In 2009, Dean Winters experienced cardiac arrest for five minutes. Now, he’s best known for playing “Mayhem,” a character who represents unexpected misfortune, selling insurance for the company, Allstate.
Throughout his career, Winters has played the leading man in shows such as Oz (Ryan O’Reily), Rescue Me (Johnny Gavin), Battle Creek (Russ Agnew), and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (Brian Cassidy). He’s also had many recurring roles on various TV series, like Divorce, Wayne, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Life on Mars, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and 30 Rock, where his comedic portrayal as “Dennis Duffy” earned him recognition from the likes of Variety and Entertainment Weekly, as well as nominations from the Golden Derby Awards and the Online Film & Television Association. Other notable guest appearances include John Wick, CSI: Miami, NYPD Blue, American Gods, Sex and the City, and more.
With credits like these, he never saw himself doing advertisements. But after his agent encouraged him to take the role, he became one of the most recognizable actors on television, bringing in millions for his short snippets. And although he’s played Mayhem for over a decade, just a year after the campaign was launched, Allstate won around eighty awards for the marketing tactic.
Winters has also been seen in films, from the major blockbuster, PS, I Love You, to starring across Yasmine Bleeth in the ‘90s rom-com, Undercover Angel. He’s even had a hand at horror, appearing in the direct-to-video scary movie, Hellraiser: Hellseeker.
When Winters isn’t in front of a camera, he can occasionally be seen doing stand-up comedy. He’s worked the same stages of industry icons like Paul Reiser, Chris Rock, and Jerry Seinfeld.
