Adam Deacon

Adam Deacon
Deacon at the BAFTA Awards in February 2012
Born	(1983-03-04) 4 March 1983 Hackney, London, England
Occupation	Actor, writer, director, rapper
Years active	1995–present
Criminal charge	Harassment without violence[1]
Criminal status	Guilty, awaiting sentencing[1]

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,^[2] sequel Adulthood and for his directorial debut, Anuvahood. Convicted in 2015 of harassment without violence against fellow actor Noel Clarke,^[1] he is also awaiting trial on threatening members of the public with a machete, for which he was sectioned under the Mental Health Act.^[3]

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.^[4]

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.^[5] Following this, Time Out magazine labeled Deacon "The New Face of Youth Cinema".^[6] 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.^[7]

Legal problems

In January 2015, he was arrested and sectioned under the Mental Health Act after police were called to reports of a man reportedly armed with a machete style knife and threatening members of the public in London.^[3] 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 April 30.^[3]

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 July 20, Deacon was found guilty.^[1]

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

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)

References

External links

• Adam Deacon at the Internet Movie Database
• – Film review: Adulthood, The Scotsman
• – Dizzee Rascal on Adulthood soundtrack
• Guardian interview with Deacon. "Adam Deacon: 'I was too street and too scary for directors'" 19 February 2012.
• "Adam Deacon: Streetwise star who knows the score". Interview with the Independent. 22 February 2012