Andrew O'Keefe
Andrew O'Keefe | |
|---|---|
 O'Keefe in 2006 | |
| Born | 1 October 1971 Sydney,Australia |
| Other names | A.O.K |
| Years active | 2003–2020 |
| Known for |
|
| Spouse | Eleanor Campbell (div. 2019) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent | Barry O'Keefe(father) |
| Family | Johnny O'Keefe(uncle) |
Andrew Patrick O'KeefeAM(born 1 October 1971) is an Australian former television presenter and lawyer. He co-hosted the weekend edition of breakfast programWeekend Sunrisefrom 2005 until 2017[1]as well as the Australian versions of game showsDeal or No DealandThe Chase Australia.In 2024, he was convicted of drug and domestic violence offences.[2]
Legal career
[edit]O'Keefe worked as an intellectual property lawyer with law firmAllens Arthur Robinson.[3]
Media career
[edit]O'Keefe first started his television career in 2003 inChannel Seven's showBig Bite.Later the same year he began hostingDeal or No Deal,staying for 10 years.
In 2005, O'Keefe co-hosted the tri-network tsunami appealReach Outfor relief efforts around Asia. In the same year, he hosted the short-livedDragons Denand co-hosted the 47thTV Week Logie Awards.[4]
From 2005 to 2017, O'Keefe co-hostedWeekend Sunriseon Saturday and Sunday mornings. He was co-hosting withSamantha Armytagefrom 2007, whenLisa Wilkinsonmoved toToday,until 2013, when Armytage moved to the mainSunriseprogram.[5]Armytage was replaced withMonique WrightonWeekend Sunriseas a result. He also regularly substituted forDavid KochonSunrise.He presented the program for two weeks whilst Koch was on holidays during the summer period of 2013 alongside his formerWeekend Sunriseco-host Samantha Armytage.
From 2007 to 2009, O'Keefe hosted the quiz showThe Rich List.
On 31 May 2013, O'Keefe commenced playing the role ofKing Herodin the Australian tour of theJesus Christ Superstararena show.[6][7]However, on 14 June 2013, he was admitted to hospital with a neck injury requiring surgery and was forced to relinquish the role for the rest of the tour. O'Keefe believed the injury was aggravated during a performance of the show.[7]
In 2015, O'Keefe began presenting Seven's new game show,The Chase Australia.[8]
In December 2017, O'Keefe announced his resignation as co-host ofWeekend Sunriseafter 12 years with the show.[9][1]
O'Keefe's contract with the Seven Network expired at the end of 2020, and he was replaced byLarry EmdurforThe Chase Australia.[10][11]
Honours
[edit]In January 2017, he was appointed aMember of the Order of Australia(AM) for his television and charity work.[12]
Personal life
[edit]O'Keefe is one of five children.[13]His father wasBarry O'Keefe,a judge of theSupreme Court of New South Wales.He is a nephew of the Australianrock and rollsingerJohnny O'Keefe.[14][3]
In 2018 and 2019, Andrew performed some of his uncle's songs in a concert show entitledAndrew O'Keefe Shouts Johnny O'Keefe.[15]
He attendedSaint Ignatius' College, Riverview,[16]and then studied arts and law at theUniversity of Sydney.[3]
O'Keefe was married and has three children. In 2017, the couple separated; in 2019, they divorced.[17]
Community and charity work
[edit]O'Keefe is a former chairman of theWhite Ribbon Australia,an organisation dedicated to the prevention of violence against women.[18]He was one of the founding members of the campaign in Australia and was an ambassador from 2004, prior to the organisation's dissolution in 2019.[19][20]
As a result of his work with the White Ribbon Australia, O'Keefe was appointed to the inaugural National Council for the Prevention of Violence Against Women in May 2008, which drafted the reportTime for Action: Australia's National Plan for Reducing Violence Against Women and their Childrenon behalf of the federal government.[21][22][23]
Arrests and criminal charges
[edit]In January 2021, O'Keefe was arrested and charged withdomestic violenceandcommon assaultagainst his partner. An interimapprehended violence orderwas sought against O'Keefe byNSW Policeon behalf of his partner.[24][25][26]In June 2021, O'Keefe had the charges dismissed as thecommunity magistratefound that he was in a hypomanicbipolarstate when the offending occurred during altercation.[27][28]He was ordered to complete an intensive mental health treatment program.[29]
In September 2021, O'Keefe was arrested by police for domestic violence related offences, including contravening an apprehended violence order and assault.[30][31]Footage was later released during his court session in November 2023 showing O'Keefe hurling abuse at police.[32]In January 2024 he was found guilty of the charges and sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order and three 18-month community corrections orders.[33]
On 27 January 2022, O'Keefe was arrested after he allegedly grabbed a woman by the throat, pushed her to the ground, and punched and kicked her at his sister's unit in Sydney.[34]He was later refused bail after his arrest.[35]
On 11 February 2022, he pleaded guilty to possession of 1.5 grams ofmarijuana.[36]He has a long history of drug abuse, includingcocaineandmethamphetamineabuse.[37]
On 4 May 2022, O'Keefe was denied bail and served five months in jail after failing a drug test.[38]The magistrate said, "There will be a contempt citation unless he retracts and apologises for his behaviour".[39]On 23 May, O'Keefe appeared in theSupreme Court of New South Walesand was granted bail, with strict conditions that he be sent to a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Swan Bay, north of Sydney, for up to a year. Justice Hulme said O'Keefe had long struggled with mental health issues and that rehabilitation was a "good opportunity" for him. He was scheduled to appear before theDowning CentreLocal Court in June 2022 for sentencing after earlier pleading guilty to one charge of possessing 1.6 grams of cannabis.[40]
On 24 November 2022, after months on bail, O'Keefe was arrested again at his Vaucluse home for allegedly breaching his bail conditions.[41]
On 4 April 2023, O'Keefe was arrested after failing anRBTatSydney's Eastern Suburbs.[42]
On 19 August 2023, O'Keefe was arrested for allegedly breaching an apprehended violence order.[43]He was released from jail a few days later.
On 5 December 2023, O'Keefe pleaded guilty after he was charged with drug driving atPoint Piper.[44]
On 28 July 2024, O'Keefe tested positive at a roadside drug test atBellevue Hillin Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. He was later charged withdriving under the influence,and with contravening an apprehended violence order and stalking or intimidating. He was bailed to reappear on 14 August.[45]
Filmography
[edit]| Title | Year | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Big Bite | 2003-2004 | Host |
| Deal or No Deal | 2003-2013 | Host |
| NewsWeek | 2004 | Host |
| Carols in the Domain | 2004 | Himself |
| Weekend Sunrise | 2005-2017 | Host |
| Rove Live | 2005 | Himself |
| Dragons Den | 2005 | Host |
| The Chaser's War on Everything | 2006 | Himself |
| Kath and Kim | 2007 | Himself |
| The Rich List | 2007-2009 | Host |
| TV Burp | 2009 | Himself |
| Stefan and Craig: Slightly Live | 2010 | Himself |
| Review with Myles Barlow | 2010 | Himself |
| 31 Questions | 2012 | Himself |
| Dirty Laundry Live | 2014 | Himself |
| Back Seat Drivers | 2014 | Himself |
| The Chase Australia | 2015-2021 | Host |
| Shaun Micallef's Mad as Hell | 2020 | Himself |
| Beat the Chasers Australia | 2020 | Himself |
References
[edit]- ^abKnox, David (8 December 2017)."Andrew O'Keefe quits Weekend Sunrise".TV Tonight.Retrieved8 December2017.
- ^McPhee, Sally Rawsthorne, Sarah (24 January 2024)."Andrew O'Keefe found guilty of domestic violence, drug possession".The Age.
{{cite news}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^abcWeekly, Lawyers (12 August 2011)."Changing Channels: Andrew O'Keefe on Allens to showbiz".Lawyers Weekly.Retrieved17 December2022.
- ^"Home And Away's Alf in Australia Day Honours".Television.AU.26 January 2017.Retrieved17 December2022.
- ^Vickery, Colin (22 November 2011)."Seven Network's Andrew O'Keefe admits he's restless from Deal or No Deal and Weekend Sunrise".The Daily Telegraph.Sydney:News Limited.Archived fromthe originalon 12 June 2017.Retrieved15 June2013.
- ^Irving, Caitlin (27 February 2013)."Australian tour of Jesus Christ Superstar kicks off in Perth".WAtoday.Fairfax Media.Retrieved14 June2013.
- ^abDoherty, Elissa (14 June 2013)."Andrew O'Keefe pulls out of Jesus Christ Superstar with serious neck injury".news.au.News Limited.Archived fromthe originalon 14 June 2013.Retrieved14 June2013.
- ^Knox, David (18 July 2015)."Media gets on board with AOK to host The Chase".TV Tonight.Retrieved18 July2015.
- ^Hornery, Andrew (8 December 2017)."Andrew O'Keefe quits Weekend Sunrise".The Sydney Morning Herald.Fairfax Media.Retrieved8 December2017.
- ^Knox, David (2 February 2021)."Seven parts company with Andrew O'Keefe".TV Tonight.Retrieved12 February2021.
- ^Bucklow, Andrew (8 February 2021)."The Chase Australia: Larry Emdur tipped to replace Andrew O'Keefe".news.au.News Corp Australia.Retrieved12 February2021.
- ^"Mr Andrew Patrick O'KEEFE".Australian Government.26 January 2017.Retrieved18 August2023.
- ^Beck, Chris (12 January 2006)."Chris Beck talks to Andrew O'Keefe".The Age.Fairfax Media.Retrieved15 June2013.
- ^Leys, Nick (19 November 2012)."Ten questions: Andrew O'Keefe".The Australian.News Limited.Archived fromthe originalon 30 June 2013.Retrieved15 June2013.
- ^Cashmere, Paul (10 July 2018)."Andrew O'Keefe Will Be Johnny O'Keefe For Two Nights Only In Melbourne".Noise11.Retrieved23 April2024.
- ^"Old Ignatians' –".Potentiality Online Communities.Retrieved17 December2022.
- ^Doyle, Erin (24 October 2019)."Andrew O'Keefe says he felt life was" meaningless "after marriage breakdown".Woman's Day.Now To Love.Retrieved17 December2022.
- ^"Appointment of a new Chair of White Ribbon Australia"(PDF).White Ribbon Foundation. 15 May 2013. Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 14 May 2013.Retrieved14 June2013.
- ^Members of National Council to reduce violence against women and children announced | Australian Government 26 May 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2013Archived16 May 2013 at theWayback Machine
- ^Tatham, Harriet (28 January 2022)."Woman bit former TV presenter Andrew O'Keefe to break free of him, court hears".ABC News.Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Retrieved28 January2022.
- ^"White Ribbon Australia | Stop men's violence against women".White Ribbon.3 October 2023.Retrieved19 February2024.
- ^"White Ribbon Breakfast".AnglicareNT.November 2015.Retrieved28 January2022.
- ^"National Plan to Reduce Violence Against Women and Their Children".Department of Social Services.Commonwealth of Australia. March 2009.Retrieved28 January2022.
Time for Action: The National Council's Plan for Australia to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children, 2009-2021
- ^Buckley, John (31 January 2021)."Channel 7 personality Andrew O'Keefe facing domestic violence charge".The Sydney Morning Herald.Nine Entertainment.Retrieved31 January2021.
- ^Parkes-Hupton, Heath (31 January 2021)."Channel 7 star Andrew O'Keefe arrested in Sydney, faces domestic violence charge".news.au.News Corp Australia.Retrieved25 August2023.
- ^"Channel 7 confirms it dumped Andrew O'Keefe".news.au.News Corp Australia.4 February 2021.Retrieved25 August2023.
- ^Mitchell, Georgina (25 June 2021)."Andrew O'Keefe domestic violence charges dismissed on mental health grounds".The Sydney Morning Herald.Nine Entertainment.Retrieved25 June2021.
- ^Shams, Housnia (25 June 2021)."Domestic violence charges against TV personality Andrew O'Keefe dismissed".ABC News.Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Retrieved25 June2021.
- ^Parkes-Hupton, Heath (25 June 2021)."Andrew O'Keefe assaulted ex-partner during argument over 'ice pipe': court told".news.au.News Corp Australia.Archived fromthe originalon 26 June 2021.Retrieved25 June2021.
- ^Zemek, Steve (11 September 2021)."Ex-TV star Andrew O'Keefe facing fresh DV claims".news.au.News Corp Australia.Retrieved12 September2021.
- ^Zemek, Steve (11 September 2021)."Australian TV host Andrew O'Keefe faces fresh domestic violence claims".The New Zealand Herald.NZME.Retrieved12 September2021.
- ^Murray, Duncan (1 November 2023)."'Righteous rage': Andrew O'Keefe abused cops in heated arrest ".Nine News.Nine Entertainment.Australian Associated Press.Retrieved19 February2024.
- ^Lang, Adelaide; Ferri, Lauren (24 January 2024)."TV presenter's 'degrading' attack on woman".news.au.News Corp Australia.Retrieved19 February2024.
- ^Rawsthorne, Sally (26 January 2022)."Former TV host Andrew O'Keefe arrested over allegations he choked woman".The Sydney Morning Herald.Nine Entertainment.Retrieved27 January2022.
- ^Goodenough, Cheryl (8 March 2022)."Ex-TV presenter O'Keefe refused bail".The Northern Beaches Review.Australian Community Media.Retrieved5 April2022.
- ^Noble, Freya (11 February 2022)."Andrew O'Keefe pleads guilty to drug possession".Nine News.Nine Entertainment.Retrieved12 February2022.
- ^"Andrew O'Keefe's journey from TV star to a jail cell".9Now.Nine Entertainment.Retrieved31 March2023.
- ^Knox, David (5 May 2022).""No justice": Court rejects new bail application for Andrew O'Keefe ".TV Tonight.Retrieved17 December2022.
- ^Ferri, Lauren (4 May 2022)."TV host Andrew O'Keefe warned by magistrate after explosion in court".news.au.News Corp Australia.Retrieved25 August2023.
- ^Reddie, Mark (23 May 2022)."Andrew O'Keefe to spend up to a year in rehab to address 'significant descent'".ABC News.Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Retrieved23 May2022.
- ^Ferri, Lauren (24 November 2022)."Former TV host Andrew O'Keefe allegedly failed drug test, breached bail".news.au.News Corp Australia.Retrieved3 December2022.
- ^Meacham, Savannah (5 April 2023)."Andrew O'Keefe update: Embattled TV host charged with drug driving".Nine News.Nine Entertainment.Retrieved26 August2023.
- ^Chung, Laura (20 August 2023)."Andrew O'Keefe charged with breaching AVO".The Sydney Morning Herald.Nine Entertainment.Retrieved20 August2023.
- ^Gramenz, Jack (5 December 2023)."Former TV host enters plea on drug-driving charge".7News.Seven West Media.Retrieved19 February2024.
- ^McKeith, Sam (29 July 2024)."Former TV star Andrew O'Keefe released on bail after stalking and intimidating charge".The Sydney Morning Herald.Retrieved29 July2024.
