‘40 years plus’: Big call on O’Keefe’s future

Embattled TV host Andrew O’Keefe can “100 per cent be back on TV” and turn his life around, a showbiz expert has declared, after the star’s drug-fueled downfall.

The former Deal or No Deal host was sentenced earlier this year to a 30-month community corrections order, contingent on engagement with rehab, and $2500 in fines.

It marked the end of a years-long saga for the former Weekend Sunrise presenter, who pleaded guilty at Waverly Local Court to multiple mostly drug-related offences.

The sentencing did not come without a lashing from Magistrate Jacqueline Milledge who, having heard O’Keefe’s cases multiple times, issued a stern warning to him.

“You have been given lots of opportunities to do something about your use of drugs,” she said.

“I can assure you the next step is jail. I’m not just saying that, I absolutely mean it.

“It’s got to the state where the court would believe you just can’t be rehabilitated.”

For publicist and celebrity manager Max Markson, the end of O’Keefe’s lengthy legal fight, with multiple drug convictions, represented the start of his next step.

“He can 100 per cent be back on TV. He can get back to the limelight. He can rebuild his career. He can be successful,” Mr Markson said.

“People love someone who’s gone bad and gets good again, and that’s what he’s got ahead of him.

“So, he’s gonna have a great future – a great future.”

Upon completion of his rehab, Mr Markson said the former White Ribbon ambassador would “do charity work” to earn back the good graces of the public.

“That’s something that’s really important to rebuild his life from the ground up, and that’s what he’ll do,” he said.

“He’ll do some charity work, he’ll enjoy that. He’ll love it, and he’ll rebuild whatever his life will be.

“He’ll definitely have success again. People will want him, and people will forgive the past.”

Mr Markson was confident Mr O’Keefe would succeed, and prove himself to the public and potential employers.

“He’ll do whatever he wants to do. He’s got the success gene, and he’s had a lifetime of that, and he will continue,” he said.

“He’s young. He’s got another 40 years plus to go for it, so it’s not an issue. People make mistakes in their life, and they rebuild and start again.

“This is great talent. It really is great talent … He’ll rebuild his entire life, and that’s a great opportunity for him to succeed.”

O’Keefe began his professional career as an intellectual property lawyer before beginning his 10-year stint hosting Deal or No Deal in 2003.

From 2005 until 2017, the 52-year-old co-hosted Weekend Sunrise, with stints hosting Dragons Den, the Logies, and The Rich List.

He was made a Member of the Order of Australia and was an ambassador for violence against women prevention charity, White Ribbon Australia.

That was before his years-long legal drama kicked off in January 2021 when he was charged withtwo charges of common assault and assault occasioning bodily harm.

The charges were dismissed on mental health grounds andhe was ordered to undertake mental health treatment, but was back in court on similar charges in September.

During sentencing in 2024, the court was told O’Keefe had got into an argument with a woman.

The woman said O’Keefe pushed her against a door, injuring her wrist and hand, before kicking her and digging his nails into her skin.

She told police he then told her “good riddance” and tried to spit on her as she left.

The incident was described later in court as a “degrading” attack, with a judge sentencing O’Keefe to three 18-month community corrections orders.

In October, O’Keefe returned to Waverly Local Court where he pleaded guilty to possessing a prohibited drug.

He was also convicted and sentenced over two counts of contravening an AVO, entering enclosed lands without a lawful excuse, and driving with an illicit drug in his system, though no pleas were entered.

The charges were in relation to O’Keefe having meth in his car outside Rose Bay police station, driving with drugs in his system, and breaching an AVO.

His lawyer, Jahanan Kalantar, told the court at the time that O’Keefe was at “what we say is the final crossroads”.

He said there was “no more serious” lesson than his client almost dying from a drug overdose earlier this year.

Addressing the magistrate, O’Keefe said he “truly believed” he could “offer something back to the community again”.

Asked about his children, who the court was told O’Keefe had a strained relationship with, he said they were “the dearest things in my life”.

“They’re wonderful and I want to be there for them and I understand now that there’s no drug in the world that’s going to allow that to happen if it’s in my life,” he said.