Dean Winters

Dean Winters is an American actor, who has appeared on such television series as "Oz," "Rescue Me," "30 Rock" and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," as well as the character "Mayhem" in a series of Allstate Insurance commercials.

Winters has appeared in two of the "Law & Order" television series: "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," where he was a regular in the first season, and as a guest star in the "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" episode "Purgatory." More than ten years after his final appearance on SVU, he again portrayed Detective Brian Cassidy in the 13th season finale Rhodium Nights, became a recurring character in the 14th season, and in the 15th season, he also became Sergeant Olivia Benson's love interest. He has also made guest appearances on Homicide: "Life on the Street," "Sex and the City," "Third Watch," "NYPD Blue," "CSI: Miami" and as Dennis Duffy in "30 Rock" as well as previously having an accompanying role in "Rescue Me."

On June 20, 2010, Winters was introduced as "Mayhem," the recurring character in a new television and radio advertising campaign for Allstate Insurance created by the agency Leo Burnett Chicago. The campaign is centered around the idea that paying too little for insurance could result in customers not getting the best coverage or service for their money.

In 2009, Winters contracted a bacterial infection and collapsed upon arrival at his doctor's office, and while being transported across Central Park in an ambulance, Winters' heart stopped beating for 2½ minutes. Paramedics were able to revive him, and Winters was hospitalized in intensive care for three weeks. Over the course of the next year, Winters developed gangrene, requiring the amputation of two toes and half of one thumb and ten subsequent operations including a skin graft.