Dean Ricca is Hollywood's most famous tour guide.

In the 2003 film, “Looney Tunes: Back in Action,” a Warner Bros. vice president, played by Jenna Elfman, instructs a security guard, played by Brendan Fraser, to apprehend Daffy Duck and escort him from the studio’s premises. As this hullabaloo ensues, a studio tour tram passes with the action being pointed out by a tour guide, played by Dean Ricca.

An established actor with over 40 stage productions and numerous film roles under his belt, the tour guide role was not really much of a stretch for Dean, being as that in real life he actually is a tour guide – a Warner Bros. tour guide! Born and raised in Queens, N.Y., Dean was a quiet and shy child who became even more withdrawn when his older brother died after suffering a bad fall. “I became very depressed,” said Dean. “Nothing could pull me out of the depression. So my sixth grade teacher decided she was going to get me out of my funk by forcing me into doing a part in a school pay.” Ricca threw himself into the role, and doing the play did in fact retrieve him from his pit of depression. “I really enjoyed the rehearsals,” he recalled. “And I loved the performing.”

In 1975, Dean and his family moved to Tempe, Arizona, where he continued performing in local plays, films, and even in a recurring role as The Fighting Padre – his high school’s mascot. While he enjoyed performing, Dean said he never thought of making a living as an actor until a friend asked him to accompany her to an audition. “She was very nervous and didn’t want to go alone,” said Dean. “She asked if I would go with her, and when we got there, the only way they would let me in was if I was auditioning myself. So I did.” Dean’s friend did not get the part – Dean did.

Continuing to perform in local productions, 1986 saw Dean cast in the film “Nobody’s Fool,” starring Rosanna Arquette and Eric Roberts, for which he earned an invitation to join the Screen Actors Guild. In 1986, Dean packed up his worldly possessions and headed for Hollywood. After a brief stint as a video store manager, he landed his first gig with a major studio. “I wanted to work at Warner Bros., but it was very difficult to get in there, so I applied at Universal Studios, where I was hired as a tour guide,” said Dean. “I did that for two years, helped them start-up of their theme park in Florida, and then, back in L.A., I hosted the Harry and the Hendersons Sound Effects show for the remainder of my time there.” During this time Dean continued to do stage work with various theatrical companies, tried his hand at standup comedy, and did audience warm-ups for television shows including “Designing Women.”

In 1998, Dean’s dream of working for Warner Bros. became a reality when the studio brought him on board as a tour guide. When asked to share some stories of things that have happened on his tours over the years, he rolled his eyes and laughed. “There are so many,” he said before launching into a tale of his first meeting with George Clooney. “One day, back when George was doing “ER,” he was outside playing basketball as we were going by in the tram,” Dean recalled. “All of a sudden, the ball got away from him and I ran it over completely destroying it.” Devastated, Dean went out that evening and bought Clooney a new basketball. The following day, he stopped by the actor’s office with the replacement. “I sheepishly apologized to him and gave him the new ball,” said Dean. “He looked at me like I was crazy, then took me over to a big closet, opened it, and showed me it was filled with basketballs.” Dean also recalled a day when George Lopez invited him and his tour to sit in on a rehearsal for his sitcom. “George found out one of the guests was celebrating his birthday,” said Dean. “It also happened to be the birthday of Constance Marie, who played George’s wife on the show. George invited us all down on to the set, and the entire cast and crew gathered around and brought out a birthday cake.”

Along with the fun, Dean has also experienced numerous marriage proposals, and many emotional moments while giving tours. “I once had a young girl on my tour who was around 19 or 20,” Dean recalled. “She asked if we were going to see anything from “Casablanca.” I mentioned it was odd for someone so young to be interested in that film, and she explained that when she was a little girl, she and her mother would watch “Casablanca” together every Saturday. They would recite the lines and play out the roles of the characters. Well, her mother passed away and she decided she wanted to go to see where “Casablanca” was shot.” Knowing where the scenes from Rick’s Cafe had been filmed, Dean took her to Stage 8 where she got off the tram and leaned her head against the wall. “She stood there for about a minute,” Dean said. “When she turned around her face was streaked with tears. That was really intense.”

While Dean loves working at Warner Bros., he also continues to pursue his stage and screen work and performs regularly in productions at the Glendale Centre Theatre. “The fact that it’s a difficult business never deterred me. It’s in my blood. I have to do this,” said Dean, who recently played the role of a troubled Viet Nam veteran in the forthcoming film, “Ironsides,” that was shot last summer on Cape Cod, and is currently in post production. “I was actually offered that role by a filmmaker who had taken my tour,” Dean revealed. Along with being the most famous and requested studio tour guide in Hollywood, Dean also serves as a tour department supervisor, and trains a new crop of guides twice a year. “I really love what I’m doing,” said Dean. “There are so many great things about this job. The people I work with are creative, funny, and smart. Every day I get to see something new, and meet people from all over the world. I love seeing the reaction on people’s faces when they see the studio for the first time. When they come here they can tangibly touch history.”

Dean said that a day doesn’t go by when someone doesn’t stand inside a Warner Bros. soundstage with him and become overwhelmed with the cinematic history that has taken place within those walls. “Every day I have someone say how incredible it would be if these walls could talk,” said Dean. “I always laugh and tell them that’s my job,” he said with a wink. “I’m the guy who talks on behalf of the walls.”