Andrew O'Keefe’s bio: age, family, career, teeth, is he still in jail?
Numerous high-profile people have found themselves in the dreaded fall from grace. TV star Andrew O'Keefe is one of them. Andrew is a renowned Australian television show host, the son of a supreme court judge and the nephew of one of Australia's rock legends. O'Keefe's rise to fame was quite remarkable, as was his eventual fall from grace. What happened to The Chase Australia presenter?
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Andrew is best known for his television hosting roles on The Chase Australia and Deal or No Deal, some of the most popular game shows in Australian TV history. Here is a quick look at his personal and professional details.
Profile summary
Full name | Andrew Patrick O'Keefe |
Gender | Male |
Date of birth | 1 October 1971 |
Age | 50 years old (as of 2022) |
Zodiac sign | Libra |
Place of birth | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
Current residence | Swan Bay, Sydney, Australia |
Nationality | Australian |
Ethnicity | White |
Religion | Christianity |
Sexuality | Straight |
Height in feet | 5'10" |
Height in centimetres | 178 |
Weight in pounds | 154 |
Weight in kilograms | 70 |
Hair colour | Dark brown |
Eye colour | Dark brown |
Andrew O'keefe's father | Barry O'Keefe |
Mother | Janja O'Keefe |
Siblings | Sophie, Philip, Vanessa, and Roger |
Marital status | Divorced |
Ex-wife | Eleanor O'Keefe |
Children | Barnaby, Olivia, and Rory |
Profession | TV presenter |
Net worth | $19 million |
Andrew O'Keefe's Bio
The Australian TV presenter was born on 1 October 1971 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This makes him 50 years as of 2022. Andrew was born to Janja and Barry O'Keefe and spent his childhood alongside his four siblings, Sophie, Philip, Vanessa, and Roger. His father, Barry, was a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.
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Is Andrew O'Keefe related to Johnny O'Keefe?
Yes, Johnny was Andrew O'keefe's uncle. John Michael O'Keefe was a renowned Australian rock and roll singer whose career began in the 1950s. Some of his top hits include Wild One, Shout! and She's My Baby.
Career
Andrew began his television career in 2003 when he was named the host of the Deal or No Deal show. This reality television series features a game in which a contestant must choose one of 26 boxes for the ultimate cash prize.
After Deal or No Deal ended, O'Keefe was named the new host of The Chase Australia. The show occupied the 5:00 pm slot previously occupied by Deal or No Deal. This role was followed by others in a period that saw Andrew become one of the best-known television show hosts in Australia.
Departure from television
When did Andrew O'Keefe leave The Chase? Following his divorce from his wife Eleanor, the TV presenter decided to leave his position in late 2019 and focus on his mental health. Speaking about his departure, Andrew stated that he had to address a long-term health crisis that had been bugging him for a long time.
At the time of his departure, he was awarded an Order of Australia for his work on television and in the charity space. His role as a former ambassador for anti-domestic violence played a huge part in the award.
Filmography
Here is a look at the films and TV shows in which O'Keefe has appeared.
Film/TV show | Year | Role |
That's Not Me | 2017 | Summer Street 'John Davidson' |
It's a Dole Life | 2014 | Stevie Maxwell |
FH2: FagHag2000 | 2012 | Host |
The Chase Australia | 2015-2021 | Host |
Deal or No Deal | 2003-2013 | Host |
Hamish & Andy | 2004 | Various characters |
Big Bite | 2003-2004 | Various Characters |
Who was Andrew O'keefe's wife?
Who was O'keefe's wife? The Australian TV host was previously married to a woman called Eleanor. The two had three children together: Barnaby, Olivia, and Rory. In 2017, Eleanor and Andrew parted ways, citing personal reasons. They remained separated until 2019, when they had their divorce finalized.
What happened to Andrew O'Keefe's teeth?
There were rumours that O'Keefe had a new set of teeth fixed by a dentist while on tour to Thailand. However, these reports were never confirmed.
Arrest and charges
Why was Andrew O'Keefe in jail? The TV star's run-ins with the law began when he was accused of assaulting a photographer. These first charges were dismissed six months after when O'Keefe was found to have bipolar disorder and had to undergo treatment.
Two months after the charges were dismissed, O'Keefe was at it again. This time, he was arrested again on assault charges and contravening an apprehended violence order. Then, at the beginning of 2022, he was locked up on accusations of grabbing a woman by the throat, pushing her to the ground and kicking her repeatedly. This allegedly happened at O'Keefe's Sydney apartment.
The victim stated that she had to bite O'Keefe for him to let go of her. At the time, the TV star was also found in possession of cannab*s. He pleaded guilty to the drug possession charges but denied the assault, claiming everything he did was in self-defence.
He was eventually held in remand for a month before being released on bail.
Getting sent to a rehabilitation centre
In May 2022, Andrew was granted bail by the NSW Supreme Court. However, part of the conditions for the bail included getting himself checked into a rehabilitation centre for up to 12 months. After numerous bail applications had been denied, O'Keefe finally had a sigh of relief when Justice Hulme eventually granted bail.
The judge stated that the rehabilitation centre would help alleviate Andrew's 'significant descent into an erratic and chaotic lifestyle foreign to what he has experienced well into his adult years.' He was picked up from the prison by his brother, Philip.
What is Andrew O'Keefe doing now?
The popular TV host now spends his days at a rehabilitation centre in Swan Bay, in north Sydney. This was part of his bail agreement with the NSW Supreme Court. He will reportedly remain at the centre for up to a year, pending review.
What is Andrew O'Keefe's net worth?
According to Idolnetworth, Andre's current net worth is estimated to be $19 million. This is largely from the income he earned as a television host on numerous shows over the years. However, this is not an official net worth figure.
Fun facts
Here are some interesting facts about the renowned TV host.
- He admitted to self-medicating with methylamphetamine
- His television career lasted over 17 years
- Every morning, he reminds himself that he is a good man.
Andrew O'Keefe is inarguably one of the most popular television game show hosts in Australia. He spent more than 17 years at the helm of some of Australia's best-known TV game shows. Still, his life off the screen saw him plunge into a descent, eventually landing him in a rehabilitation centre.
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Briefly.co.za recently published an article about the length of a life sentence in South Africa. While one might assume that a life sentence means imprisonment till death, that is rarely the case. Various actors come into play when sentencing offenders for life, including the nature of criminal cases.
Most life sentences stipulate the number of years one must remain in prison before being considered for parole. This means a person might be serving 30-year life imprisonment while another is serving a 40-year one. How long is life imprisonment in South Africa today?
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Priscillah Mueni (Lifestyle writer) Priscillah Mueni is a lifestyle and entertainment content creator with more than 4 years of experience. She graduated from Meru University of Science and Technology with a Bachelor of Technology in Civil Engineering in 2019. In 2023, Priscillah finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques. She has been writing articles on Briefly.co.za since 2019. Email: pshmueni@gmail.com
Jackline Wangare (Lifestyle writer) Jackline Simwa is a content writer at Briefly.co.za, where she has worked since mid-2021. She tackles diverse topics, including finance, entertainment, sports, and lifestyle. Previously, she worked at The Campanile by Kenyatta University. She has more than five years in writing. Jackline graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics (2019) and a Diploma in Marketing (2015) from Kenyatta University. In 2023, Jackline finished the AFP course on Digital Investigation Techniques and Google News Initiative course in 2024. Email: simwajackie2022@gmail.com.