Direction Unit: Research

Character Profile

Dexter Morgan

 

Age: 30-40 years old

Job title: Forensics expert and blood splatter analyst at Miami Metro Police Department

Dexter, as a young boy, witnessed the murder of his mother and was left for two days in a shipping container filled with blood. He was adopted by Harry Morgan, a detective from Miami Metro Homicide, who found that Dexter had an ongoing urge to kill. Harry took it upon himself to teach Dexter a "code" so he would be able to satisfy his urges and kill those who deserved it without getting caught. 

Dexter considers himself to be emotionally withdrawn from the rest of humanity, he doesn't understand "humans" and their desires or normal relationships with others. He often feels empty inside and the only way he is able to feel alive is to carry out a satisfying kill. He interacts with humans using a well-rehearsed act to conceal his true nature. 

Despite his "dark passenger", he is incredibly loyal to his family, particularly to his deceased father Harry. He has a sister, Debra (Harry's biological daughter), who he would never harm or tell her his secret. 

His traits include being responsible, always paying bills, taking one holiday off work a year, always being on time and always answering his phone. He has a clean record and is neat and organised, especially whilst carrying out a kill and always following Harry's code by leaving no evidence at the scene and being careful. His speech tends to be monotone and when caught off-guard, he verbally stumbles. he can be quite awkward, unable to read social cues. He possesses and inner voice, his "dark passenger", and tends to hallucinate seeing Harry under high stress situations. He becomes perplexed by boisterous socialising and buddy behaviour, such as going out and partying with his workmates. He is usually self-sufficient and uncomfortable relying on others for anything, but he can also be a pushover and non-assertive when asked to do something by others.

Michael C. Hall, who plays Dexter, had an interview on Jonathan Ross's show. He talks about Dexter, the character, and how he works to portray him by practising and feeling what it's like to "stalk people" and other methods.

Here's a scene from the first season. Dexter headbutts Sgt. Doakes, a detective working in the same department, who has suspicions over Dexter and gives him the creeps. This shows Dexter's violent, mental side and how he can act and appear normal to everyone else that they feel sympathy for him when Doakes attacks him. It shows how Dexter knows how he appears to everyone else and his ability to twist a situation.