‘Risky Business’ and ‘Breakfast Club’ star Ron Dean dead at 87

Ron Dean, who was best known for his roles in “Risky Business” and “The Breakfast Club,” has passed away. He was 87.

The actor died at a hospital in Chicago, Illinois, on Sunday, Oct. 5, his partner, Maggie Neff, told TMZ Wednesday.

Although the cause of death is unclear at this time, Neff said he’d been fighting a long illness. 

“He passed at exactly 4 PM, after his beloved sisters had said their goodbyes. He hung on like a warrior to say goodbye to his little sisters,” she told the outlet.

“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,” she added. “What an honor!”

Dean often played law enforcement characters throughout his lengthy acting career, and one of his earliest roles was as a detective in 1983’s “Risky Business” alongside Tom Cruise. 

He went on to appear with the “Mission: Impossible” star in two other films, including “The Color of Money” in 1986 and “Cocktail” in 1988.

However, the veteran actor was perhaps most popular for the 1985 John Hughes classic “The Breakfast Club,” where he appeared as the father of Emilio Estevez’s character Andrew Clark.

Besides appearing alongside William Shatner in one episode of “T. J. Hooker,” as well as opposite Gene Hackman and Tommy Lee Jones in 1989’s “The Package,” Dean often collaborated with “The Fugitive” director Andrew Davis.

Davis, who cast Dean in seven of his films, remembered his “dear friend” as a “tremendous actor” in a touching statement to Deadline following the news of his death.

“He was the essence of what Chicago talent represented,” the “Under Siege” director shared. “Having a very troubled youth, Ron turned his life around to have a wonderful career as a loving, decent human being and respected talent.”

Neff, who was with Dean for 40 years, admitted to the outlet that it’s “hard to capture what an extraordinary human being Ron was.”

“One glamorous woman friend of Ron’s once told me that she’d rather grab a hot dog with Ron Dean than have a fancy dinner with some rich bloke,” she remembered. “I have always felt the same way.”

Fans of the late actor rushed to social media to remember the “Beast” star in the wake of his passing.

“Seen him in so many films, but The Dark Knight is where I think of him the most in,” one person shared. “R.I.P. Ron Dean 1938-2025.”

“RIP Ron Dean,” added another. “You will be remembered for that role which only you could have done in The Breakfast Club.”

“May his soul rest in peace,” commented a third devastated fan.