Born:
July 31, 1966
in
Mt Clemens, Michigan
Best Known For:
Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.
Early-life:
Born Dean George Tanaka on July 31, 1966, in Mt Clemens, Michigan. His mother, actress Sharon Thomas, divorced his father before Dean was born. Three years later she married director Chris Cain, who adopted him and his older brother, Roger. He also has a half-sister, Krisinda. The family moved to Malibu, where Cain first showed a passion for sport. After graduating from Santa Monica High School, he was offered 17 athletic scholarships from universities. He opted for Princeton, where he majored in history. He signed for the Buffalo Bills American football team, but a severe injury ended his professional career.
Career:
Cain appeared in three movies directed by his father, but gave up acting during his studies. After the end of his football career, he dabbled in scriptwriting, making ends meet by appearing in commercials. This led to the TV movie Christine Cromwell: Things That Go Bump in the Night, and guest parts on shows such as A Different World and Beverly Hills 90210. His big break came in 1993 when he landed the role of Clark Kent in TV series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman. This updated version of the classic comic-book story was a global hit and aired for four years. He also wrote two episodes of the show. His career since then has largely consisted of roles in little-seen movies and guest appearances in small-screen dramas. In early 2016, he was a contestant on Channel 4's sporting reality show The Jump.
Quote:
"Going to Princeton benefited me because I can write, and that really makes my career different from most actors."
Trivia:
Cain has reportedly said he would rather appear in subpar films than be unemployed.