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.
Career Phelps 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 the 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 miniseries 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 to 1990, Phelps played one of the lifeguards (Trevor Cole) in the first season of Baywatch, and had a minor role as a surfer 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".
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 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. The same year, 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. The campaign included both television and radio advertisements and was subsequently adopted by the Tasmania Fire Service.
In 2021, Phelps appeared in Channel 7’s series Australia's Sexiest Tradie.
In 2023 Phelps appeared in Channel 7 soap Home and Away as Gary Morrow. Phelps also appeared in the theatre play La Cage aux Folles. Phelps in 2024 appeared in 7plus series Roast Night which was written by his co-star Rick Donald. Phelps was later announced to appear in ABC series Return to Paradise.
Personal life In 2015, Phelps was one of many victims who were scammed by financial advisor Brad Sherwin who stole more than $400,000 of Phelps' superannuation.
Acting credits
Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1981–1982The Restless Years Kevin Ryan 6 episodes 1981–1993 A Country Practice Chris / Hector / Jeff 10 episodes 1982–1984 Sons and Daughters John Palmer 421 episodes 1984 The Cowra Breakout Terry Moyes Miniseries, 5 episodes 1986 Prime Time TV series 1986–1987 The Challenge Will Baillieu Miniseries, 2 episodes1988 Australians Les Darcy Anthology series, episode 1: "Les Darcy" The Dirtwater Dynasty David Eastwick Miniseries, 5 episodes Rock 'N' Roll Cowboys Eddie TV movie 1989 Baywatch: Panic at Malibu PierTrevor Cole TV movie 1989–1990 Baywatch 21 episodes 1990 Rafferty's Rules James Frederick 1 episode1992 Chances David Hensen 1 episode The Young Riders Hack Wilkins 1 episode 1993 G.P. Sam Hill 1 episode 1993–1994 R.F.D.S Dennis Taylor 13 episodes 1994 Heartbreak High Phil North 4 episodes1995 Fire Nick Connor 13 episodes Blue Murder Graham 'Abo' Henry Miniseries, 2 episodes1996 Police Rescue Alex Willis 3 episodes The Feds: Betrayal Brian Petrie TV movie1997 One Way Ticket Mick Webb TV movie Reprisal Borodin TV movie 1998 Water Rats Jimmy Formica 3 episodes 1998–2004 Stingers Peter Church 192 episodes 2005–2007 All Saints Doug Spencer 16 episodes 2006 Small Claims: The Reunion Paul Lloyd TV movie 2007 Chandon Pictures Eddie Connolly 2 episodes 2009 Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities Detective Inspector Joe Messina 13 episodes 2009–2011 Rescue: Special Ops Vince Marchello 48 episodes 2012, 2022–present Home and Away Alan Henderson / Gary Morrow 28 episodes 2013 Mr & Mrs Murder Paul Craven 1 episode 2013–2015 Wonderland Warwick Wilcox 23 episodes2014 Modern Family Wise Australian 1 episode Old School Malcolm Dwyer 8 episodes 2017 Blue Murder: Killer Cop Graham 'Abo' Henry 1 episode2019 Blue Water Empire Commanding Officer TV series Les Norton Mick Matthews 1 episode 2020 Drunk History Australia Lee Robinson / Olympic Crowd 1 episode 2021 Australia's Sexiest Tradie Boss Man Wayne 6 episodes2024 Roast Night Wayne Turner 6 episodes Return to Paradise Vince TV series, 1 episode Plum Mo Hanlon 2 episodes 2025 Optics Rob Ryan TV series
Film YearTitleRoleNotes 1983 Undercover Theo 1986 Playing Beatie Bow Judah Bow / Robert Bow1987 The Lighthorsemen Dave Mitchell Starlight Hotel Patrick 1988 Breaking Loose: Summer City II Ross Cameron 1989 Maya Peter 1991 Point Break Aussie Surfer 1993 Merlin John Pope1995 Rough Diamonds Dozer Brennan Blackwater Trail Frank 1996 Zone 39 Leo Megaw 2001 Lantana Patrick Phelan 2002 Teesh and Trude Rod 2003 Ned Kelly Constable Lonigan 2006 Footy Legends Billy Major 2007 Without Warrant The Buyer2008 The Square Jake Forever Strong Referee 2009 Stone Bros. The 'New Age' Copper 2010 Caught Inside Skipper Joe2016 Embedded Cassidy Drone Blake 2019 Locusts Sgt Harvey2021 Beverley Short film Him Neil Espers
Stage YearTitleRoleNotes 1983–1985 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Master Percy Crummles / Alphonse / Westwood Theatre Royal Sydney, State Theatre, Melbourne, Festival Theatre, Adelaide with The Australian Opera, STC, MTC & J. C. Williamson's 1985 The Club Phillip Street Theatre, Sydney 1992 The Sum of Us Jeff Mitchell Wharf Theatre, Sydney with STC 1995 Miranda by Stephen Sewell Frank Wharf Theatre, Sydney with East Coast Theatre Company 2004 Twelve Angry Men Juror 4 Playhouse, Brisbane, Sydney Theatre, Melbourne Athenaeum with Adrian Bohm Presents & Arts Projects Australia 2005 Love Letters Andrew Makepeace III NIDA Parade Theatre, Sydney 2011 Stainless Steel Rat Film Producer Seymour Centre, Sydney with Wayne Harrison's Cheep 2012 Let the Sunshine Ron NSW & SA regional tour with HIT Productions & Playing Australia2014 Cruise Control Darren Brodie Ensemble Theatre, Sydney A Conversation Uncle Bob The Concourse, Sydney 2023 La Cage aux Folles Edouard Dindon Playhouse, Melbourne with David M. Hawkins & Arts Centre Melbourne
Awards and nominations Year Category Award Series Result 1993 AFI Award Best Actor in a Leading Role in a TV Drama G.P. 2002 FCCA Award Best Male Supporting Actor Lantana 2002 Logie Awards Most Popular Actor Stingers 2014 Equity Ensemble Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Wonderland
Writings
Books 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
Magazine contributor Harper's Bazaar
References
External links
Peter Phelps at the National Film and Sound Archive