<P> Dean hunts demons, spirits and other supernatural creatures with the help of his younger brother Sam and occasionally with their friend and father figure Bobby Singer and, since season four, his friend the angel Castiel . </P> <P> Dean Winchester was created by Eric Kripke, creator and original showrunner of Supernatural, when he pitched a show to the WB about two brothers who investigate the supernatural . Dean's name is a homage to Jack Kerouac's road - trip novel On the Road, tying into Kripke's concept for an Americana road - trip television series . It was originally intended for the brothers' last name to be "Harrison" as a nod to actor Harrison Ford, as Kripke wanted Dean to have the "devil - may - care swagger of Han Solo ." However, there was a Sam Harrison living in Kansas, so the name had to be changed for legal reasons . Combining his interest in the Winchester Mystery House and his desire to give the series the feel of "a modern - day Western," Kripke settled on the surname of "Winchester ." Dean and his brother Sam are from Lawrence, Kansas, due to its closeness to Stull Cemetery, a location famous for its urban legends . Jensen Ackles, who portrays Dean Winchester, was originally asked to audition for the role of Sam, but preferred the character of Dean after reading the script . </P> <P> Dean Winchester was born on January 24, 1979 to John and Mary Winchester in Lawrence, Kansas . He is the couple's first child, four years older than his younger brother, Sam . He is named after his maternal grandmother, Deanna Campbell . On November 2, 1983, Mary was killed in Sam's nursery by the demon Azazel, and in the ensuing fire Dean was tasked with carrying Sam out to safety while John unsuccessfully tried to rescue Mary . Since then, Dean has felt responsible for Sam and was always given the job to take care of him while they were growing up . </P> <P> John began investigating the cause of Mary's death and in that course learned about the supernatural and the people who hunted them . John became a hunter himself, and trained Dean to be one as well, though both hid the supernatural from Sam until he was 8 years old . The Winchesters constantly moved around the country, living in motels and the homes of John's hunter friends . Dean had a large hand in raising Sam due to John's constantly being away to hunt . When Dean was 16, he was arrested for stealing and spent time in a boy's home where he had the opportunity to go to a regular school, though eventually Dean chose to return to John and Sam . </P>

How old is sam and dean on supernatural
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