Ron Dean, famous for his roles in Risky Business and The Breakfast Club, has passed away at the age of 87.

The actor died on Sunday at a hospital in Chicago, his partner of 40 years, Maggie Neff, told TMZ.  

His cause of death is unclear at this time, but Neff shared he’s been battling a long illness. 

‘He passed at exactly 4 PM, after his beloved sisters had said their goodbyes. He hung on like a warrior to say goodbye to his little sisters,’ she told the publication.

‘Then we were alone, and in my arms, I held his hand, and he trusted me when I told him that it was alright to let go. What an honor!’

Dean was known for often playing detectives and law-enforcement characters in his career. 

Ron Dean, famous for his roles in Risky Business and The Breakfast Club, has passed away at the age of 87; Dean seen in a still from Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight (2008)

Ron Dean, famous for his roles in Risky Business and The Breakfast Club, has passed away at the age of 87; Dean seen in a still from Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight (2008)

The actor died on Sunday at a hospital in Chicago, his partner of 40 years, Maggie Neff, told TMZ. His cause of death is unclear at this time, but Neff shared he's been battling a long illness; Dean seen in a still from The Breakfast Club (1985) with Emilio Estevez

The actor died on Sunday at a hospital in Chicago, his partner of 40 years, Maggie Neff, told TMZ. His cause of death is unclear at this time, but Neff shared he’s been battling a long illness; Dean seen in a still from The Breakfast Club (1985) with Emilio Estevez

One of his earliest roles was as a detective in Risky Business (1983), alongside Tom Cruise. 

Dean — born in Chicago, Illinois — also starred alongside Cruise in The Color of Money (1986), and Cocktail (1988), where he played Cruise’s uncle.

The Hollywood vet also played Emilio Estevez’s father in The Breakfast Club (1985).

His credits include playing Detective Kelly in the 1993 thriller The Fugitive, which also starred Harrison Ford, a role alongside William Shatner in T.J. Hooker, and an appearance in The Package (1989), which starred Gene Hackman and Tommy Lee Jones. 

He also appeared as Detective Michael Wuertz in Christopher Nolan’s billion-dollar-grossing Batman film, The Dark Knight (2008). 

Following his death, fans took to social media to remember the star.

‘He was a Chicago cop in every single movie that included Chicago cops for about 40 years,’ one fondly wrote.

‘RIP Ron Dean. You will be remembered for that role which only you could have done in The Breakfast Club.’

‘Very good in The Fugitive and The Dark Knight,’ another added.

Dean was a frequent collaborator with director Andrew Davis, appearing in several of his films, including Code of Silence, Above the Law, The Guardian, Steal Big Steal Little, and Chain Reaction. 

Davis told Deadline in a statement: ‘Ron Dean was my dear friend and a tremendous actor. He was the essence of what Chicago talent represented.’

‘Having a very troubled youth Ron turned his life around to have a wonderful career as a loving, decent human being and respected talent.’

His partner Maggie also told Deadline, ‘It’s hard to capture what an extraordinary human being Ron was.’

'He passed at exactly 4 PM, after his beloved sisters had said their goodbyes. He hung on like a warrior to say goodbye to his little sisters,' she told the publication; Dean seen in a still

‘He passed at exactly 4 PM, after his beloved sisters had said their goodbyes. He hung on like a warrior to say goodbye to his little sisters,’ she told the publication; Dean seen in a still 

Dean was known for often playing detectives and law-enforcement characters in his career; The actor pictured in a still from The Fugitive (1993)

Dean was known for often playing detectives and law-enforcement characters in his career; The actor pictured in a still from The Fugitive (1993)

One of his earliest roles was as a detective in Risky Business (1983), alongside Tom Cruise; Seen in a still from Risky Business

One of his earliest roles was as a detective in Risky Business (1983), alongside Tom Cruise;
Seen in a still from Risky Business  

He also starred alongside Cruise in The Color of Money (1986), and Cocktail (1988), where he played Cruise’s uncle; Cruise seen in a still from Cocktail

He also starred alongside Cruise in The Color of Money (1986), and Cocktail (1988), where he played Cruise’s uncle; Cruise seen in a still from Cocktail

Following his death, fans took to social media to remember the star

Following his death, fans took to social media to remember the star

‘One glamorous woman friend of Ron’s once told me that she’d rather grab a hot dog with Ron Dean than have a fancy dinner with some rich bloke. I have always felt the same way.’

Dean’s TV career was prolific, with credits including NYPD Blue, Frasier, ER, The West Wing, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. 

He last appeared on screen in 2016, portraying Ray Sharansky on NBC’s Chicago P.D. 

In 1996 he was nominated for the Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role for Supple in Combat with the Steppenwolf Theatre Company. 

In 2013, he shared a Best Ensemble Cast award from the Chicago Comedy Film Festival for the movie One Small Hitch.Â