Shia LaBeouf: converted to Catholicism, becoming a deacon?

The troubled actor was officially confirmed into Catholicism during a New Year’s Eve mass in 2023. He had converted to the religion in 2022 because, as he said, his “life was on fire.”

In a major twist, the friar who sponsored his confirmation said in an interview with the Catholic News Agency that the actor wanted to become a deacon "sometime in the future." A deacon is a step up from a regular Catholic churchgoer and a bridge between lay people and the clergy.

Image: Bishop Robert Barron / Youtube

Deacons are bound by strong moral codes, meaning he would have to stay faithful in his marriage, or celibate in the case of a breakup. He would also have to prioritize his duties to the Catholic Church over his work, though the two could be combined. Becoming a deacon is a process that takes years and is often a stepping stone to becoming a priest.

Image: Bishop Robert Barron / Youtube

Born to a visual artist mother and a Vietnam veteran father in 1986, Shia LaBeouf gained fame as a child actor, Steven Spielberg’s protégé and then as a controversial and often out-of-control figure. His challenging upbringing, marked by divorce, his father’s addictions, and financial struggles, set the stage for a turbulent life.

At the age of 10, LaBeouf found an outlet in comedy as an escape, performing stand-up in his hometown of LA. That eventually led to his breakthrough role on the popular Disney show 'Even Stevens,' which won him an Emmy and helped bolster his family’s finances.

In 2003, LaBeouf starred in the film 'Holes', catching the attention of influential director Steven Spielberg. This role was a critical stepping stone in his transition from child actor to adult star.

LaBeouf's early adult career was significantly shaped by Spielberg, with prominent roles in blockbusters he directed like 'Transformers' and 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.’

Despite his success, with the Hollywood Reporter saying he was one of the young actors on the verge of making it to Hollywood’s A-list, LaBeouf faced mixed reviews, particularly for his role in the Indiana Jones series. But he began mixing things up, directing and starring in music videos as well as more independent cinema, including films like 'N y m p h o maniac' and 'American Honey.’

In 2019, LaBeouf delved into his turbulent childhood through the film 'Honey Boy,' portraying his own father in the film that he wrote while in rehab himself. He later described the film as "nonsense," saying he “wronged” his father in the big “woe is me” story.

The actor is no stranger to a jail cell. His first arrest was in 1996 for stealing a pair of Nikes and again for stealing two years later. In 2007, he spent two days in jail for fighting with his neighbor and then later for fighting with a security guard in a Walgreens while intoxicated. He was arrested at least six times after that too, according to Page Six.

Image: Mug Shot, 2007

LaBeouf has undergone multiple stints in rehab for addiction issues. One of the earlier instances of him getting out of control was being arrested for public intoxication in 2015 in Texas then two years later in Georgia. He said the 2017 court-appointed rehab and therapy helped him get a dignosis of PTSD and to explore his childhood trauma. But it wasn't the last time he'd be in a clinic for help....

Mug Shot: 2017

In 2020, LaBeouf's ex-partner, musician FKA Twigs (shown), sued him for s e x u a l battery, assault, and infliction of emotional distress, claiming a pattern of abusive behavior during their relationship. LaBeouf stated in his response that he had been "abusive" to himself and those around him "for years" and that he was "ashamed" and "sorry to those [he] hurt.”

But legally denying the allegations, LaBeouf argued against the s e x u a l battery charge and any responsibility for injury or loss, attributing his actions to alcoholism and aggression but not malicious intent.

These allegations and the ensuing legal battle have significantly impacted LaBeouf's career, leading to a hiatus from major film projects and a reevaluation of his professional relationships.

Initially cast in the popular sci-fi film 'Don’t Worry Darling,’ LaBeouf left the project in 2020, after clashes on set with co-stars like Florence Pugh (left). Director and actress Olivia Wilde told Variety she fired him. However, in 2022, he claimed the real reason he left was because of scheduling conflicts.

In the film ‘Padre Pio’ he starred as an Italian priest who was later venerated as a saint. He told the Catholic Register that this role attracted him to Catholicism as he identified with the priest. “The deeper I got into Pio, the more he gave me a very productive, instructive way of moving in the world, coming out of the ‘shame cage,’” he said.

Image: Bishop Robert Barron/Youtube

LaBeouf met the actress Mia Goth in 2012 while working together on a film. They got married in 2016, but divorced in 2018. However, they reconciled, with her reaching out to him in rehab. “I didn’t deserve it, after all the years of nonsense I put her through,” he told Real Ones. In March 2022, they had a daughter, Isabel.

As of early 2024, LaBeouf remains embroiled in legal disputes over these abuse allegations, maintaining his denial of any wrongdoing in his relationship with FKA twigs.

Despite these controversies, LaBeouf is set to appear in Francis Ford Coppola's upcoming epic 'Megalopolis,' indicating a potential comeback in his tumultuous but enduring film career. Let’s see if he’ll find time to become a deacon too (while also raising a young daughter!).

Image: Shia LaBeouf and Francis Ford Coppola on set