Dean Robert Stockwell was born in North Hollywood, California, to a family of performers. His father, Harry Stockwell, was a Broadway actor who played Curly in the original production of "Oklahoma!" and also provided the singing voice for Prince Charming in Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. His mother, Elizabeth "Betty" Stockwell, was a former Broadway chorine who used the stage name "Betty Veronica." Dean's older brother, Guy Stockwell, was also an actor.
Dean made his stage debut at the age of seven in a Theater Guild production of Paul Osborn's The Innocent Voyage, which ran for nine months. He was spotted by a talent scout and signed with MGM in 1945, becoming a highly sought-after child star in films such as Anchors Aweigh, The Green Years, and Song of the Thin Man. He won a Golden Globe Award as Best Juvenile Actor for his role in Gentleman's Agreement and went on to play the title role in an adaptation of Rudyard Kipling's Kim.
As he grew older, Stockwell transitioned to television and appeared in several shows, including Compulsion, which was based on the infamous Leopold & Loeb murder case. He also appeared on Broadway in Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night, earning critical acclaim for his performance.
In the 1960s, Stockwell dropped out of show business and joined the hippie scene, befriending Neil Young and Dennis Hopper. He later made a comeback in low-budget films, including Psych-Out, The Loners, and The Werewolf of Washington.
During the 1970s, Stockwell became a frequent TV guest star in popular crime dramas such as Mannix, Columbo, The Streets of San Francisco, and Police Story. He also appeared in a number of films, including Paris, Texas, Blue Velvet, and Married to the Mob.
In the 1980s, Stockwell's career flourished, with roles in Quantum Leap, JAG, and Air Force One. He won a Golden Globe Award for his role in Quantum Leap and received an Oscar nomination for his performance in Married to the Mob.
Stockwell continued to work in television and film throughout the 1990s and 2000s, appearing in shows such as Star Trek: Enterprise and Battlestar Galactica. He also exhibited his art, creating collages and sculptures.
In 2015, Stockwell was forced to retire from acting after suffering a stroke. He died on November 7, 2021, at the age of 85, due to natural causes.
