# Peter Bensley

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

## 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; and Home and Away (1988 to 1990) as school teacher Andrew Foley. In 2009, he returned to Neighbours for a two-episode guest role as Dean Naughton.
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. He had to have his hair cut short for the role and he did his own stunts. 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

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Stanley | Stanley | Feature film |
| 2010 | Tangerine | Alex | Short film |
| 2017 | Don't Tell | Karen's Father | Feature film |
| 2020 | Romance on the Menu | Dale Whitely | Feature film |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1975 | Class of 74 | Dennis Braithwaite | Series regular |
| 1976 | Rush | Patsey O'Halloran | Episode: "Welcome Back Sergeant McKellar" |
| 1978 | Chopper Squad | Vince | Episode: "A Pride of Lions" |
| 1978 | Tickled Pink | Penny | Episode: "The Family Business" |
| 1979 | The Restless Years | | TV series |
| 1979 | Cop Shop | Gary Sinclair | Episode 186 |
| 1980–1983 | The Young Doctors | Dr Mike Newman | Series regular |
| 1984–1985 | Prisoner | Matt Delaney | Recurring |
| 1986 | Neighbours | Tony Chapman | Recurring |
| 1988–1990 | Home and Away | Andrew Foley | Recurring |
| 1991–1994 | G.P. | Dean Noonan | Episodes: "Nowhere to Run", "Ties of the Blood" |
| 1992 | Round the Twist | Mr Shelford | Episode: "Nails" |
| 1992 | Police Rescue | Phil Dorrick | Episode: "The Hard Way" |
| 1992 | The Time Game | Electricity Serviceman | TV film |
| 1992–1994 | The New Adventures of Black Beauty | Dr. John Austin | Recurring |
| 1994 | Ship to Shore | Taxi Driver | Guest |
| 1994 | Paradise Beach | Martin Taylor | Episode 130 |
| 1995 | Mirror, Mirror | Andrew Tiegan | Series regular |
| 1996–2001 | Water Rats | Chied Inspector Jeff Hawker | Series regular |
| 1997 | Roar | Alwyn | Episode: "The Eternal" |
| 2001 | Corridors of Power | Mail Man | Recurring |
| 2009 | Neighbours | Dean Naughton | Guest |
| 2009–2010 | Packed to the Rafters | Derek | Recurring |
| 2010 | Cops LAC | Chief Superintendent | Episode: "The Killer Wore Sneakers" |

### As director

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 1992 | Steam Across the Mountain |