Dean Winters

Dean Winters is an American actor renowned for his intense and often morally complex television roles. He first gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of inmate Ryan O'Reily on the critically acclaimed HBO prison drama Oz. His career spans notable roles in series such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, 30 Rock, and Rescue Me, alongside his iconic role as the personification of "Mayhem" in a long-running series of commercials for Allstate.

Early life and education

Dean Winters was born on July 20, 1964, in New York City, and was raised alongside his brother, actor Scott William Winters, in a working-class neighborhood. He attended Power Memorial Academy, a now-closed Catholic school in Manhattan, where he developed an early interest in performance. After high school, Winters pursued various jobs, including work as a bouncer in Greenwich Village and a stint with the United States Postal Service, before committing to an acting career. He studied his craft at the William Esper Studio, a well-regarded institution for Meisner technique training, under the mentorship of renowned acting teacher William Esper.

Career

Winters' breakthrough came in 1997 when he was cast as the cunning and manipulative Ryan O'Reily on Tom Fontana's groundbreaking HBO series Oz, a role he played for the show's entire six-season run. This led to a prolific career in television, including a recurring role as Detective Brian Cassidy on NBC's Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, appearances as Dennis Duffy on Tina Fey's 30 Rock, and a stint as Johnny Gavin on the FX drama Rescue Me. He starred in the short-lived ABC series The Nine and later led the BBC America crime drama Copper, playing Kevin Corcoran, an Irish-American police detective in 1860s New York City. From 2014 to 2019, he portrayed Warden Leo Glynn on the CBS series The Michael J. Fox Show and Mike Tyson on the Starz network's Power. A significant part of his public profile stems from his work in advertising, where since 2010 he has played the destructive force "Mayhem" in a highly successful campaign for Allstate, a role that earned him an Effie Award and multiple Clio Award nominations. His film work includes roles in The Devil's Own, P.S. I Love You, and John Wick.

Personal life

Winters maintains a relatively private personal life but is known to be an avid fan of the New York Yankees and the New York Giants. In 2009, he survived a near-fatal bout with sepsis following a severe infection, which resulted in the amputation of a finger and two toes, an experience he has discussed publicly to raise awareness about the condition. He resides primarily in New York City and is a supporter of several charitable organizations, including the Sepsis Alliance. His brother, Scott William Winters, is also an actor known for roles in Good Will Hunting and The Iceman.

Filmography

A selected list of Winters' acting credits includes the film The Devil's Own (1997), the television movie A Tale of Two Bunnies (2000), and a guest role on Sex and the City (2000). His major television series roles are Oz (1997–2003), Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999–2001, 2011–2013), 30 Rock (2006–2013), Rescue Me (2007–2011), The Nine (2006–2007), Copper (2012–2013), and Power (2018–2019). He also appeared in episodes of New York Undercover, Homicide: Life on the Street, and Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Awards and nominations

For his performance on Oz, Winters was nominated for a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Television Film in 1999. His work as the "Mayhem" character for Allstate has been recognized with an Effie Award (2015) and multiple nominations for Clio Awards. He and the advertising campaign also received a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Commercial in 2011.

Category:American male television actors Category:Actors from New York City Category:1964 births Category:Living people