One of Allen’s newest residents has a big claim to fame. Dean Taylor, a native of Asheville, North Carolina, has an acting career that has brought him parts in many well-known and wellenjoyed movies and television shows.

After graduating from Jacksonville (Alabama) State University in 1999 with an Associates’ Degree of Applied Science in Chemistry he took on a very demanding and serious job managing a government contracted hazardous waste disposal unit in Hawaii. It was there that, with the encouragement of his co-workers, he gave stand-up comedy a try.

Dean said, “I was a chemist not a comic but decided to give it a try. I wrote a three minute routine and off I went. I was immediately hooked. I became the house emcee and feature act for Sharkey’s Comedy Club in Waikiki. I later became involved in an improv troop called The Comedy Crusaders. That lead into my first television booking on Lost (season 4 episode 4).”

From there things quickly progressed. He has been involved with a number of projects including writing and produced a public service announcement commercial for the Hawaiian lieutenant governor’s office about the environmental and community damage that the meth epidemic has caused.

He has also been seen in independent movies and commercials. Most recently he had a chance to work on Taylor Sheridan’s 1883, shot in Guthrie Texas on the 6666 Ranch. Dean was also was in season 1, episodes 3 and 7, of Reservation Dogs and is currently working with Reservation on season 2.

He has worked with academy award winning director Danny Boyle on a series called Pistol that will be released on Hulu in May, and with Michael Chiklis on a Disney Movie called The Senior. Dean can be seen also in the independent productions Land of Gold, and Lance Larson’s Deadland.

He calls working on 1883 an experience of a lifetime. He tells us that, “Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are so nice and patient with everyone. It was incredible to be around them. I found them to be very caring. One cold morning in Guthrie on the set I was shivering when Faith and executive producer Ben Richardson were walking past me. Faith stopped and said, ‘Do you need a coat honey?’ my reply was ‘I’m okay ma’am when they call action I will be ready.’ Faith then said while grabbing the sleeve of Ben Richardson’s jacket, ‘you can have his coat if you want it.’ To which I replied, ‘that’s nice of you to offer me someone else’s jacket but I think he will have something to say about that.’

“They were laughing as the two them went to walk away. Faith stopped and turned and said, ‘if you need a coat let us know and we will get you one.’ How nice coming from a lady who is leagues above me. I also got a chance to go to the 6666 Ranch’s Christmas party. Tim McGraw was walking out of the shoppe when I asked him for a picture. You never ask on set. He replied, ‘sure man.’

Reservation Dogs won an Emmy and Dean says he feels blessed to have been part of the show. “Reservation Dogs is truly groundbreaking for native culture here in Oklahoma. Many have said to me that the show better depicts what life is like for natives here in the southwest. To hear them talking and laughing about the show makes me happy. To me it feels like Sterlin Harjo has given the state and Oklahoma natives something to be proud of.”

When asked what advice he would give to someone who may want to pursue a career in the entertainment industry Dean says to be patient and humble. “Don’t ask principal actors for pictures and autographs on set. I also tell people the best crash course in acting is to join an improv troop. It teaches you how to think fast and stay in character. Keep going till you hear cut. Very organic things can happen in a scene. Never break character. Dustin Hoffman in Midnight Cowboy is in a crosswalk for a scene. While walking a New York city cab driver who was not a part of the production almost hits him. He stayed in character and said, ‘I’m walking here, I’m walking here.’ It is one of the most famous scenes of his career. Most of all, believe in yourself. Don’t take it personally, let it roll off your shoulders, and don’t give up because of a bad day or you didn’t get the role.”

Dean lived for a while in Dallas but said the cost of living, the crime and traffic, made him decide to move to Oklahoma. First to Ada, where he started his new business, Laughing Gas Farms, producing medical marijuana, but due to problems with the water system and accessibility, he moved to Allen.

“I fell in love with the town and it is a great place to live. I think with this small town we enjoy more freedoms than people who live in and around larger cities.”