Peter Adams
Born	Peter John Adams (1938-05-18)18 May 1938 Taumarunui, New Zealand
Died	13 December 1999(1999-12-13) (aged 61) Melbourne, Australia
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1948[1]–1998
Known for	Cop Shop (TV series) as Detective. Jeff Johnson Prisoner (TV series) as Acting Governor Bob Moran The Young Doctors (TV series) as Clarrie Baker Number 96 as Andy Marshall.
Spouse	Kirsty Child (1968–1999, his death)

Peter John Adams (18 May 1938 – 13 December 1999) was aNew Zealand-born actor, who started his career in his native country, before emigrating to Australia, where he became best known for his performances in television soap operas and serials, although he also worked in theatre and radio.

Born inTaumarunui,King Country, North Island, New Zealand,^[2][3] Adams was the son of aChurch of England clergyman.^[1]

Adams began his acting career in his native New Zealand, and first came to the attention of critics in 1948, for his singing voice.^[1] In 1954, he performed in a production ofThe Mikado atKings College.^[1] In 1958, he began a two year run with the New Zealand Players Company, with performances includingThe Importance of Being Earnest,The Long, The Short and The Tall,What Every Woman Knows,The Corn is Green andA Streetcar Named Desire.^[1]

He emigrated to Australia in 1960,^[4] and undertook club work and television roles, before joining the Shakespeare Company ofJohn Alden, where he performed inOthello,Macbeth andThe Merchant of Venice andLock Up Your Daughters.^[1]

Two years later, he toured New Zealand inWoman in a Dressing Gown, after which he secured a role as an announcer forNew Zealand Broadcasting Corporation for two years.^[1]

When he returned to Australia, he appeared in stage productions ofInstant Marriage,Robin Hood andSweet Charity.^[1]

Adams appeared inThe Actor Who Laughed at Sydney's Community Theatre (nowMarian 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 theWynyard 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 Australiansoap operaNumber 96 as Andy Marshall from 1974 to 1975 and had a five-week stint in medical soap operaThe 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 seriesCop Shop. The character became a hit with audiences, winning Adams severalLogie Awards. In 1980, he won Best Lead Actor in a Series and in 1981, theSilver 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 inPrisoner as the tough Acting Governor Bob Moran, for three months in 1986. In 1994 he appeared in the television movieHalifax f.p. – The Feeding withRebecca Gibney.^[9]

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

Adams had his own radio show on Melbourne's3AW for 18 months.^[12]

Adams met his first wife, Mary in New Zealand, with whom he returned to Australia after a two year stint working forNZBC.^[1]

After starring together with actressKirsty Child in stage productions ofOut of the Crocodile,Arms and The Man andGaslight at the Community Theatre in Sydney, they began a romantic relationship and were later married.^[5][2]

Adams died from cancer, aged 61, on 13 December 1999.^[2]

• Peter Adams atIMDb

• 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 (state)
• 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

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