Phelps began his acting career in the early 1980s with an ongoing role in the
Network Ten teen soap opera
The Restless Years produced by the
Reg Grundy Organisation. After the series ended he had a starring role in new
Grundy soap opera
Sons and Daughters. It was Phelps who came up with the 'Pat the Rat' moniker in the series. In 1988, he had a brief role in the miniseries
The Dirtwater Dynasty. Peter featured as David Eastwick, the first-born son of the main character Richard Eastwick, played by
Hugo Weaving (who is fewer than six months older than Phelps). From 1989 to 1990, Phelps played one of the lifeguards (
Trevor Cole) in the first season of
Baywatch, and had a minor role as a surfer in the film
Point Break. He also had roles in
A Country Practice and
The Flying Doctors. In 1993, Phelps won an
Australian Film Institute Best Actor Award for his role in the
G.P. episode, "Exposed". From 1998 until 2004, he starred in
Stingers – a role that won him the 2002
Logie Award for Most Popular Actor. Phelps also played a recurring role as doctor Doug 'Spence' Spencer on the medical drama
All Saints, starting 4 October 2005. In 2009, Phelps appeared in two television dramas –
Underbelly: A Tale of Two Cities, playing Detective Inspector Joe Messina; and as Vince Marchello (Station Co-ordinator) in
Rescue: Special Ops. The same year, he also had a role as a police officer in the film
Stone Bros. In 2009, he appeared in a new public awareness campaign by the
NSW Rural Fire Service about the need to prepare for bushfires. The campaign included both television and radio advertisements and was subsequently adopted by the
Tasmania Fire Service. In 2021, Phelps appeared in
Channel 7’s series ''
Australia's Sexiest Tradie.'' In 2023 Phelps appeared in Channel 7 soap
Home and Away as Gary Morrow. Phelps also appeared in the theatre play
La Cage aux Folles. Phelps in 2024 appeared in
7plus series
Roast Night which was written by his co-star
Rick Donald. Phelps was later announced to appear in
ABC series
Return to Paradise. == Personal life ==