Born in Mankato, Minnesota, and grew up in Edina, near Minneapolis. He attended college at the University of Minnesota, where he earned a bachelor's degree in accounting. Dean worked as a cost accountant, a sales representative, and an independent builder before launching Hometime Video Publishing in 1984. In addition to his role as co-host, Dean is executive producer of Hometime (1992) and president of Hometime Video Publishing. The father of two, Dean is married to his high school sweetheart, Kathi. An active parent, Dean has been known to sneak out of work early to coach his son's and daughter's soccer teams. The Johnsons enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing, and try to get to Colorado every year to ski the Rocky Mountains.