The Dark Knight Actor Ron Dean Dies as Friends and Family Pay Tribute
The Dark Knight actor Ron Dean died Sunday at 87 in a Chicago hospital. Partner Maggie Neff said he had battled a long illness, while the cause of death remains undisclosed.
Some sad news out of Chicago: Ron Dean, a familiar face in a ton of movies and TV shows you definitely know, has died at 87.
What happened
Dean passed away on Sunday, October 5, 2025, at a hospital in Chicago after a long illness. His partner, Maggie Neff, shared the news and said the exact cause of death is still unclear. She told TMZ that he died at 4 PM, after his sisters had come to say goodbye.
'He passed at exactly 4 PM, after his beloved sisters had said their goodbyes... Then we were alone, and in my arms, I held his hand, and he trusted me when I told him that it was alright to let go... What an honor!'
Career snapshot
If you watched movies shot in or set around Chicago, you saw Ron Dean. He popped up in major titles across decades and worked steadily on both the big and small screens. Director Andrew Davis, who cast him in seven films (including The Fugitive), also confirmed Dean's passing and remembered him as a close friend and a quintessential Chicago talent who overcame a rough early life to build a respected career.
- Films: The Dark Knight, The Breakfast Club, The Fugitive, Rudy, Risky Business, Cocktail, The Babe, Wild Things 2
- TV: Chicago P.D., Chicago Fire
- Fun connection: He worked with Tom Cruise more than once, including Risky Business and Cocktail
How people are remembering him
Neff described him as an extraordinary person who made people feel at ease. She mentioned a friend who once told her she would rather grab a hot dog with Ron than have a fancy dinner with some rich guy, which kind of sums up his vibe. Davis called him a tremendous actor and the embodiment of what Chicago performers bring to the table.
Dean had largely stepped away from acting in recent years. Cause of death has not been disclosed.