Ron Dean
Biography
Ron Dean was an American film and television actor who was born on August 15, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois, and died on October 5, 2025, at the age of 87. Also known as Ronald Charle, he built a career with 57 known acting credits. His film work included appearances in Rudy, Risky Business, The Breakfast Club, Cocktail, The Babe, The Fugitive, The Client, and The Dark Knight. In television and film, he was known for frequently playing detectives and other law-enforcement characters. His most notable television role was Detective Marion Zeke Crumb in the television show Early Edition.
Career overview
Ron Dean was an American film and television actor who was born on August 15, 1938, in Chicago, Illinois. Also known as Ronald Charle, he built a recognizable career appearing in a variety of film and television productions, accumulating 57 known acting credits.
Throughout his career, Dean appeared in numerous well-known feature films. His filmography includes appearances in Rudy, Risky Business, The Breakfast Club, Cocktail, The Babe, The Fugitive, The Client, and The Dark Knight. In addition to his work in cinema, he worked in television, where he was known for frequently portraying detectives and other law-enforcement characters. Among his television roles, he was most notably recognized for playing Detective Marion Zeke Crumb in the television show Early Edition.
Dean passed away on October 5, 2025, at the age of 87. Through his extensive work across film and television, he established a lasting presence as a reliable character actor in American media.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- One Small Hitch (2013) as Art Burke
- Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice (2011) as Vladimir Kosokov
- The Dark Knight (2008) as Wuertz
- Voices from the Graves (2006) as Captain Larsen
- Numb3rs (2005) as Peter Watson
- Wild Things 2 (2004) as Judge Ruben
- The Wild Card (2004) as Brooks
- Without a Trace (2002) as Willie
- Still Standing (2002) as Slim Callahan
- Lana's Rain (2002) as Lou
- Six Feet Under (2001) as Karl
- Raising Dad (2001) as Mr. Zafrani
- Special Unit 2 (2001) as Police Captain
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Woody
- The West Wing (1999) as Tom Broderick
- Family Law (1999)
- Chicago Cab (1998) as Old Snack Trucker
- Night of the Lawyers (1997) as Gus
- Early Edition (1996) as Marion Zeke Crumb, P.I.
- Life's Work (1996)
- Chain Reaction (1996) as Sergeant Nick Zingaro
- ER (1994) as Uncle Joey
- Chicago Hope (1994) as Baseball Scout
- The Client (1994) as Johnny Sulari
- House of Angels: The Second Summer (1994) as Sven Petterson
- Frasier (1993) as Frank
- The Fugitive (1993) as Detective Kelly
- Rudy (1993) as Coach Yonto
- Angel Street (1992) as Detective Kenneth Branigan
- Cold Justice (1992) as Stan Lubinski
- Hammer, Slammer, & Slade (1990) as Sgt. Hill
- Fatal Encounter (1990) as David Hart
- The Package (1989) as Karl Richards
- Dream Breakers (1989) as Sullivan
- Above the Law (1988) as Detective Lukich
- Cocktail (1988) as Uncle Pat
- Big Shots (1987) as Policeman #2
- Light of Day (1987) as Mourner
- Crime Story (1986) as Chief Kramer
- The Color of Money (1986) as Guy in Crowd
- Nothing in Common (1986) as Ed Bedsole
- Crime Story: Pilot (1986) as Chief Kramer
- The Breakfast Club (1985) as Andy's Father
- Lady Blue (1985) as Sgt. Gino Gianelli
- Code of Silence (1985) as Det. Brennan
- Vegetable House (1985)
- Vegetable House (1985) Writer
- Pink Nights (1985) as Pop
- Murder, She Wrote (1984) as Lt. Shawn Riley
- Teachers (1984) as Guard
- The Naked Face (1984) as Cortini's Driver (uncredited)
- The Toughest Man in the World (1984) as Ernie
- Risky Business (1983) as Detective with Bullhorn
- Heart of Steel (1983) as Lathrop
- T. J. Hooker (1982) as Detective
- Continental Divide (1981) as Plesko
- The Duke (1979)
- The Last Affair (1976) as David Hart