Alissa Dean has been performing as far back as she can recall and what she recalls is forcing her little sister to perform with her in made up musicals about their dog. Alissa got her start in musical theatre, commercials and voiceover. Her first commercial was for a regional drug store called Genovese. Needless to say, the commercial sent shockwaves through her hometown, garnering her a mention in the Pennysaver and an offer to play Cinderella in a community theatre production of Into The Woods…okay, she had to audition.

Alissa’s drug store fame led her to attend the prestigious musical theatre program at New York University’s Steinhart School where she graduated with a Bachelor of Music and Performing Arts. While at NYU, she studied with renowned acting teacher Fred Kareman and famed vocal coach Shari Anderson. She also studied and performed improv at The Upright Citizen’s Brigade and at The Magnet Theatre with luminary Armando Diaz.

Alissa was enjoying life as an NYC actress when she got a call from her agent that she was testing for a multi-camera comedy and had to be in L.A. the next day.

While she didn’t book that role (some girl who used to be on Saved By The Bell: The New Class did), she made some great contacts and ultimately decided to give L.A. a shot. With Billy Joel’s “Movin’ Out” playing in the background, she packed up her stacks of headshots and flew cross-country. Within weeks of moving, Alissa had already tested for another pilot, found a wonderful acting studio (Shari Shaw Studios) and began her new journey on the west coast.

Alissa’s versatility in both comedy and drama has earned her both film and TV roles opposite Lauren Graham, Drew Barrymore, Penny Marshall, David Duchoveney, Will Sasso, Jason Issacs & Chewbacca to name a few.

While she’s not acting, Alissa enjoys screenwriting and producing. She resides in Los Angeles with her husband, actor/director Rich Ceraulo and their two dorky poodle mixes Grover and Olive.