Arnold Oceng

Arnold Oceng, sometimes known as Snakeyman, is a Ugandan‑born British actor and singer whose career spans over two decades across television, film, and stage. Born on 30 November 1985 in Uganda, he fled with his family to Brixton, South London when he was just one year old, growing up amidst the vibrant multicultural tapestry of the capital city, which later informed his artistic sensibilities and choice of roles that often highlight diaspora experiences. From a remarkably early age he demonstrated a passion for performance, appearing as “King Herod” in a school play at Corpus Christi Roman Catholic primary school and debuting on television at six years old as Calvin Braithwaite in the long‑running BBC drama Grange Hill, a role he sustained for 73 episodes between 1999 and 2004. His early exposure to the rigors of serial television equipped him with a strong work ethic that propelled him into a succession of guest appearances on British staples such as Casualty, The Bill, and Sold, while he simultaneously honed his craft in independent cinema with notable performances in Adulthood (2008), 4.3.2.1., and My Brother the Devil. In 2014 he broke into Hollywood opposite Reese Witherspoon in The Good Lie, marking his first major U.S. production and showcasing his versatility on an international stage. Subsequent roles in A United Kingdom (2016), the Danish biopic The Greatest Man, and the gritty thriller Brotherhood cemented his reputation as a compelling character actor, earning him a nomination for Male Performance in Film at the Screen Nation Awards and a win for Best Supporting Actor at the National Film Awards UK in 2017. Beyond acting, Oceng continues to explore music under his nickname Snakeyman, blending his Ugandan roots with contemporary British sounds, and remains an influential figure for aspiring artists navigating the complex intersections of identity, migration, and creative expression.