# Jack Deam

**Jack Deam** (born Ian Deam, 1972) is an English actor from Oldham, Lancashire, best known for playing Marty Fisher in the [Channel 4](https://www.edgepedia.org/channel-4) comedy-drama *[Shameless](https://www.edgepedia.org/shameless-british-tv-series)* and Inspector Mallory in the BBC series *Father Brown*.<sup>[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/jack_deam/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=13286)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1972, Oldham, Lancashire, England; birth name Ian Deam<sup>[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/jack_deam/)</sup> |
| Signature role | Marty Fisher in *Shameless*, series 1–4 and 8–11 (2004–2013)<sup>[3](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/shameless-where-are-they-now)</sup> |
| Longest recurring role | Inspector Mallory in *Father Brown*, 64 episodes, 2016–2022<sup>[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212675/)</sup> |
| Other recurring roles | DC Ken Blackstone in *DCI Banks* (series 1–5)<sup>[5](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-149241/filmografia/)</sup> |
| Recent work | DI Les Hanley in *The Long Shadow* (2023); Arlo Jones in *Lazarus* and Aristide Foulon in *Maigret* (both 2025)<sup>[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212675/)</sup> |
| Career size | 48 acting credits listed by TV Guide<sup>[6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jack-deam/credits/3000079113/)</sup> |

## Shameless and early television

Deam played Marty Fisher, a character with [Tourette syndrome](https://www.edgepedia.org/tourette-syndrome), in the Channel 4 series *Shameless* from its first series in 2004 through series 4, returning for series 8, 9, 10, and 11 as the show ran to 2013.<sup>[3](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/shameless-where-are-they-now)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[7](https://www.archytele.com/person/jack-deam)</sup> His earlier television work includes *Soldier, Soldier* (1991, as Fusilier Vinny Bowles), *Heartbeat*, *Queer as Folk*, *Hillsborough*, *The Young Poisoner's Handbook* (1995, as Mick), and *Clocking Off*.<sup>[6](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jack-deam/credits/3000079113/)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[1](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/jack_deam/)</sup>

## Recurring drama roles

**Police dramas.** Deam played DC Ken Blackstone across all five series of *DCI Banks* (2010–2016)<sup>[5](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-149241/filmografia/)</sup>. In *[Father Brown](https://www.edgepedia.org/father-brown-2013-tv-series)*, the period mystery series starring [Mark Williams](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-williams-actor), he played Inspector Mallory from 2016 to 2022 over 64 episodes, his longest single role on record<sup>[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212675/)</sup>. He also appeared in *Silent Witness* (2005–2021, in two roles), *Vera* (2023), and *Ridley* (2022)<sup>[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212675/)</sup>.

**Recent work.** In 2023 he played DI Les Hanley in the seven-part miniseries *The Long Shadow*, about the Yorkshire Ripper investigation<sup>[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212675/)</sup>. In 2025 he appeared as Arlo Jones in the miniseries *Lazarus* and as Aristide Foulon in *Maigret*<sup>[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212675/)</sup>.

## Film

His film credits include *London to Brighton* (2006, as Paul), *Heart* (1999), and the television movie *Agatha and the Curse of Ishtar* (2019, as archaeologist Leonard Woolley)<sup>[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jack_deam_4)</sup>.

## References

1. [Jack Deam, British Comedy Guide](https://www.comedy.co.uk/people/jack_deam/)
2. [Jack Deam, TVSA](https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=13286)
3. [Shameless, where are they now?, Channel 4 Press](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/shameless-where-are-they-now)
4. [Jack Deam, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0212675/)
5. [Jack Deam: Filmografía, SensaCine](https://www.sensacine.com/actores/actor-149241/filmografia/)
6. [Jack Deam List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jack-deam/credits/3000079113/)
7. [Jack Deam: Movies, TV Shows & Biography, archytele](https://www.archytele.com/person/jack-deam)
8. [Jack Deam Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jack_deam_4)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames D to E*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 20, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Sep 20, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license