Allstate Mayhem Actor Amputation : living in pain Dean Gerard Winters

A dozen years ago, actor Dean Winters had surgery resulting in several amputations and he now says “I haven’t taken a step since 2009 without being in pain.”

“I’ve got neuropathy on, you know, on a whole different level where I can’t feel my hands and my feet,” he told Page Six. “But if I stepped on a pebble, it’s like I go through the roof.”

The “Law & Order: SVU” and “Oz” star almost died in 2009 after contracting a bacterial infection and going into cardiac arrest.

After multiple operations and suffering gangrene, doctors amputated two of his toes and half of a thumb.

Allstate’s ‘Mayhem’ actor reflects on pain tolerance after three amputations

Dean Winters, the man who many know as “Mayhem” from the Allstate Insurance commercials, hasn’t had a pain-free day in over 12 years, not since he had multiple amputations.

Back in summer 2009, the former “Oz” alum, 57, went to the doctor with a bad fever. While in the doctor’s office, he collapsed and was rushed via ambulance to a local hospital. While en route, Dean technically died, as his heart stopped beating for over two minutes. After medics revived him, Dean spent three weeks in the ICU. The hits, however, would continue to come.

During his recovery at home, the “Rescue Me” star contracted a bacterial infection and suffered through multiple operations and gangrene, which resulted in the amputation of two toes and half of a thumb.

“It’s a very weird dichotomy. It’s like, it’s very hard to figure out. Nothing you can do about it,” he said of living through the pain. “I’ve been sucking it up because, you know, the alternative is not a place where I want to be.”

In some ways, Dean is perfect for his “Mayhem” character, who always causes chaos and destruction wherever he goes.

The longtime actor, who had a memorable role as Tina Fey’s boyfriend on “30 Rock,” revealed he was actually in the hospital undergoing a 10th surgery when he initially turned Allstate down, but he added that the insurance company was “relentless.”

“It’s crazy if you look in the Webster dictionary, the Old English definition of the word ‘mayhem’ is ‘one with amputations,'” Dean said.

Dean Winters Has Been In Constant Agony For 12 Years After Multiple Amputations

He also noted that it was “crazy” that the Old English definition of the word “mayhem” is “one with amputations” in the Webster dictionary.

The insurance company is now reviving his Mayhem character. Aside from that, the actor also has several other projects in the works, including his holiday movie “Christmas vs. The Walters” with Paris Bravo, Shawnee Smith, Bruce Dern, Chris Elliott and Nate Torrence.

Despite what he is going through, Winters insisted that he is no Grinch when it comes to getting into the holiday spirit. According to the actor, he came from a big Scottish-Irish family that celebrated Christmas “a lot.” While he is single with no kids, he has the rest of his family to rely on when it comes to holiday celebrations.

Winters will also be seen in the highly anticipated Peacock adaption of the Netflix docuseries “Tiger King” called “Joe Exotic,” in which the actor plays Jeff Lowe, the bandanna-wearing, Las Vegas-loving businessman who partnered up with Joe Exotic.

“Christmas vs. The Walters” will be in theaters Friday. There’s no word yet on when “Joe Exotic” premieres on Peacock.

Dean Winters

Dean Gerard Winters is an American character actor.

(born July 20, 1964)

He is known for his role as Ryan O’Reily on the HBO prison drama Oz and had roles in TV series Rescue Me, 30 Rock, Sex and the City and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, as well as portraying “Mayhem” in a series of Allstate Insurance commercials. He co-starred in one season of the CBS Network cop drama series Battle Creek and had a recurring role as the Vulture on the comedy series Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Mayhem

Mayhem is a Norwegian black metal band formed in Oslo in 1984.

They were one of the founders of the Norwegian black metal scene and their music has strongly influenced the black metal genre. Mayhem’s early career was highly controversial, primarily due to their notorious live performances, the 1991 suicide of vocalist Per Yngve Ohlin (“Dead”) and the 1993 murder of guitarist Øystein Aarseth (“Euronymous”) by former member Varg Vikernes (“Count Grishnackh”) of Burzum.

Amputation

Amputation is the removal of a limb by trauma, medical illness, or surgery.

As a surgical measure, it is used to control pain or a disease process in the affected limb, such as malignancy or gangrene. In some cases, it is carried out on individuals as a preventive surgery for such problems.

A special case is that of congenital amputation, a congenital disorder, where fetal limbs have been cut off by constrictive bands. In some countries, such as Afghanistan and Iran, amputation was proposed, was formerly used, or is currently used to punish people who committed crimes.

Amputation has also been used as a tactic in war and acts of terrorism; it may also occur as a war injury. In some cultures and religions, minor amputations or mutilations are considered a ritual accomplishment.

When done by a person, the person executing the amputation is an amputator.

Dean Winters is in constant pain from multiple amputations

In June of that year, Winters contracted a bacterial infection and went into cardiac arrest for over two minutes during an ambulance ride across Central Park. Paramedics revived him, but he suffered through multiple operations and gangrene, which resulted in the amputation of two toes and half of a thumb.

But over the years, the “Oz” alum has just learned to live with the endless discomfort.

“It’s a very weird dichotomy. It’s like, it’s very hard to figure out. Nothing you can do about it,” he said. “I’ve been sucking it up because, you know, the alternative is not a place where I want to be.”
Winters said he had initially turned down his memorable role as the character Mayhem in Allstate insurance commercials because he was in the hospital undergoing a 10th surgery. He eventually gave in, though, as he said, “Allstate was relentless.”

“It’s crazy if you look in the Webster dictionary, the Old English definition of the word ‘mayhem’ is ‘one with amputations.’”

What happened to Dean Winters? ‘Oz’ actor has been in constant pain since 2009

In a harrowing incident 12 years back, Winters collapsed with a bacterial infection on his way to Lenox Hill Hospital when his heart actually stopped beating for 2 and a half minutes. He was revived by paramedics but had to eventually go through multiple operations and gangrene, leading to the amputation of two toes and half of a thumb. The “Oz” alum, however, has learned to live through his difficulties.
“It’s a very weird dichotomy. It’s like, it’s very hard to figure out. Nothing you can do about it,” Winters told Page Six. “I’ve been sucking it up because, you know, the alternative is not a place where I want to be.” Initially, Winters had turned down his iconic role as the character Mayhem in Allstate insurance commercials as he was undergoing a 10th surgery back then. He eventually gave in. “Allstate was relentless,” Winters said. “It’s crazy if you look in the Webster dictionary, the Old English definition of the word ‘mayhem’ is ‘one with amputations.’”