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Ron Dean

Ron Dean

Actor · Died October 5, 2025, aged 87 · Chicago, Illinois, USA

Ron Dean (August 15, 1938 — October 5, 2025) was an American film and television actor. He appeared in films including Rudy, Risky Business, The Breakfast Club, Cocktail, The Babe, The Fugitive, The Client, and The Dark Knight. He was known for often playing detectives and other law-enforcement characters, most notably Det. Marion Zeke Crumb in the television show Early Edition.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 15, 1938
Died
October 5, 2025 (aged 87)
From
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
34 on MovieCove · 58 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 155 days to Oct 26Down 8% in 30 days

What are Ron Dean's films like?

Across their 11 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 47th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
34%
Bonds
24%
Self
15%
Ideas
8%
Survival
7%
Power
6%
Society
5%
Justice5 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception3 titles, browse their movies with this themeCorruption2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 11 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 5 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 7 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 3 · Charged 2 · Intense 6

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 4 · Shifting 7 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 5 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 5 · Relentless 4

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

A split, not a type: Casual 7 · Engaged 1 · Full focus 3

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 10 · Open-ended 0 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

2 analyzed roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Thrilling
5
Warm
3
Romantic
3
Joyful
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Feel-good4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteCathartic3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy6
  • Bittersweet5

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ron Dean's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 23 of their 34 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ron Dean's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

58 credits, 34 with a MovieCove page.

  • One Small Hitch(2013)

    as Art Burke

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Sam Steele and the Crystal Chalice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Vladimir Kosokov

  • The Dark Knight(2008)

    as Wuertz

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Voices from the Graves (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Captain Larsen

  • Numb3rs(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Watson

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all shows

  • The Wild Card (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Brooks

  • Wild Things 2(2004)

    as Judge Ruben

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • Lana's Rain (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Lou

  • Still Standing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 2 episodes · as Slim Callahan

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Willie

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • Swimming Upstream(2002)

    as Coach Cramer

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Raising Dad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Zafrani

  • Six Feet Under(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Karl

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Special Unit 2 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Police Captain

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Woody

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The West Wing(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Tom Broderick

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • Family Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Chicago Cab(1997)

    as Old Snack Trucker

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Night of the Lawyers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Gus

  • Early Edition (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 17 episodes · as Marion Zeke Crumb, P.I.

  • Life's Work(1996)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all shows (provisional, few ratings)

  • Chain Reaction(1996)

    as Sergeant Nick Zingaro

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • House of Angels: The Second Summer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Sven Petterson

  • ER(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Uncle Joey

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Chicago Hope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 1 episode · as Baseball Scout

  • The Client(1994)

    as Johnny Sulari

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Rudy(1993)

    as Coach Yonto

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all films

  • Frasier(1993)

    Show 3 episodes · as Frank

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • The Fugitive(1993)

    as Detective Kelly

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Angel Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 5 episodes · as Detective Kenneth Branigan

  • Cold Justice (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    as Stan Lubinski

  • Hammer, Slammer, & Slade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as Sgt. Hill

  • Fatal Encounter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    as David Hart

  • Dream Breakers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Sullivan

  • The Package(1989)

    as Karl Richards

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Cocktail(1988)

    as Uncle Pat

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Above the Law(1988)

    as Detective Lukich

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Big Shots(1987)

    as Policeman #2

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Light of Day(1987)

    as Mourner

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Color of Money(1986)

    as Guy in Crowd

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Crime Story(1986)

    Show 30 episodes · as Chief Kramer

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • Crime Story: Pilot (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Chief Kramer

  • Nothing in Common(1986)

    as Ed Bedsole

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Pink Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Pop

  • Lady Blue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 14 episodes · as Sgt. Gino Gianelli

  • Code of Silence(1985)

    as Det. Brennan

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Breakfast Club(1985)

    as Andy's Father

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • Vegetable House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Writer · Actor

  • The Toughest Man in the World(1984)

    as Ernie

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Teachers(1984)

    as Guard

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Lt. Shawn Riley

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • The Naked Face(1984)

    as Cortini's Driver (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Heart of Steel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Lathrop

  • Risky Business(1983)

    as Detective with Bullhorn

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • T.J. Hooker(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Detective

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Continental Divide(1981)

    as Plesko

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • The Duke (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Last Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as David Hart

Career shape

Star power in the 97th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 57 titles from 1976 to 2013; peak year 1987.

Biggest box office

The Dark Knight (2008)

$1B worldwide

Highest rated

The Dark Knight (2008)

Midcredits 99th

Film career

19762013

Peak 1987 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting57 of 57: 56 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score56thWriting1 of 57: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s2 · acting1980s23 · 23 acting · 1 crew1990s18 · acting2000s12 · acting2010s2 · acting

Billing

usually 10th · top billed in 0% of 17 roles
8191

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ron Dean's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 46th percentile, the median of all 23; across their 11 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 51st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Approval · how many liked their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Reach · how many have seen their films

87thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 11

Midcredits score across 34 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up11
  • 50th to 74th8
  • 25th to 49th13
  • Below 25th2

Shape of the crowd

11 of their 34 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser11
  • Broadly Agreed6
  • Mixed6

Most divisive · actor

Swimming Upstream (2002)

80th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

The Dark Knight (2008)

Midcredits 99th · 95% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 11 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ron Dean's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, profanity, alcohol & drugs and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore7 titles37–92 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles9–40 · median 27 · mildnear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity7 titles43–97 · median 70 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles32–78 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense7 titles30–75 · median 62 · intenseheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ron Dean work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ron Dean's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Andrew Davis shares the most, 4.

Directors

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors