Andrew O'Keefe
A sharp-witted television host whose rise to weekday fame on game shows was dramatically overshadowed by a public fall from grace.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Australian television presenter·Birthday: October 1·Generation X
Biography
Andrew O'Keefe presented a polished, affable image to Australian audiences for over a decade. A lawyer by training, he transitioned to television, first as a co-host on 'Weekend Sunrise' where his legal mind and quick humor found a natural home. His big break came as the host of the local version of 'Deal or No Deal,' where his charm turned the game into a nightly ritual. He later brought a quizmaster's authority to 'The Chase Australia.' For years, O'Keefe was a familiar, friendly face in living rooms. This made his subsequent, highly publicized legal troubles—involving charges of drug possession and domestic violence—all the more shocking. His swift exit from broadcasting marked a stark and cautionary end to a once-promising media career.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Andrew was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Andrew Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Andrew's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Hosted the Australian version of 'Deal or No Deal' for its entire run from 2003 to 2013.
- Served as the original host of 'The Chase Australia' from its 2015 launch until 2020.
- Co-hosted the 'Weekend Sunrise' breakfast program on the Seven Network for twelve years.
Did You Know?
He is the son of former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, Barry O'Keefe.
O'Keefe was a champion debater at the University of Sydney, where he studied law.
Before television, he worked as a solicitor for a major Australian commercial law firm.
“The law is about words, and so is television; it's all communication.”
