Dean Winters
Dean Winters
Dean Winters is an American actor. Best known for his role as Ryan O'Reily on the HBO prison drama Oz, he has also appeared on such television series as Rescue Me, 30 Rock, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as the character "Mayhem" in a series of Allstate Insurance commercials. Winters co-starred with Josh Duhamel in one season of the CBS Network series cop drama Battle Creek...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionTV Actor
Date of Birth20 July 1964
CityNew York City, NY
CountryUnited States of America
On a show like 'Oz,' I was wearing Dickies and a cut-off shirt and a gold cross.
I grew up in New York, and I've always been surrounded by fashion. My grandmother used to write for 'Vogue' in the '50s, and my mother was a dancer and a model.
I've definitely become more aware of the penal system and more aware of what life could be like inside a prison.
New York being the greatest walking city in the world, I tend to walk everywhere as long as I am afforded the time.
I have yet to do a job where I would really get to rock the great clothes. I'd love to do a job where I could wear Thom Browne.
My brother and I worked in eight bars as the brother bartenders.
School and I never seemed to walk hand in hand.
I never go into a scene - ever, ever, ever - thinking, I have to make myself more empathetic toward the audience. Once you start doing that, you get into really dangerous territory. I think you start to become kind of untrue to the character.
If I ever go onstage at the Oscars, you can guarantee I'll be wearing my motorcycle boots.
I've always been drawn to stories involving brothers, which started with my first viewing of Sean Penn's, 'The Indian Runner.' This subsequently lead to my working with my two brothers, Scott & Brad. I couldn't imagine a greater gift in the business.
I've been in scenes with my brother where I've been absolutely emotionally terrified to go somewhere. But because he's my brother, I feel safe.
I've done a few jobs out there for the money, and I find those jobs have come back to haunt me.
I'm not a big fan of shopping. I certainly am a fan of clothes, and especially people that put time into the construction of them.
Unfortunately, in the Hollywood way, respect comes in the form of a trophy a lot of the time.