Quick Facts
Biography
Adam Steven Deacon (born 4 March 1983) is an English film actor, rapper, writer and director.He is best known for his lead role in the films Kidulthood, sequel Adulthood and for his directorial debut, Anuvahood. Convicted in 2015 of harassment without violence against fellow actor Noel Clarke, he is also awaiting trial on threatening members of the public with a machete.
Career
Deacon was brought up by his English mother in Stoke Newington, Hackney. His father is Moroccan, and walked out on the family when he was two years old, and to this date the pair have never had any contact.
Although his acting career began with guest appearances in Bill's New Frock, Shooters, Ali G Indahouse and The Bill he also starred in the ITV drama Wall Of Silence in 2004. Deacon's breakthrough came when he landed a starring role in the urban drama film Kidulthood. He then worked with Kidulthood writer Noel Clarke on a number of other projects until 2011, including the sequel Adulthood, 4.3.2.1, and the one-off television pilot West 10 LDN.
Deacon co-wrote, co-directed and played the lead role in urban comedy Anuvahood. Following this, Time Out magazine labeled Deacon "The New Face of Youth Cinema". In February 2012, he won the BAFTA Rising Star Award.
Deacon has since appeared in many lead and supporting roles in feature films, including Bonded by Blood, Jack Falls, Shank, Everywhere and Nowhere and Payback Season. He had a guest role in Victim. In November 2012, he co-hosted the Music of Black Origin Awards telecast with Miquita Oliver where Deacon played a comical part in the awards.
Legal problems
In January 2015, he was arrested after police were called to reports of a man reportedly armed with a machete style knife and threatening members of the public in London. He was unable to attend a hearing in March due to being "in hospital for treatment for underlying mental health issues" and the case was adjourned until 30 April.
In July 2015 he was found guilty of harassment without violence at West London Magistrates' Court, having waged a two-year campaign of abuse on social media against fellow actor Noel Clarke. Clarke and Deacon had been friends since 2003, but after he had given Deacon parts in his films Kidulthood and Adulthood, in 2011 Deacon signed a deal with another company to make his film Anuvahood, and cut Clarke out of the project. Clarke then received a barrage of abuse from Deacon, including accusations that he had sabotaged Deacon's career, which Clarke stated was not true. On 20 July Deacon was found guilty. The court, which heard that Deacon had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had been self-medicating using skunk cannabis, banned Deacon from contacting Clarke again.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Bill's New Frock | Rohan |
| 2002 | Shooters | Drug Runner (uncredited) |
| Ali G Indahouse | East Staines Massiv | |
| 2006 | Kidulthood | Jay |
| Wilderness | Blue | |
| 2007 | Sugarhouse | Ray |
| 2008 | Adulthood | Jay |
| 2010 | Shank | Kickz |
| 4.3.2.1 | Dillon | |
| Bonded by Blood | Darren Nicholls | |
| 2011 | Jack Falls | Hogan |
| Anuvahood | Kenneth | |
| Everywhere and Nowhere | Zaf | |
| 2012 | Payback Season | Jerome Davies |
| Outside Bet | Sam | |
| Victim | Zhartash | |
| Comedown | Jason | |
| 2014 | Montana | Pitt |
| 2016 | To Dream | Easy |
| 2017 | The Bromley Boys | Herbie Lane |
Television
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2001 | London's Burning | Kevin (Series 13, Episode 3) |
| Spaced | Fighter | |
| 2003 | The Bill | KB (2 Episodes) |
| Is Harry on the Boat? | Tyler | |
| A Touch of Frost | Darryl Stephens (Episode: "Another Life") | |
| Spooks | Billy (Episode: "Clean Skin") | |
| 2004 | Wall of Silence | Aaron Cole |
| 2005 | Sugar Rush | Darren (Series 1, Episode 1) |
| The Ghost Squad | Rakesh Homaine (Series 1, Episode 1: "One of Us") | |
| 2006 | The Bill | Billy Aldridge (7 Episodes) |
| Casualty | Tyrell Cate (2 Episodes: "The Sunny Side of the Street", Parts 1 & 2) | |
| 2007 | Dubplate Drama | Bones (Series 2, 6 Episodes) |
| Katy Brand's Big Ass Show | Himself (2 Episodes) | |
| Alan & Samir | Samir | |
| 2008 | West 10 LDN | Nathan |
| One of Those Days | Angel Steward | |
| Love Soup | Hooded Thief (Episode: "Smoke and Shadows") | |
| Dead Set | Space (5 Episodes) | |
| 2009 | Grownups | Lewis (Episode: "Me Me Me") |
| Being Human | Marco (Episode: "Bad Moon Rising") | |
| Casualty | Jed Francis (Episode "Stand By Me") | |
| Gunrush | Jello | |
| Criminal Justice | Drug Dealer (Series 2, 3 Episodes) | |
| 2010 | Phone Shop | Paul Mohammad (Episode: "Doctor Who") |
| 2011 | The Boarding School Bomber | Isa Ibrahim |
| Casualty | Jed Francis (Episode: "Secrets and Lies") | |
| 2012 | Celebrity Juice | Himself (Panellist) |
| The Royal Bodyguard | Hart (Series 1, Episode 2: "The Seige of Blenheim Square") | |
| Britain Unzipped | Himself (Panellist) | |
| Can We Trust the Police? | Narrator | |
| Gates | Calvin (Series 1, Episode 4) | |
| 2014 | Inside No. 9 | Si (Series 1, Episode 4: "Last Gasp") |
| Babylon | Robert 'Robbie' Bass (7 Episodes) | |
| In Deep | Jimmy Swan | |
| 2016 | Suspects | Ajam Kamar (Series 5, Episode 1: "The Enemy Within, Part 1") |
| Dropperz | Flashman | |
| Casualty | Himself (Episode: "Not in Holby Anymore") |
Music videos
| Year | Artist | Song | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | Plan B | "Bizness Woman" | Beatboxer |
| 2009 | Professor Green | "Before I Die" | Ambulance driver |
| "Hard Night Out" | Drummer | ||
| Bashy | "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" | Himself | |
| 2010 | Chipmunk | "Chip Diddy Chip" | |
| 2012 | Bashy | "London Town" | |
| 2012 | Angel featuring Misha B | "Ride or Die" from Time After Time (Remixes) - EP | Group Therapy Attendee |
Discography
Singles
- "Keep Moving" (with Bashy, featuring Paloma Faith) (2010)
- "Hype Hype Ting" (with Boy Better Know and JME) (2011)
- "Do It" (featuring Professor Green) (2011)
- "People's Champion" (2012)
- "Flying High" (2012)
- '"Solder" (2013)