Felix Dean played VJ Patterson in beloved Australian soap Home and Away between 2007 to 2014, before the role was recast and Matt Little took on the famous character
Throughout the years, the Australian soap opera Home and Away has introduced a lot of young actors to television audiences, including Felix Dean.
Between 2007 and 2014, Felix played VJ Patterson, and the rising star was recognised with two prizes for his exceptional work.
However, after leaving the show, he has experienced a string of arrests, and the young star has since served time in prison for his misdeeds.
Here, Daily Star takes a closer look at the life of Home and Away child star Felix Dean.
Life before Home And Away
Fans of soap operas may recognise Felix Dean as VJ Patterson from Home And Away, but did you know that he first gained notoriety on another TV program?
He first made an appearance in the TV miniseries Jessica when he was seven years old. Later, in 2006, he played Todd McFarlane in All Saints, and in 2007, he made an appearance in Comedy Inc.
But in the same year, he was cast in his most well-known role, which he played as VJ Patterson on the television series Home and Away from 2007 to 2014.
He became famous because of the soap opera, but he was also recognised for his work by being named Best Young Actor at the Inside Soap Awards in 2008 and 2009.
He also made appearances in several TV commercials and the 2011 Bondi Pavillion Theatre production Bondi Dreaming.
The young actor reportedly hasn’t appeared in an acting project since leaving Home And Away, when his character was replaced by Matt Little.
Arrests
Between 2020 and 2021, Felix was detained four times for offences that included ramming his car through a security gate and causing more than $7,624.93 (£4247.95) in damage.
According to The Daily Mail, the actor entered a plea of guilty to wilful property damage and was given a nine-month conditional release order.
They continued, saying that Felix was detained again after the incident for assaulting an Uber driver, breaking a homeowner’s window, and failing to follow a Covid-19 directive.
After being detained, the actor was given bail with stringent requirements, such as observing a curfew until 6 o’clock at night and submitting to sporadic drug and alcohol testing.
Digital Spy, however, claimed that he was detained in prison detention in October 2021 following an alleged attack on a store owner.
Felix later showed up in court in 2022 and entered a guilty plea to charges of shoplifting, two counts of reckless property damage, affray, assault with the intent to rob, being armed with the intent to commit an indictable offence, and assaulting police.
“Double-edged sword of fame” and jail time
According to The Daily Mail, Felix’s attorney claimed that the actor’s early fame from Home And Away had been a “double edged sword” throughout his childhood during the sentencing hearing.
The court heard that he started using drugs at the age of 15 while acting in the soap, which, according to his attorney, led to “the nonsensical behaviour that he was engaging in” and “a long-standing addiction to quite debilitating substances.”
Additionally, the attorney pleaded with the court to let Felix leave jail and check into a residential treatment center, arguing that his addiction was to blame for his “spontaneous” actions.
They reportedly told the court: “Mental health is such a significant factor and he has a limited criminal history,” according to News.com.au.
He wasn’t a part of an organised or planned criminal gang; instead, his drug addiction caused it to happen spontaneously. However, he needs to address his mental health and addiction issues.
When asked about Dean’s request to enter a rehabilitation facility, Magistrate Alison Viney acknowledged that he had a “significant drug and alcohol problem” that contributed to the violent offenses, but she added, “Where the court has provided opportunities in the past, he has not only relapsed, he has committed further serious offenses.”
Instead, the magistrate denied the request for bail in order to pursue rehabilitation, stating that “the protection of the community was the court’s top priority.”
Felix later received a total sentence of 19 months in prison with an 11-month no-parole period.
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