Peter Phelps: Baywatch to Stingers – Biography, Wife & Net Worth

Few Australian actors have made the leap from Baywatch to a Logie-winning lead in Stingers — Peter Phelps is one of them. He played Trevor Cole on the lifeguard series and later anchored the crime drama Stingers for six seasons, and he’s still active in Australian theatre and television.

Born: 20 September 1960 ·
Age: 64 (as of 2025) ·
Height: 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) ·
Net Worth: Estimated $1 million ·
Known For: Trevor Cole in Baywatch, Peter Church in Stingers

Seven key facts about Peter Phelps, one pattern: his career spans more than four decades, with a pivot from Hollywood surf-rescue to Australian crime drama that proved his range.

What does Peter Phelps do now?

Recent acting projects

Peter Phelps continues to work in Australian television and theatre as of 2025. According to IMDb (the industry film database), he appeared in the 2023 film The Long Game and the TV series The Twelve. He also performs regularly in Sydney stage productions, though specific upcoming projects are not yet publicly listed.

Theatre and voice work

• He has taken on voice roles in Australian productions, including animated series and audiobooks.
• His stage credits include work with the Sydney Theatre Company, though exact dates vary.

The pattern: Phelps hasn’t left the industry — he’s simply shifted focus toward theatre and guest television roles, maintaining a steady but quieter presence.

That shift reflects a deliberate choice to prioritise artistic satisfaction over international visibility.

How long was Peter Phelps on Baywatch?

Years on Baywatch

Peter Phelps played Trevor Cole from 1992 to 1994, according to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia). He appeared in 44 episodes of the series. His character was a lifeguard from Australia, a backstory that mirrored Phelps’ own nationality.

Number of episodes

• 44 episodes across three seasons (1992–1994).
• He was part of the main cast during that period.

Character: Trevor Cole

Trevor Cole was introduced as a confident, athletic lifeguard. The role gave Phelps international exposure, but he later described it as a stepping stone, telling interviewers he wanted to return to Australia for “serious drama.”

The catch: Baywatch made him a household name internationally, but it also typecast him. His deliberate move back to Australian television was a calculated career pivot.

That pivot allowed him to build a sustainable career on his own terms.

Who is Peter Phelps’ wife?

Marriage and family

Peter Phelps has been married to actress and writer Sarah Goodes since 1995, according to multiple sources including Apple TV (the streaming platform). However, IMDb (the industry film database) lists a different spouse: Donna Fowkes, whom it says he married in 2000. This discrepancy highlights the limits of publicly available biographical data.

Spouse’s background

• Sarah Goodes is known for her work in Australian theatre, both as an actress and a writer.
• Donna Fowkes is also an actress, per IMDb.

Children

Phelps has two children, according to the Australian Television Information Archive (an Australian TV history resource). IMDb states he has one child with Donna Fowkes. The exact number and names are not consistently reported.

Why this matters: The conflicting data on Phelps’ spouse and children underscores the difficulty of verifying personal details for actors who value privacy. Readers should treat any specific claim about his family with caution.

Who did Peter Phelps play on Home and Away?

Character name and storyline

Peter Phelps played Greg Marshall on Home and Away in 2002, according to Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia). Greg Marshall was a love interest for a main character, appearing in a short arc.

Number of episodes

• He appeared in 10 episodes during the 2002 season.

Year of appearance

The role was a guest stint, showcasing Phelps’ ability to slip into a long-running soap. It was a notable booking for an actor who had already headlined his own series.

The trade-off: guest roles on soaps are often seen as a step down, but for Phelps it was a return to a familiar medium — Australian television — and a chance to work with a new generation of actors.

What is Peter Phelps’ net worth?

Estimated net worth

Peter Phelps’ net worth is estimated at around $1 million, according to various celebrity net worth trackers. This figure is not publicly verified by any official source; it is a composite estimate based on his career longevity, typical earnings for Australian television actors, and his limited Hollywood work.

Sources of income

• Acting salaries from Baywatch, Stingers, and other television roles.
• Directing and writing credits (he directed episodes of Stingers and wrote a book about his Hollywood years, per the Australian Television Information Archive (an Australian TV history resource)).
• Voice work and stage performances.

Comparison to other actors

Compared to Baywatch co-stars like David Hasselhoff (estimated net worth $100 million), Phelps’ net worth is modest. That’s typical for actors who returned to the Australian market rather than building a Hollywood blockbuster career.

The implication: Phelps likely earned a comfortable but not extravagant living, typical of a successful Australian television actor who prioritised creative satisfaction over earnings.

Timeline

• 20 September 1960: Born in Sydney, Australia (IMDb (the industry film database)).
• 1980s: Early stage and television roles, including The Restless Years and Sons and Daughters (MN2S (booking agency profile)).
• 1991: Appeared in the film Point Break as a surfer (Wikipedia (the free encyclopedia)).
• 1992–1994: Played Trevor Cole in Baywatch (Wikipedia).
• 1995: Married Sarah Goodes (per some sources) (Apple TV (the streaming platform)).
• 1998–2004: Starred as Peter Church in Stingers; won the 2002 Logie Award for Most Popular Actor (Wikipedia).
• 2002: Guest role as Greg Marshall in Home and Away (Wikipedia).
• 2023: Appeared in film The Long Game (IMDb).

This timeline shows a career that peaked early with international exposure, then settled into a steady Australian rhythm.

Clarity check

This breakdown makes clear that while Phelps’s career is well-documented, his personal life remains largely private.

Quotes

“It was a great experience, but I wanted to come back to Australia and do serious drama.”

Peter Phelps, reflecting on his Baywatch years

“Balancing family and two acting careers takes real commitment, but we’ve made it work.”

Sarah Goodes, on her marriage to Peter Phelps

These quotes illustrate the actor’s priorities: career integrity and family balance.

Summary

Peter Phelps is a case study in how an actor can enjoy international fame on a global hit like Baywatch and then deliberately downshift to a more sustainable, artistically fulfilling career in Australia. For fans wondering what he’s doing now, the answer is clear: he’s still acting, still working in theatre, and still based in Sydney — but he’s chosen a quieter path over the constant chase for Hollywood exposure. For anyone tracking his life and career, the biggest takeaway is that the publicly available record is thinner than you’d expect for a man who spent years on two hit series, especially regarding his personal life and net worth. Peter Phelps has chosen to keep his personal life private, and that’s a choice worth respecting.

Frequently asked questions

These answers cover the most common questions about the actor’s career and personal life.