Phillip AdamsAustralian journalist, presenter, producer, writer
Date of Birth: 12.07.1939
Country: Australia |
Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Advertising Success and Journalism
- Rise to Prominence as a Broadcaster
- Film and Writing Endeavors
- Awards and Honors
- Personal Life
Early Life and Education
Phillip Andrew Hedley Adams was born on November 23, 1939, in Maryborough, Victoria, Australia. The only child of Reverend Charles Adams, a Congregationalist minister, Adams's parents divorced during his childhood. He later criticized his father as a "sociopath" and wrote that he spent his late childhood defending his mother from his father's abuse.
Forced to leave school and find work, Adams took his first job at an advertising agency. At age 16, he joined the Communist Party but left disillusioned within three years. Subsequent employment at the advertising firm Foote Cone & Belding led him to collaborations with Brian Monahan and Lyle Dayman, resulting in the establishment of Monahan Dayman Adams.
Advertising Success and Journalism
As an advertising executive, Adams achieved significant financial success, becoming a millionaire through campaigns such as "Life - Be In It," "Slip, Slop, Slap," and "Guess whose mum has a Whirlpool." He left the industry in the 1980s.
Known for his incisive writing, Adams became a columnist for The Age and The Bulletin, while also writing bi-weekly for The Australian. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, he hosted a late-night radio program on Sydney station 2UE.
Rise to Prominence as a Broadcaster
Adams's broadcasting career reached its zenith with his role as host of Late Night Live on ABC. Known for his sharp wit and ironic humor, Adams challenged listeners with his inquisitiveness and deep exploration of controversial issues. As host, he interviewed thousands of the world's leading politicians, historians, archaeologists, writers, theologians, economists, and philosophers.
Film and Writing Endeavors
During the 1970s, Adams played a pivotal role in the revival of the Australian film industry. As chairman of the Film, Radio and Television Board, as well as the Australian Film Institute, he produced over ten films, including the Cannes Grand Prix-winning Jack and Jill: A Postscript. Other notable projects include the drama Don's Party, the melodrama Lonely Hearts, and the animation film Grendel Grendel Grendel.
A prolific writer, Adams has authored over two dozen books. His work has appeared in influential publications worldwide, including The Times, The Financial Times, and The New York Times. He currently writes a weekly column for The Australian's News Limited.
Awards and Honors
Recognized for his contributions to journalism, broadcasting, writing, and filmmaking, Adams has received numerous awards, including the Human Rights Medal, the Henry Lawson Arts Award, the United Nations Media Award, and the Responsibility in Journalism Award. He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 1987 and an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1992.
Adams holds honorary professorships from several universities, including the University of Sydney and the University of South Australia.
Personal Life
Phillip Adams is married to Patrice Newell and has four daughters. He resides on Elmswood estate in the Hunter Valley of New South Wales, with a second property in the Sydney suburb of Paddington. Known for his collection of ancient artifacts, Adams focuses on Egyptian, Roman, and Greek sculptures and antiquities.