Dean McDermott


Dean McDermott is a Canadian actor best known as a reality television personality with his former wife, actress Tori Spelling, and as the host of the cooking competition Chopped Canada. He played the role of Constable Renfield Turnbull on the TV series Due South.

Early life

McDermott was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, to David and Doreen McDermott. He has three sisters, Dale, Dawn, and Dana. He graduated from North Albion Collegiate Institute in Toronto's Rexdale neighbourhood.

Career

McDermott has performed in films Open Range, Irvine Welsh's Ecstasy and Against the Ropes.
McDermott has appeared in several TV movies including Always and Forever, Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe and A Christmas Visitor.
McDermott has had a variety of guest and recurring roles on television series, such as Earth: Final Conflict, Tracker,'' 1-800-Missing, NCIS and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 2016 saw McDermott take on a starring role, portraying Iain Vaughn on Slasher''.

Culinary arts

McDermott is a professionally trained chef. In 2013, he became a member of "Team Guy" on the second season of Food Network's Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off and was the winner, and in January 2014, McDermott began hosting Chopped Canada on Food Network Canada. McDermott hosted Chopped Canada for two seasons, announcing in March 2015 that he would leave the show.
McDermott released a cookbook The Gourmet Dad, in which he wanted to make intimidating plates more attractive to kids.

Personal life

McDermott's first wife is actress Mary Jo Eustace. They have one child, son Jack Montgomery. In July 2005, McDermott began filming the Lifetime TV movie Mind Over Murder in Ottawa, during which he met actress Tori Spelling, who was then married to writer-actor Charlie Shanian. Spelling and McDermott began an affair the night they met. Upon his subsequent divorce from Eustace, McDermott was granted joint custody of their son Jack, opting not to move forward with the adoption of a baby girl, Lola Eustace, whom he and Eustace were in the process of adopting prior to their separation. However, according to recent Instagram posts, McDermott refers to Lola as his “step daughter” and Lola refers to McDermott as her “dad”.
McDermott married Tori Spelling on May 7, 2006, in Fiji. Spelling and McDermott renewed their vows on May 8, 2010, in Beverly Hills. Spelling and McDermott have five children: three sons, Liam Aaron, Finn Davey and Beau Dean and two daughters, Stella Doreen and Hattie Margaret.
On July 1, 2010, McDermott was involved in a dirt bike accident, his second motorcycle accident of the year. He was hospitalized in Los Angeles with a punctured and collapsed lung, and doctors said they expected him to make a full recovery. McDermott was released from the hospital on July 6, 2010.
McDermott became an American citizen at a ceremony in Los Angeles on August 21, 2010.
In December 2013, after welcoming their second son, Us Weekly broke the news that McDermott was unfaithful to Spelling. The couple worked through the aftermath of the affair on a Lifetime series titled True Tori.
On January 23, 2014, a month after the news broke, McDermott's publicist announced McDermott had entered rehab for "some health and personal issues."
While McDermott and Spelling's marriage was back on track, the couple once again made headlines in 2016 for owing $39,000 to American Express in unpaid credit card bills. McDermott's mother-in-law Candy, who was also on good terms with her daughter, told TMZ at the time that she was helping out the family financially.
In June 2023, McDermott announced that he and Spelling decided to separate after 18 years together in a now-deleted Instagram post.
On March 29, 2024, Spelling officially filed for divorce from McDermott, citing irreconcilable differences. Their divorce became final in on November 3, 2025, with Spelling and McDermott being awarded joint legal custody of their four minor children--Stella, Hattie, Finn, and Beau. However, Spelling has primary physical custody while McDermott was awarded "reasonable custodial timeshare". There will also be no child support. Both will split their minor children's health care expenses equally, as well as both pay half of their kids' extracurricular activities.

Filmography

Movies

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1989My Secret IdentityRoger2 episodes
1989C.B.C.'s Magic HourChris Ryan2 episodes
1989Friday's CursePeterEpisode: "Crippled Inside"
1991Final JudgmentYoung MartyTV movie
1991Conspiracy of SilenceConstable DuttonMiniseries
1992Top CopsWascoEpisode: "Steve Sessler/Jerry Smith/Terry Blaylock"
1993Sweating BulletsTonyEpisode: "Feedback"
1993CounterstrikeJohnnyEpisode: "Counterstrike episodes#ep58|Clear Cut]"
1993Exploring Ontario's Provincial ParksNick WardMiniseries
1993Street LegalHarris KeplerEpisode: "Believe the Children"
1994Lives of Girls & WomenGaret FrenchTV movie
1994Wild C.A.T.sWarBlade TV movie
1994SodbustersYoung DestinyTV movie
1994The Forget-Me-Not MurdersAgent Alex2 episodes
1994, 1998Due SouthLaurier / Bubba DeanEpisode: "The Man Who Knew Too Little" / Episode: "Doctor Longball"
1995Nancy DrewMackerinEpisode: "Welcome to the Callisto"
1995BloodknotLocal BoyTV movie
1995DerbyEric McDowellTV movie
1995–1999Due SouthConstable TurnbullRecurring role
1996Critical ChoicesJohnnyTV movie
1996Jack Reed: Death & VengeanceVasiliTV movie
1996Kung Fu: The Legend ContinuesSheriffEpisode: "Storm Warning"
1996The [Outer Limits |The Outer Limits]Ray CarterEpisode: "Vanshing Act"
1996Ed McBain's 87th Precinct: IceTim MooreTV movie
1997Joe Torre: Curveballs Along the WayDavid ConeTV movie
1997F/X: The SeriesTed AbbottEpisode: "Reunion"
1998Power PlayMark SimpsonMain cast
1998The WallCaptain Alle1nTV movie
1998Evidence of BloodYoung Harlan WadeTV movie
1998Blood on Her HandsDetective Steve NelsonTV movie
1998Fast TrackUnknown Role2 episodes
1998La Femme NikitaSykesEpisode: "New Regime"
1999, 2002Earth: Final ConflictColonel Liam Kincaid / Lt. Capt. Brenton MichaelsEpisode: "Message in a Bottle" / 4 episodes
1999Mystic Warriors: Guardians of the LegendPhoenixEpisode: "Cadmus & Europa"
1999Spenser: Small VicesTommy MillerTV movie
1999To Love, Honor & BetrayNickTV movie
2000Deliberate IntentLeasureTV movie
2000Rescue HeroesSergeant Siren2 episodes
2000Twice [in a Lifetime |Twice in a Lifetime]Albert WeaverEpisode: "Even Steven"
2001TrackerDetective Vic BrunoRecurring role
2001Stolen MiracleRon McKinleyTV movie
2001Brian's SongRalph KurekTV movie
2001Loves Music, Loves to DanceCraig SheridanTV movie
2001Rough Air: Danger on Flight 534Grant BlythTV movie
2001Relic HunterDash PalmerstonEpisode: "Treasure Island"
2001The Zach FilesPark WardenEpisode: "What's Eating Zack Greenburg
2001Hysteria - The Def Leppard StoryPeter MenschTV movie
2001WW 3Dr. WatsonTV movie
2001What Makes a FamilyO'BrienTV movie
2002A Christmas VisitorMatthewTV movie
2002Blue MurderSgt. Jim WeeksEpisode: "Spankdaddy"
20031-800-MissingAlan CoyleMain cast
2003Wall of SecretsMark EmersonTV movie
2004H2OClarkTV movie
2005Without a TraceJames CostinEpisode: "Viuda Negra"
2005The CloserFBI Agent Stephen SimmsEpisode: "The Big Picture"
2005NCISLt. Commander Allan WittenEpisode: "Conspiracy Theory"
2005KojakDetective Dan RigginsEpisode: "Pilot"
2005TiltMartin Shea2 episodes
2005The TournamentStan RyckmanRecurring role
2006Mind Over MurderMax LuckettTV movie
2007HousesitterPhilip 'Phil'TV movie
2007Tori & Dean: Home Sweet HollywoodHimselfTitle role
2009Head CaseHimselfEpisode: "The Wedding Ringer"
2009RuPaul's Drag RaceHimselfEpisode: "Queens of All Media"
2009Santa Baby 2Luke JessupTV movie
2009Always & ForeverMichael FosterTV movie
2010Tori & Dean: sTORIbook WeddingsHimselfTitle role
2013Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-OffHimselfMain role
2014Tori & Dean: Cabin FeverHimselfTitle role
2014Chopped CanadaHostMain role
2014True ToriHimselfMain role
2015Hell's KitchenHimselfEpisode: "18 Chefs Compete"
2016Slasher: The ExecutionerChief Iain VaughnMain cast
2017Slasher: Guilty PartyAlan HayesRecurring role
2018The Last Sharknado: It's About TimeGillyTV movie
2019Slasher: SolsticeDan OlenskyRecurring role
2019Badland WivesMajor FrommTV movie
2021Pretty Hard CasesDet. Barry HammRecurring role