BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

It’s not every day that Hollywood headlines point to divine intervention—but Nick Shakoour’s story is unlike most. Known for his role as Zebedee in the hit faith-based series The Chosen, Shakoour’s journey into Christianity reads more like a spiritual thriller than a typical celebrity memoir. 

In his new autobiography, Transformer: Awakening From A Spiritual Coma, the actor offers a deeply personal account of how a terrifying demonic attack and a powerful God encounter led him to unwavering faith.

Originally from Lebanon, Shakoour had long carried questions about the purpose of life. Though surrounded by spiritual influences—including a grandfather who was a spirit-filled Greek Orthodox priest—he often found himself at a spiritual crossroads. 

That all changed during a church conference in Texas, a place he believes God led him through his work on The Chosen. “I thought I was just coming out here to work,” Shakoour shared. “But I ended up in the middle of something much bigger.”

His transformation didn’t begin in a sanctuary or on a sound stage—but in a moment of fear. En route to the conference, Shakoour says he experienced a tangible, low-energy demonic presence that left him physically frozen. 

The sensation of being swallowed alive shook him deeply. By the time he arrived, he was broken, disarmed, and desperate for answers. What followed can only be described as supernatural.

In an empty arena after the conference, a group of nine believers gathered around Shakoour and began to pray over him. What started as skepticism turned into something he could feel in his bones—literally. As prayers were lifted, especially in tongues, Shakoour said he felt his very cells begin to vibrate.

“It was like I was in a massage chair,” he recalled. “There was this force outside of me, growing larger and stronger. My whole body was shivering. I knew something beyond human understanding was happening.”

He described the sensation as overwhelming, frightening, and transformative. In that moment, Shakoour believes he received the Holy Spirit—not as an idea or a tradition, but as a real, living presence.

He questioned whether this spiritual awakening had started when he was baptized as a child. But an intercessor clarified: “It may have rested on you then. Now, He’s resting in you.”

 That moment reframed everything for the actor. The Jesus he had heard about for years was suddenly real—alive, powerful, and personal. The prayer, the shaking, the presence—it all made sense. Shakoour finally understood why so many believers were so passionate about their faith.

Today, he hopes Transformer will help others experience the same awakening. Written in a dynamic, comic-book inspired style, the memoir invites readers to explore faith through a lens of supernatural realism.

“I want people to know God isn’t far off,” he said. “He’s right here—if you’re willing to look.”

*Cover Photo/Thumbnail Photo from IMDb