Peter Bensley

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Peter Bensley
Born (1954-02-06) 6 February 1954 (age 70)
NationalityAustralian
Occupation(s)Actor, author
Years active1973–present
Known forDr. John Austin in The New Adventures of Black Beauty
Chief Inspector Jeff Hawker in
Water Rats
Andrew Teigan in
Mirror, Mirror
Dr Mike Newman in
The Young Doctors
Matt Delaney in Prisoner
Andrew Foley in Home and Away

Peter Bensley (born 6 February 1954, Warialda, New South Wales) [1] is an Australian actor.

Contents

Career

Television

One of Bensley's earliest roles was as Dennis Braithwaite on the Seven Network drama series Class of '74 . He also appeared in ABC Television children's show, Waterloo Street.

Bensley appeared in several Grundy Television soap operas including The Restless Years (1979); The Young Doctors as Dr. Mike Newman (from 1980 until the show finished in 1983); Prisoner as one of the three male prisoners, Matt Delaney (for 34 episodes in 1984); Neighbours (1986) as Tony Chapman; [2] and Home and Away (1988 to 1990) as school teacher Andrew Foley. [3] In 2009, he returned to Neighbours for a two-episode guest role as Dean Naughton. [2]

In 1992, Bensley appeared as Dr. John Austin in the Australian miniseries The New Adventures of Black Beauty . In 1995, he appeared in the Australian/New Zealand co-production Mirror, Mirror , as Andrew Teigan, father of Jo Teigan.

Bensley also appeared in the long-running television series Water Rats about the Sydney Harbour Water Police Squad, in which he had the major role of Chief Inspector Jeff Hawker for the entire series run (1996–2001).

Film

After The Young Doctors was cancelled, Bensley played the title role of Stanley Dunstan in the 1984 comedy film Stanley . [4] He had to have his hair cut short for the role and he did his own stunts. [4] Bensley appeared in the 2020 romantic comedy Romance on the Menu .

Advertisements

In the 1980s, Bensley appeared as a nude centrefold in the magazine, Cleo, wearing only strategically placed scuba gear. He also featured in a cheeky advertisement for Palmolive Gold, in which he is seen in bed with fellow The Young Doctors actress Judy McBurney, and semi-naked in a shower.

Author

His first fiction book, On a Wing and a Prayer, was published in 2006.

Personal life

Bensley and his partner have 3 children.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984 Stanley StanleyFeature film
2010TangerineAlexShort film
2017 Don't Tell Karen's FatherFeature film
2020 Romance on the Menu Dale WhitelyFeature film

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1975 Class of 74 Dennis BraithwaiteSeries regular
1976 Rush Patsey O'HalloranEpisode: "Welcome Back Sergeant McKellar"
1978 Chopper Squad VinceEpisode: "A Pride of Lions"
1978Tickled PinkPennyEpisode: "The Family Business"
1979 The Restless Years TV series
1979 Cop Shop Gary SinclairEpisode 186
1980–1983 The Young Doctors Dr Mike NewmanSeries regular
1984–1985 Prisoner Matt DelaneyRecurring
1986 Neighbours Tony Chapman Recurring
1988–1990 Home and Away Andrew Foley Recurring
1991–1994 G.P. Dean NoonanEpisodes: "Nowhere to Run", "Ties of the Blood"
1992 Round the Twist Mr ShelfordEpisode: "Nails"
1992 Police Rescue Phil DorrickEpisode: "The Hard Way"
1992 The Time Game Electricity ServicemanTV film
1992–1994 The New Adventures of Black Beauty Dr. John AustinRecurring
1994 Ship to Shore Taxi DriverGuest
1994 Paradise Beach Martin TaylorEpisode 130
1995 Mirror, Mirror Andrew TieganSeries regular
1996–2001 Water Rats Chied Inspector Jeff HawkerSeries regular
1997 Roar AlwynEpisode: "The Eternal"
2001 Corridors of Power Mail ManRecurring
2009Neighbours Dean Naughton Guest
2009–2010 Packed to the Rafters DerekRecurring
2010 Cops LAC Chief SuperintendentEpisode: "The Killer Wore Sneakers"

As director

YearTitleNotes
1992 Steam Across the Mountain

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References

  1. "Actors' Birthdays - Reference and Information - Home and Away". Backtothebay.net. 15 April 2007. Retrieved 8 July 2017.
  2. 1 2 "Peter Bensley reunites with the Neighbours". Holy Soap. 10 July 2010. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2024.
  3. Brown, David (8 April 1989). "Showdown!". TV Week . p. 2.
  4. 1 2 "Can Stanley save soap star's career?". TV Week . 24 March 1984. p. 25.