In 2002, Dean played Patch in the TV series Always Greener, which was nominated for an International Emmy Award. That same year, he received an AFI Awards award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Tony Ayres’ film Walking on Water. In 2004, Dean was nominated for the same award for his role in Cate Shortland’s Somersault. He also played Jothee in Brian Henson’s science fiction film Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars.
In 2007, Dean played a Rugby League star in Matt Nable’s Australian film, The Final Winter, which told the story of how big Business entered the NRL during the 1980s.
In 2008, he was cast as a psychotic Criminal in TV drama ‘Rush’, and bikie and drug land murderer Sidney Martin in the first of the Underbelly.
In 2013, he starred as william Thornhill in the Sydney Theatre Company’s landmark adaptation of Kate Grenville’s book, The Secret River.
More recently, Dean has spent more time on stage, starring in Belvoir St Theatre’s production of "Gwen in Purgatory", written by Tommy Murphy, and directed by Neil Armfield.
