A graduate of Queen's University with degrees in Education and the Performing Arts (1997), Dean moved to New York City in 2000 to join the Broadway Company of Jonathan Larson's Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winning Musical RENT - the same year he began his first of 5 Seasons on Showtime's QUEER AS FOLK (2000 - 2005).
After a 2 year run on Broadway, Dean returned to Toronto for his last theatrical engagement in the title role of Jonathan Larson, in the Canadian Premier of TICK, TICK, BOOM!
Founder of Armstrong Acting Studios (1997) and one of North America's most respected pre-production and on-set coaches, Dean continues to maintain a commitment to the development of some of today's most notable film and television stars. Some of his clients include Miley Cyrus, Nina Dobrev, Kevin O'Leary, Devon Bostick, Joceyln Hudon, Jake Manley, Jacqueline MacInnes Wood, Brittany Allen, Riele Downs, Saara Chaudry, Sean Fox and his own daughter, Ryan Kiera Armstrong, to name a few.
As an actor, Dean continues to work in leading and recurring roles in film and television having amassed a fan base in the horror genre starring in cult franchises including WRONG TURN, JOY RIDE, SAW, SUPERNATURAL and Stephen King's limited series CHAPELWAITE, alongside Adrien Brody.
In 2020, Dean formed 16/11 Films partnering with Red Hill Entertainment to co-produce his first full length feature horror, SHE CAME BACK, starring Amybeth McNulty and directed by Megan Follows.
Dean resides in Los Angeles and can currently be seen on The CW in SULLIVAN'S CROSSING, opposite SCOTT PATTERSON and CHAD MICHAEL MURRAY.
Reacher(2022)as Foster
Memory of a Killer(2026)as Special Agent Roberts
Sullivan's Crossing(2023)as Glenn Perry
The Madness(2024)as Chief Buck Stanton
She Came Back(2024)as John Talbot
Verona(2010)
In the Dark(2019)
Secret Society of Second Born Royals(2020)
Work It(2020)
The Handmaid's Tale(2017)
In Contempt(2018)
The Casting Room(2011)as Self
Etalk Daily(2002)as Self
MTV Live(2006)as Self
