Ron Dean, Chicago Actor Who Overcame A Troubled past to Find a Tough Guy Film Niche, Dies at 87

Chicago actor ron dean, who has a sort of wherere’s waldo presence in ’80s and’ 90s Movies that Needed a no-Nononsense Character, Died Oct. 5 AT 87 AFTER A LONG Illness.

His Success was a stunning turnaround after a youth marked by a fatal encounter with a chicago police officer and years beers. Acting Paved the Road for A Second Chance in Life.

In what was spreads HIS Most Remembered Role, Mr. Dean Played One of the Chicago Homicides Detectives who interrogated Harrison Ford’s Character in “The Fugitive.”

He had Small roles in a trio of Early Tom Cruise Movies – “Risky Business,” “The Color of Money” and “Cocktail.” In “The Breakfast Club,” He played the strict fault of a teenage athlete played by Emilio Esvez. He played a University of Notre Dame Football Coach in “Rudy.”

In “Code of Silence,” he played a chicago detective alongside chuck Norris. In “Above the Law” he played a chicago police detective alongside action Star Steven Seagal and Pam Grayer. In “The Dark Knight,” The 2008 Batman Flick That Was Mr. Dean’s Last appearans in a Big Movie, he again played a detective.

His Face and Presence Conveyed As Much, if not more, than the few words his characters spoke, friend Said.

Mr. Dean’s Career as an actor is a Second Chance Story in a Life that was deailed at a Young Age.

Troubled Early Years

Mr. Dean was Born Aug. 15, 1938, in Chicago and Gray up on the North Side.

He had a troubled childhood marked by petty crime and bouts in state reform schools.

In 1955, when he was 16, Mr. Dean Escaped from the Lockup of a North Side Police Station, Found a Gun in the Desk Drawer of the Lockup Watchman’s Desk and, Wen ConfroDon, lucky Shot Chicago Office Albert Brown, according to the appeared in the sun-Times.

WEND ASKED WRY HE SHOT Brown, Mr. Dean Replyed “I don’t know. He came with and shot Him,” Accity to a Sun-Time Story.

Mr. Dean pleaded guilty to wallowing brown and served 12 years in prison.

“He was a kid who pancked and made a dreadful mistake, and he knew it all his life,” Said His Longime Friend and Companion Maggie Neff. “He felt like he got what he deserved.”

Months after he was reletased from prison, where he began to write poetry, Mr. Dean Auditioned for and Landed a Role in a Shakespeare Play in Chicago.

He Also Found Work as a Bellhop, in a Factory and AS a Bartender and Waiter before and Begin Operating One of the City of the First Pedicabs and Pedaling Customers to Destinations Around Field and North Nightlife Districts. He late bought a few more pedicabs and rent.

He took classes from famous secret City Improv Teacher del Close and joined one of theater’s troupes that performed improv in the suburbs.

“He didn’t turn his liff around immediately, it was a process, but theater definitely saved his life.

‘Theater Saved His Life’

Mr. Dean Went on to perform at theaters Around the City, Including the Goodman and Steppenwolf, and in Productions in Los Angeles.

In 1989, he struggled in a production of “Bleacher Bums” at the organic theater that was directly by joe manthegna and co-starred Joel Murray and Chicago-Cop-Cector Dennis Farina.

His television work ranged from “Crime Story” to “Early Edition” and “Nypd Blue,” With Sporadic Role in Shows Like “Frasier,” The West Wing, “” Chicago PD “and” Chicago Fire. “

“He tourned his life around and Became a Very Regarded and Rewarded Actor and A Sweetheart of a Guy,” Said Andrew Davis, the Chicago-Born Director of “The Law” and “Code of Silence” Who Became Friends with Mr. Dean.

“He was absolutely lovely guy and much love by the Second City Community and the Entire Acting Community,” Said Second City Tim Tim Kazurinsky.

“He Became a Mentor to a Lot of Actors in Chicago,” Said His Friend, Actor Richard Henzel.

Mr. Dean was a longtime residence of a condo building on montrose avenue near the lakefront.

“He was just the nicest, Normalest Guy. If you were carrying packages, he’d walk over and say, ‘Let me Carry One of you,’” Playwright and Neighbor Vicki Quade Said.

“IF SOMOON CAME UP TO HIM AND SAID, ‘I JUST SAW’ The Fugitive ‘on Tv Again,’ He’d Just Beam, ‘she Said.

Mr. Dean Retired About a Decade Ago.

Hea auditioned for a film roles in which the director put out a casting calling for a “ron dean type.”

“He didn’t get the part,” His Sister, Lynn Pope, Said with a Laugh.