Why Allstate's Mayhem Actor Dean Winters Had Multiple Amputations

American actor Dean Winters is best known for his roles as Mayhem in the Allstate commercials, Ryan O'Reilly in Oz, and Dennis Duffy in 30 Rock.

In 2009, his life changed following a near-death experience when he went into cardiac arrest for two minutes after contracting a bacterial infection.

Since then, Winters has had to undergo multiple amputations. In a recent interview with Page Six, Winters has opened up about how he lives with the constant pain.

Newsweek has everything you need to know.

In June 2009, Winters had contracted a bacterial infection and was rushed to Lennox Hill hospital after collapsing in his doctor's office. HITC reports that the day before he collapse he had been suffering from a bad fever.

On the way to the hospital, Winters entered cardiac arrest for a total of two minutes but thankfully, paramedics were able to revive him.

Winters spent the next three weeks in hospital in intensive care. Unfortunately, following his release Winters developed gangrene, which resulted in the amputation of two of his toes and half of one thumb.

The New York Post reports Winters has since received 10 operations, including a skin graft.

Speaking to Page Six in November 2021, Winters shared: "I haven't taken a step since 2009 without being in pain."

He continued: "I've got neuropathy on, you know, on a whole different level where I can't feel my hands and my feet. But if I stepped on a pebble, it's like I go through the roof.

"It's a very weird dichotomy. It's like, it's very hard to figure out. Nothing you can do about it. I've been sucking it up because, you know, the alternative is not a place where I want to be."

Despite the pain, Winters has managed to continue to pursue a hugely successful career in acting.

He returned to the small screen in 2010 alongside Tina Fey in 30 Rock, playing the role of Dennis Duffy, the boyfriend to Tina Fey's Liz Lemon.

WInters then went on to star in Brooklyn Nine-Nine in the recurring role of Detective Keith 'The Vulture' Pembroke, alongside Andy Samberg, Melissa Fumero, Stephanie Beatriz, and Terry Crews.

Other well-recognized roles include Tony Silvercreek in Divorce, Russ Agnew in Battle Creek and Bobby Luchetti in Wayne.

He also has had guest roles in American Gods, Berlin Station and Up All Night and has appeared in the films Father of the Year, The Devil You know, and Lost Girls.
Winters will play Jeff Lowe in the upcoming Peacock series Joe Exotic.

In Joe Exotic, Winters will star opposite Kate McKinnon as Carole Baskin, John Cameron Mitchell as Joe Exotic, Kyle MacLachlan as Howard Baskin, and Nat Wolff as Travis Maldonado.