Remi Adeleke (born August 11, 1982, in Nigeria) is an American writer, actor, director, producer, and former U.S. Navy SEAL whose multi-faceted career spans military service, bestselling books, and Hollywood film and television. After emigrating to the Bronx, New York with his family as a child, Adeleke overcame early adversity to enlist in the U.S. Navy in 2002, ultimately serving as a Navy SEAL specializing in combat medicine and human intelligence before retiring in 2016 and transitioning into the entertainment industry.

Adeleke made his screen debut as an extra on The Last Ship, which led to more substantial acting roles in major studio films, including portraying a TRF lieutenant in Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) and appearing in Michael Bay’s Netflix action-heist film 6 Underground (2019). He gained further recognition with a supporting role as Wade in the Universal thriller Ambulance (2022) and as Shellback in the Lionsgate action film Plane (2023). On television, Adeleke has been seen in recurring roles, including Terrell “Tee” Daniel on Amazon Prime Video’s The Terminal List (2022), and as a host and instructor on reality-based series such as Special Forces: World’s Toughest Test (2023- ), where his real-world military experience informs the show’s rigorous challenges.

In addition to acting, Adeleke is an accomplished writer and filmmaker. He wrote and directed the 2022 short film The Unexpected, which dramatizes stories of terrorism, human trafficking, and organ harvesting, marking his directorial debut. As an author, his memoir Transformed: A Navy SEAL’s Unlikely Journey from the Throne of Africa to the Streets of the Bronx to Defying All Odds became a bestseller and helped establish him as a motivational public speaker and thought leader. In 2023, he expanded his literary work with the release of Chameleon: A Black Box Thriller, the first in a planned series rooted in his expertise with special operations and intelligence. Adeleke has also developed projects for television, including adapting Slave Stealers as a limited series and partnering on feature documentary work exploring themes of heroism and resilience.

While he has not yet received major industry awards for his film work, Adeleke’s unique trajectory from decorated military service to impactful storyteller and presence in both scripted and unscripted entertainment marks him as a distinctive voice in Hollywood. As of early 2026, he continues to act, write, and produce, with a growing slate of narrative and non-fiction projects that reflect his commitment to authentic storytelling and advocacy for veterans, leadership, and human rights.