Peter Overton is mourning the loss of his father, Dr John Herbert Overton AM, who has died aged 88.
The former anaesthetist’s death was reported on September 26, according to an obituary which described him as a doctor whose “compassion and skill touched and saved so many lives”.
Overton had spoken openly about his close relationship with his father, describing him in a 2020 interview with 9Honey as “the most beautiful human being”.
“I ring him and we chat about the day,” Peter told 9Honey, revealing they spoke “every single night”.
John also played an important role in his son’s career. When Peter was a teenager with an interest in people and storytelling, his father was working as an anaesthetist at Royal North Shore Hospital.
With the hospital supported by Sydney radio station 2UE at the time, Peter asked his father if he could help him secure work experience.
“I asked Dad, I think I was 15, if he could ask the boss of 2UE, if I could do some work experience,” Peter explained in an interview with TV Tonight in September.
“From that moment, I went in every weekend for several years, for 12 hours a day for free, collating sports results and learning radio.
“I remember I got on air about 17 or 18 and and I thought, ‘This is for me! I love this, and I love stories! I love information. I love being able to write about it.’ That’s where it all began.”
Peter went on to build a decades-long career in Australian television and news, recently marking 35 years with Channel Nine.
His wife, Jessica Rowe, is understood to be supporting him as he grieves the loss.The couple have been married since 2004 and share two daughters.
“Pete is understandably heartbroken, but Jess is helping him take things one day at a time,” a source told Woman’s Day. “They’re leaning on each other and are determined to get through this together.”
“His dad was someone Pete could always turn to, and they shared a really close relationship,” the source continued.
“This is understandably a huge loss for him. Pete really looked up to his dad and valued his advice enormously. They could have a laugh together, but there was also so much love and respect between them.”
Image: Nine
