His career as an actor began under the name Billy Dean with work as a supporting artist or extra from the early 1960s. Amongst his first roles was as an extra as a Nazi follower in The Saint episode 'The Saint Plays with Fire' (1963). He could be seen as a German soldier (credited as Billy Dean) in the ITV Play of the Week story 'Jacko at War' (20th April 1964). Dean also contributed to several film productions, including an uncredited appearance as a policeman in the Margaret Rutherford starring Miss Marple production Murder Ahoy (1964), and another uncredited role as a German aircraft mechanic in the comedy film Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines (1965).
His breakthrough role was as John Coyne in the Ken Loach directed Play for Today production 'The Golden Vision' (17th April 1968). The play was written by Neville Smith and Gordon Honeycombe, who at the time was an ITV newsreader, and detailed the lives of Everton football club fans in Liverpool. At the time Dean was working as a local government officer in Liverpool and he gave this role following 'The Golden Vision' to concentrate on acting fulltime. Loach later recalled that “we wanted to find new actors to match the novelty of the style. So Ernie Mack, a booking agent for social and working men's clubs, introduced us to a whole group of performers including Billy Dean (as he was always known to me), and it was immediately clear that he was ideal for a leading comic role.”[1]
Following his role as John Coyne Dean found himself a popular choice as a character actor playing dour and downbeat Northeners. Loach reused him in a small role for his Wednesday Play episode 'The Big Flame' (19th February 1969), playing a landlord in a drama about dock workers facing redundancy. Loach also utilised him for his BAFTA winning film Kes (1969) in which Dean appeared as a grumpy chip shop owner.
More dramatic work followed with the role of the schoolteacher Arthur Foster in the ITV Sunday Night Theatre production 'Roll on Four O’clock' (19th December 1970), a play written by Colin Welland and based on his own experiences as a teacher in an inner city comprehensive school. Dean was reteamed with Ken Loach for a second ITV Sunday Night Theatre episode, 'After A Lifetime' (18th July 1971), playing Uncle Sid in another script supplied by Neville Smith. A particular highlight of the play is when Sid and a colleague attempt to carry a carpet across a busy road in order to lend dignity to a family funeral. His final television appearance for the year was as Charlie Keen in 'No Flowers, By Request' (19th November 1971) an episode of the anthology series Justice.
Dean’s television work during this period was bolstered by a couple of film roles. Ken Loach used Dean once more in his film Family Life (1971) giving him the meaty role of Mr Baildon, the father of a teenage girl who suffers a nervous breakdown. The film showed Dean at his best giving a moving performance of great sincerity. Director Stephen Frears, working from a script by Neville Smith, cast Dean as Tommy, a night club manager, in his Liverpool set crime comedy Gumshoe (1971) which starred Albert Finney and Billie Whitelaw.
Back on television Dean played Ernest Dewhurst in a couple of episodes of the Yorkshire Television drama series The Challengers during January 1972. He also had a small role as a labour agent in 'Under New Management' (12th January 1972), an episode of the World War Two domestic drama series Family at War. He had appeared in the series previously playing the character Alan Mills in three episodes during the programme’s first and second seasons in 1970.
Ken Loach cast him in Dean’s first appearance in a Play for Today production with the role of Billy in 'The Rank and File' (20th May 1971). Neville Smith, who had written several scripts featuring Dean, also featured in the cast. The Last of the Baskets is an obscure Granada sitcom that featured Arthur Lowe and Patricia Hayes. Dean appeared in the episode 'Nice Work If You Can Keep It' (7th February 1972) as a ‘rough man’. Dean then went on to appear as Dutchie Holland in the Budgie instalment 'Dreaming of Thee' (21st April 1972) which opened the second season of the series. Scene was a programme aimed at schools and colleges which used a mixture of fictional and documentary short films to provoke discussion on current topics. Dean appeared in two episodes during his career starting with playing the father in the episode 'Bank Holiday' (2nd March 1972).
Following his appearance as Bernard Hobbs in the New Scotland Yard episode 'All That Glitters' (18th May 1974) and a cameo as a club owner in the film Slade in Flame (1975), Dean commenced on a lengthy run of television only roles which would occupy the rest of the decade starting with Stephen Frears’ Second City Firsts entry 'Match of the Day' (18th March 1974), again written by Neville Smith. Rooms was a twice weekly afternoon drama series which featured various characters who rented rooms in a lodging house. Dean appeared in the storyline 'Jo and Anne' (10th and 11th December 1974) playing the role of Frank. This was followed with a guest role as Charlie Norton in The Sweeney episode 'Thin Ice' (16th January 1976) and a rare upper class character as Sir Bernard Fickle in a second season instalment of the comedy series A Little Bit of Wisdom (31st January 1975). Alongside Bob Peck and Brian Glover he also appeared in the Second City Firsts edition 'Waiting at the Field Gate' (3rd April 1975). Also during 1975 Dean was cast as Charlie in the Liverpool set sitcom The Wackers (19th March – 23rd April 1975). This Thames Television production was so unpopular that the final episode was never aired.
Dean could be seen in a small role as the doomed shopkeeper, Mr Greenhead, in The Tomorrow People adventure 'A Man for Emily' (16th April 1975). Next was the Armchair Cinema production 'In Sickness and in Health' (21st May 1975) playing the character Mr Jackson. Amongst the cast was fellow Beasts actor Michael Sheard. 'Nothing To Declare' (11th August 1975) was another case to be solved by the contestants of Whodunnit, presented by Jon Pertwee. Dean appeared as Mr Campbell. He then played a character called Dixie in his second appearance in the series Scene. 'Break' (6th November 1975) was written by Willie Russell.
The year 1976 was a busy one for Dean with several appearances besides his role in the Beasts story 'What Big Eyes'. Red Letter Day was a Granada drama anthology series created by Jack Rosenthal though Dean appeared in another script by Neville Smith, 'Bag of Yeast' (22nd February 1976). Smith himself also appeared alongside Dean in the cast. Rocky O’Rourke was a BBC children’s drama based on the book A Pair of Jesus Boots by Sylvia Sherry. Dean played the character Simpson in the first four episodes (3rd – 24th March 1976). He then guest starred as Sam Platte in the Dixon of Dock Green episode 'Reunion' (1st May 1976) and was cast as Alf Bowen in the Softly Softly: Task Force instalment 'Not With a Bang…' (8th September 1976), which opened the eighth season of the police drama. He could also be seen as Leslie Stevens in The Expert episode 'Fail Safe' (12th November 1976). Between 1976 and 1977 Dean appeared as Jack in two seasons of the sitcom Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggitt.
Post-Beasts Dean featured in the Dennis Potter drama Pennies From Heaven playing Alf in two episodes. During May 1978 he popped up in two episodes of the rural soap opera Emmerdale playing Abraham Scarsdale. Further roles for the year included 'A Detective’s Tale' (6th April 1978), an episode of BBC drama Law and Order, his third appearance in Z Cars – 'Exposure' (2nd August 1978) and playing Sid in 'Freedom of the Dig' (23rd October 1978), an episode of the BBC drama series Premiere. The year ended with Dean playing the character Ted in the BBC Play of the Week production 'Night People' (6th December 1978) penned by Alan Plater. His only onscreen role during 1979 was in the film version of the controversial Scum (1979) directed by Alan Clark. He then had a blink and you’d miss him role as a workman in the film version of the sitcom Rising Damp (1980).
The Good Companions was a Yorkshire Television series based on the novel by J B Priestley about a touring concert party and was adapted for TV by Alan Plater. Dean appears in 'A Wind in the Triangle' (2nd January 1981). He then went on to a guest role as Stobbs in the When the Boat Comes In instalment 'Back to Dear Old Blighty' (17th February 1981) which opened the fourth season of the drama series. His final Play for Today appearance was audio only. He played one of several voices, alongside John Challis and Ian Sharp, in 'A Turn for the Worse' (28th April 1981). He had a small role as a painter in the BBC 2 Playhouse episode 'Going Gently' (5th June 1981) which provided Norman Wisdom with a rare dramatic role as a man dying of cancer. Maybury was a BBC drama series that starred Patrick Stewart as psychiatrist. Dean appears in the episode 'Maisie' (14th July 1981) in a small role. He then played Mr Bentham in the Juliet Bravo story 'Barriers' (14th November 1981).
Dean had a fleeting role credited simply as ‘Liverpool Man’ in the Channel Four single drama Lovers of the Lake (1983). He was also a recurring cast member as Billy Eccles in the BBC drama The Gathering Seed (7th September – 12th October 1983). He could be seen as Mr Hove in 'The Clergyman’s Daughter' (27th November 1983), an episode of the London Weekend Television crime drama Partners in Crime. He then had a cameo appearance as a garage attendant in the sitcom In Loving Memory – 'Flying Undertaker' (28th November 1983) and appeared as a compere in the film Slayground (1983).
Dean joined the Channel Four soap opera Brookside with the episode transmitted 5th October, 1983, playing the role of grumpy pensioner Harold Cross. The character would become his signature role and made him a household face, if not name. Dean finally left Brookside in August 1989 having appeared in the role of Harry for over six years. He appeared in the music video for Groovy Train by the pop group The Farm which was released in August 1990 as the first single off their debut album Spartacus. The single reached number six in the UK singles chart. The video was filmed at the amusement park Pleasureland in Southport. Dean appeared as a train driver with the band as passengers. The Brookside character Harry Cross was a retired train driver. This wasn’t Dean’s only musical connection as he also wrote the lyrics of the theme tune to the sitcom Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggitt (1976 - 1977) which were unique to each episode.
Post-Brookside Dean he could be seen in the film Let Him Have It (1991) as the foreman of the jury who sentence Derek Bentley (Christopher Eccleston) to a death sentence and had a small role as a priest in the final episode of the BBC costume drama Clarissa (11th December 1991). He could be seen as Harry Capshaw in 'Endangered Species' (21st November 1993), an episode of the 1950s set cosy police drama Heartbeat. This was followed by a cameo role as an old man in the Screen Two production Skallagrigg (9th March 1994). Dean was the recurring character Albert Dawson in the second season of the Granada’s children’s drama series Three Seven Eleven (13th April – 15th June 1994).
Dean had previously appeared in two episodes of the original run of the sitcom The Liver Birds playing Uncle Jack in 'Birds on the Dole' (18th February 1972) and 'Birds on Strike' (3rd March 1972). When the sitcom was relaunched in the 1990s Dean appeared as the new character of Mr Hennessey for a trio of episodes; 'Mrs Boswell Comes To Call' (13th May 1996), 'Spare That Tree!' (20th May 1996) and 'Moving Out' (24th June 1996). Dean was also in a small role in Hillsborough (5th December 1996) which based on the real life events of April 1989 when 96 Liverpool football fans lost their lives during a FA Cup semi-final match.
Dean had a fleeting role credited simply as ‘Liverpool Man’ in the Channel Four single drama Lovers of the Lake (1983). He was also a recurring cast member as Billy Eccles in the BBC drama The Gathering Seed (7th September – 12th October 1983). He could be seen as Mr Hove in 'The Clergyman’s Daughter' (27th November 1983), an episode of the London Weekend Television crime drama Partners in Crime. He then had a cameo appearance as a garage attendant in the sitcom In Loving Memory – 'Flying Undertaker' (28th November 1983) and appeared as a compere in the film Slayground (1983).
Dean joined the Channel Four soap opera Brookside with the episode transmitted 5th October, 1983, playing the role of grumpy pensioner Harold Cross. The character would become his signature role and made him a household face, if not name. Dean finally left Brookside in August 1989 having appeared in the role of Harry for over six years. He appeared in the music video for Groovy Train by the pop group The Farm which was released in August 1990 as the first single off their debut album Spartacus. The single reached number six in the UK singles chart. The video was filmed at the amusement park Pleasureland in Southport. Dean appeared as a train driver with the band as passengers. The Brookside character Harry Cross was a retired train driver. This wasn’t Dean’s only musical connection as he also wrote the lyrics of the theme tune to the sitcom Oh No, It’s Selwyn Froggitt (1976 - 1977) which were unique to each episode.
Post-Brookside Dean he could be seen in the film Let Him Have It (1991) as the foreman of the jury who sentence Derek Bentley (Christopher Eccleston) to a death sentence and had a small role as a priest in the final episode of the BBC costume drama Clarissa (11th December 1991). He could be seen as Harry Capshaw in 'Endangered Species' (21st November 1993), an episode of the 1950s set cosy police drama Heartbeat. This was followed by a cameo role as an old man in the Screen Two production Skallagrigg (9th March 1994). Dean was the recurring character Albert Dawson in the second season of the Granada’s children’s drama series Three Seven Eleven (13th April – 15th June 1994).
Dean had previously appeared in two episodes of the original run of the sitcom The Liver Birds playing Uncle Jack in 'Birds on the Dole' (18th February 1972) and 'Birds on Strike' (3rd March 1972). When the sitcom was relaunched in the 1990s Dean appeared as the new character of Mr Hennessey for a trio of episodes; 'Mrs Boswell Comes To Call' (13th May 1996), 'Spare That Tree!' (20th May 1996) and 'Moving Out' (24th June 1996). Dean was also in a small role in Hillsborough (5th December 1996) which based on the real life events of April 1989 when 96 Liverpool football fans lost their lives during a FA Cup semi-final match.
In 1999 he returned to Brookside for three more episodes reprising his role as Harry Cross. The character was frailer and suffering from Alzheimer’s disease and it made for powerful and poignant viewing, especially as this would be Dean’s final screen performance. He passed away on 20th April 2000 in Upton, Merseyside at the age of 78 after suffering a heart attack. Dean had three children, sons Peter and David, and a daughter called Diane with whom he had been living with shortly before his passing.
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