| Dexter Morgan | |
|---|---|
| Dexter character | |
 Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan | |
| First appearance | Novels: Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004) Television: "Dexter" (episode 1.01; 2006) |
| Last appearance | Novels: Dexter Is Dead (2015) Television: "Sins of the Father" (episode 9.10; 2022) |
| Created by | Jeff Lindsay |
| Portrayed by |
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| In-universe information | |
| Alias |
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| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | |
| Family |
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| Spouse | Rita Bennett |
| Significant other |
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| Children |
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| Home | Miami, Florida |
| Nationality | American |
Dexter Morgan is a fictional character introduced as the antihero protagonist of the Dexter book series written by Jeff Lindsay, as well as the television series of the same name. In the television series, Dexter is portrayed by Michael C. Hall.
In both the novels and television series, Dexter is a forensic blood spatter analyst who works for the fictitious Miami-Metro Police Department. In his spare time, he is a vigilante serial killer who targets other murderers who have evaded the justice system. Dexter follows a code of ethics taught to him in childhood by his adoptive father, Harry, which he refers to as "The Code" or "The Code of Harry" and hinges on two principles: He can only kill people after finding conclusive evidence that they are guilty of murder, and he must not get caught. Dexter refers to his homicidal urges as his "Dark Passenger"; when he can no longer ignore his need to kill, he "lets the Dark Passenger do the driving".
Dexter's novel appearances include Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004), Dearly Devoted Dexter (2005), Dexter in the Dark (2007), Dexter by Design (2009), Dexter Is Delicious (2010), Double Dexter (2011), Dexter's Final Cut (2013), and Dexter Is Dead (2015). In 2006, the first novel was adapted into the Showtime TV series Dexter and its companion web series Dexter: Early Cuts. Season one is largely based on the first novel, Darkly Dreaming Dexter (2004), but the following seasons veered away from the rest of the book series.
For his performance as Dexter, Hall has received critical acclaim. In 2009, he was awarded a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series or Drama. Paste ranked Dexter Morgan number 6 on their list of the 20 Best Characters of 2011.[1] In addition, Hall was awarded a Television Critics Association Award for Individual Achievement in Drama in 2007, and was nominated five times for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Hall reprised his role as Dexter in the miniseries Dexter: New Blood.
- ^ Jackson, Josh (December 5, 2011). "The 20 Best TV Characters of 2011". Paste. Archived from the original on June 26, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2012.