Dean Malissa - Official George Washington Interpreter for Mount Vernon
A
life-long resident of Philadelphia, Malissa has been a
performer since childhood. After graduating with a degree
in Communications, he entered the world of business –
working his way from a junior salesman to the senior vice
presidency of an international manufacturing firm.
After 25 years he happily and voluntarily left corporate
America in 1999 and in “Act II” of his adult life – pursued
acting as a profession. He has performed and continues to be
cast in film, TV, commercial, radio, stage and voiceover
productions although his historical portrayal of George
Washington represents 95% of his work today.
Dean is deeply honored to be the official and sole George
Washington historical actor at Mount Vernon for the
wonderful Mount Vernon Ladies Association, their dedicated
staff members and Mount Vernon visitors. He has also
portrayed General Washington in TV productions for PBS, The
Discovery Channel, NBC, National Geographic Channel and the
Showtime Network; appeared on CNN and in films for the
National Park Service, Mount Vernon, the U.S. Navy, The Bill
of Rights Institute and the National Flag Foundation. He has
appeared at a State Dinner at The White House, the
Smithsonian, the National Archives, National Portrait
Gallery, Independence National Historical Park,
Valley
Forge National Historical Park, Mount Rushmore National
Memorial, the National Constitution Center, the Betsy Ross
House, Liberty Hall, and many historical venues and
societies throughout the original 13 states. He has also
appeared in many of the remaining 37 states. As Washington,
Dean has crisscrossed the nation from Arizona to Alabama
from Michigan to Massachusetts. He even portrayed Washington
in France and China. Dean is a Professional Member of the
National Speakers Association.
When not “crossing the Delaware” Dean has pursued a wide range of avocations in his life including 22 years as a volunteer firefighter (working his way up to Deputy Fire Chief), a couple years as a crime lab photographer, advanced SCUBA diver certification, a 2nd degree black belt, stone sculpting, and treks by horse into the Teton and Gros Ventre wildernesses. He married his high-school sweetheart and he is blessed with two grown children who are off and running in their own exciting lives.
