Jeroen Perceval (44) was born in the diamond capital of the world: Antwerp. As an aspiring actor, he made his first film appearance in 2007 in Dagen Zonder lief by Felix Van Groeningen. International audiences may recognize his portrayal as the dark character Diederik Maes in Michaël R. Roskam’s Oscar-nominated feature debut Bullhead.

Years later, Perceval’s writing talents were put on display in Robin Pront’s successful feature D’Ardennes. Next, Perceval took on the challenge to write and direct his first feature film, Dealer. This jarring movie shows a special bond formed between Johnny, a fourteen-year-old drug dealer who tries to build himself up, and an old actor Antony, who still chases after his long-lost youth, losing himself in drugs, alcohol, and sex. Johnny who is fatherless and takes care of his psychotic mother finds in Antony, a daddy figure.

In the Fall of 2021, Dealer celebrated its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in Austin. Perceval’s directorial debut was warmly received by the Texas crowd and also garnered attention from Tinseltown. Soon after, Perceval happily signed with not one, but two of the largest agencies in Hollywood, Management 360 and agent CAA.

“It’s a dream come true and a great honor to join the list of many other talented Belgians,” he told VRT. Mathias Schoenaerts, Lukas Dhont, Felix Van Groeningen, and director duo Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah have previously been represented by the agency. “I think Hollywood executives had a taste for the emotional storyline and the visual aspect.”

The tale holds many parallels with Perceval’s own turbulent life. The actor-director struggled with a drug and alcohol addiction for over ten years. “I was only twelve when I first got introduced to drugs and alcohol,” he told Touché in October. “The first time it completely got out of hand, I was fourteen. You know, some people can have a drink and can stop after three drinks. I am someone who will taste or try something and completely lose myself in the experience. I couldn’t stop.”

At the age of 24, the actor decided to turn his life around and get help. He entered a rehabilitation program and is proud to have been sober ever since. “When I look back, I realize that my theatre school turned out to be a very good place for me. It’s there that I met people who showed me new ways of being, I owe a lot to some wonderful teachers I had for they taught me the joy of playing. Acting gave me some sort of purpose,” he said.

Perceval’s dark gangster psychological thriller received critical acclaim at the Oostende Film Festival 2022. With 14 nominations, Dealer set an absolute record in the history of the Ensors, the most important Flemish film and television awards. The film went home with 9 statues, including the Ensor for Best Film. Jeroen Perceval, won two Ensors himself: one for Best Director and another for Best Screenplay. “I am happy and honored to be blessed with all these awards,” said Perceval to VRT in Oostende. “It’s an incredible feeling to be celebrated by your peers. Writing screenplays is an art in itself. Much respect for all nominees in this category.”

One could say Perceval is a man of many talents: he has also made two hip-hop records under his stage name kRaMer. He also produced two albums, ‘Droomt & Waakt’ and ‘Beestje’. “Rapping, acting, directing, and writing… I love it all but at the moment my preference goes to directing and writing. To transform a script into a movie is pretty cool,” he said.