the same when turned upside down. In mathematics 96 is: * an octagonal number. * a refactorable number. * an untouchable number. * a semiperfect ...

'' 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. He left that series for a role in musical theatre, but later returned, staying until the series was cancelled in December 1983. He subsequently appeared in ''

Prisoner A prisoner (also known as an inmate or detainee) is a person who is deprived of liberty against their will. This can be by confinement, captivity, or forcible restraint. The term applies particularly to serving a prison sentence in a prison. ...

'' 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.

Stage work

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 ''Les Misérables'' ( , ) is a French historical novel by Victor Hugo, first published in 1862, that is considered one of the greatest novels of the 19th century. In the English-speaking world, the novel is usually referred to by its original ...

''. In 1987 he appeared in the Darwin Theatre Company production of ''

Trumpets and Raspberries ''Trumpets and Raspberries'' (Italian title: ''Clacson, trombette e pernacchi'') is a satirical play by Dario Fo, first performed in 1981. Plot summary The fictional plot revolves around a real political figure, Gianni Agnelli, head of the Fiat ...

''.

Personal life

Adams was married to Australian actress

Kirsty Child Kirsty Child is an Australian character actress, known for her roles in the television series ''Prisoner'' and ''Neighbours''. Biography Child had several character parts in the Crawford Productions TV staples. Her film roles include ''Count ...

until his death in 1999.

Partial filmography

*'' Turnabout'' (1940) - Photographer (uncredited) *'' Angels in the Outfield'' (1951) - Court Room Spectator (uncredited) *'' Pat and Mike'' (1952) - Colliers' Guest (uncredited) *'' Battle Zone'' (1952) - Marine Truck Driver (uncredited) *'' Flat Top'' (1952) - Plane Captain (uncredited) *'' Ruby Gentry'' (1952) - Joage-Golfer (uncredited) *''

The War of the Worlds ''The War of the Worlds'' is a science fiction novel by English author H. G. Wells, first serialised in 1897 by ''Pearson's Magazine'' in the UK and by '' Cosmopolitan'' magazine in the US. The novel's first appearance in hardcover was i ...

'' (1953) - Pine Summit Fire Watcher (uncredited) *'' Project Moonbase'' (1953) - Captain Carmody *'' Donovan's Brain'' (1953) - Mr. Webster *'' Easy to Love'' (1953) - Ted Hilbert (uncredited) *'' Her Twelve Men'' (1954) - Mr. Saunders (uncredited) *''

Brigadoon ''Brigadoon'' is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. The song " Almost Like Being in Love", from the musical, has become a standard. It features two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a ...

'' (1954) - New York Club Patron (uncredited) *'' You're Never Too Young'' (1955) - Desk Clerk (uncredited) *'' The Scarlet Coat'' (1955) - Lt. Blair (uncredited) *'' Flame of the Islands'' (1955) - Clint Johnson (uncredited) *'' The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell'' (1955) - Officer (uncredited) *'' Ransom!'' (1956) - George Portalis (uncredited) *'' Silent Fear'' (1956) - Pete Carroll *'' Omar Khayyam'' (1957) - Master Herald *'' Hell on Devil's Island'' (1957) - Jacques Boucher *'' Tip on a Dead Jockey'' (1957) - Tony Wilson (uncredited) *'' Jailhouse Rock'' (1957) - Jack Lease (uncredited) *''

Bullwhip A bullwhip is a single-tailed whip, usually made of braided leather or nylon, designed as a tool for working with livestock or competition. Bullwhips are pastoral tools, traditionally used to control livestock in open country. A bullwhip's len ...

'' (1958) - John Parnell *'' The Big Fisherman'' (1959) - Herod Phillip *'' Midnight Lace'' (1960) - Man at American Consulate *''

The Incredible Mr. Limpet ''The Incredible Mr. Limpet'' is a 1964 American live-action/animated comedy film produced by Warner Bros.''Variety'' film review; January 22, 1964, page 6. and based on the 1942 novel ''Mr. Limpet'' by Theodore Pratt. It is about a man named He ...

'' (1964) - Lieutenant (uncredited) *''

Lord Love a Duck ''Lord Love a Duck'' is a 1966 American teen black comedy film produced, directed and co-written by George Axelrod and starring Roddy McDowall and Tuesday Weld. The film was a satire of popular culture at the time, its targets ranging from pr ...

'' (1966) - Frank (uncredited) *'' Funny Girl'' (1968) - Card Player (uncredited)

References

External links

* 1938 births 1999 deaths 20th-century Australian male actors Australian male film actors Australian male soap opera actors Australian male stage actors Deaths from cancer in Victoria (Australia) Logie Award winners 20th-century New Zealand male actors New Zealand emigrants to Australia New Zealand male film actors New Zealand male soap opera actors New Zealand male stage actors New Zealand male television actors {{NewZealand-tv-actor-stub