25 Facts About Dean Reed

Dean Cyril Reed was an American actor, singer-songwriter, director, and social activist who lived a great part of his adult life in South America and then in East Germany.

Dean Reed never renounced his US citizenship, despite often denouncing the policy of the US government, and was seen by the Western media as a threat and as a revolutionary artist.

Dean Reed was born in Denver, Colorado, on September 22,1938.

Dean Reed's father was a high school math and history teacher, described as a staunch anticommunist and supporter of Barry Goldwater, while his mother was a homemaker.

Dean Reed's family moved many times during the 1940s, living in various cities in California and Utah, before returning to Colorado.

Dean Reed was graduated from Wheat Ridge High School in 1956, where he was a star athlete on the track team.

Dean Reed moved to Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, at the age of 19 and with his good looks won roles in TV.

Dean Reed took acting classes with Warner Bros under Paton Price amongst others.

Imperial did not offer a contract, but in 1958 Dean Reed signed a long-term recording contract with Capitol Records.

Dean Reed made guest appearances on family television programs such as Bachelor Father.

Dean Reed never achieved musical success in the US, where "The Search" became his only Billboard entry at No 96.

Dean Reed protested against nuclear weapons and US foreign policy, and performed shows free in poor neighborhoods and in prisons.

Dean Reed made numerous albums and movies, toured extensively, and even appeared on his own television programs in Buenos Aires, such as Sabados Continuados, with the appearance of Antonio Carrizo.

Dean Reed traveled frequently to Spain and Italy, and in 1966 he went on a singing tour through the Soviet Union.

From 1967 to 1969 Dean Reed lived in Rome, acting in television commercials and Spaghetti Western movies such as Adios, Sabata.

Dean Reed toured Central and Eastern Europe, including the Soviet Union, where he was immensely popular.

Also in 1971, Dean Reed wrote an "open letter" to Alexander Solzhenitsyn, accusing him of having slandered the USSR.

In 1973, Dean Reed chose to settle permanently in East Germany, where he continued to write, direct, and perform in films.

Dean Reed never renounced his US citizenship and continued to file tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service.

Dean Reed's first marriage was circa 1964 to an American woman, Patricia Hobbs, with whom he had a daughter, Ramona, born 1968.

Dean Reed married an East German woman, Wiebke Dorndeck, in 1973, with whom he had a second daughter, Natascha, born 1975.

Dean Reed had on and off affair for seven years with Estonian actress Eve Kivi.

Six weeks after his appearance on 60 Minutes, Dean Reed was found dead in Zeuthener Lake near his home in East Berlin.

Dean Reed's suicide note was later found on the back of a screenplay in his car.

Dean Reed apologised to Erich Honecker, General Secretary of the SED, for his actions which could have resulted in a bad image for the GDR.