Dexter cast ages: How old were the actors then and now?

Dexter has just hit Netflix with plans for a new prequel series! So what better time to see how old the actors are today?

Debuting in 2006, Dexter was an instant sensation for Showtime. Based on the series of novels by Jeff Lindsey, Dexter focuses on Dexter Morgan, a crime scene analyst for the Miami PD who also happens to be a serial killer. Don't worry; he only targets other murderers and uses his lab skills to hide his crimes.

The show was a hit, running for eight seasons and packing in some amazing thrills. Its series finale was seen as a huge letdown to the point a sequel series, Dexter: New Blood, had to correct it. Now, there are plans for a prequel series, Dexter: Original Sin, to premiere next year.

We shared a look at the cast back when the series premiered!

Michael C. Hall as Dexter Morgan

Born: February 1, 1971

Age when Dexter premiered: 35

Age today: 53

Michael C. Hall had already made a mark for himself playing David Fisher on the acclaimed HBO series Six Feet Under. His role as Dexter won him a Golden Globe Award with critics hailing his amazing turn as this twisted yet oddly sympathetic killer who also tried to be a good father and husband. 

Aside from reprising the role for Dexter: New Blood, Hall's main work on TV since the series has been voice roles or miniseries like The Defeated. Since Dexter, he's mostly stuck to the stage, including starring in the Broadway musical Hedwig and the Angry Inch, but he is expected to narrate the Original Sin prequel to keep his connection to the character. 

Julie Benz as Rita Bennett

Born: May 1, 1972

Age when Dexter premiered: 34

Age today: 52

Breaking out as the vampire Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel, Julie Benz plays Rita, the single mom who falls for Dexter, unaware of her true nature. She was a great bright spot on the dark show which made it shocking when her character was murdered in the Season 4 finale. It did earn her both a Saturn and Satellite award for Best Supporting Actress

Benz has kept quite busy on TV since Dexter with No Ordinary Family, Defiance, Hawaii Five-O, Training Day, and most recently, a recurring role on 911: Lone Star. It shows her wonderful versatility, and Benz is a popular TV actress who can slip into any role. 

Jennifer Carpenter as Debra Morgan

Born: December 7, 1979

Age when Dexter premiered: 27

Age now: 44

The year Dexter premiered was a big year for Jennifer Carpenter as the then-27-year-old actress broke out in the horror movie The Exorcism of Emily Rose. Then, Carpenter joined Dexter. As Debra, Dexter's adoptive sister, she was a dedicated but troubled cop who had a lot of personal problems while not grasping her brother's dark side. The pair did have a complex relationship that took Debra to dark places by the series finale. 

Carpenter and Hall were married in 2008, but they divorced just over two years later while continuing to work together on the show. Carpenter has since appeared in the TV shows, such as Limitless and The Enemy Within. She also reprised the role of Debra in New Blood to bring the character to a unique close. 

Erik King as James Doakes

Born: April 21, 1963

Age when Dexter premiered: 46

Age today: 61

Appearing in numerous TV shows in the 1990s, Erik King had his biggest role as a convict on Oz. He was a prime player in Dexter's first two seasons, as James Doakes was the one detective who suspected Dexter of foul play. That led to a cat-and-mouse game culminating in a dark end for Doakes in the Season 2 finale. 

King has kept busy since the show ended with scores of TV appearances, although he hasn't acted on TV since a 2020 stint on The Good Fight. Hopefully, he can be back on the scene soon. 

Lauren Velez as Maria LaGuerta

Born: November 2, 1964

Age when Dexter premiered: 42

Age today: 59

Sometimes confused with her identical twin sister Lorraine, Lauren Velez had her breakout as cop Nina Moreno on the Fox series New York Undercover. That was followed by a role on Oz before joining Dexter as Maria LaGuerta, the Lieutenant whose political ambitions often overrode her reason. Maria trying to prove herself went too far, leading to a brutal end for her in the Season 7 finale. 

Velez has kept busy on TV with roles on Ugly Betty, How to Get Away With Murder and Power Book II: Ghost. She currently stars on the Prime Video drama American Rust.

David Zayas as Angel Batista

Born: August 15, 1962

Age when Dexter premiered: 44

Age today: 61

A real-life NYPD officer for 15 years, David Zayas used that experience for his acting career. After a good role in Oz, Zayas was well cast as Angel Batista, the fedora-wearing, laid-back detective with good humor. He was a key part of the show for its entire run, including a promotion to Lieutenant in the final season. He was the backbone of the series.

Zayas has been a steady and regular guest star on dozens of TV shows since Dexter ended. He's had more regular roles in Shut Eye, Gotham, and Bloodline, with recurring turns in Blue Bloods, FBI and reprised the role of Angel in New Blood to remain a TV series fixture. 

James Remar as Harry Mogan

Born: December 31, 1953

Age when Dexter premiered: 53

Age today: 70

Already a veteran of TV and movies, James Remar was a good choice as Harry Morgan, Dexter's adoptive father, a cop who channeled his darkness into his crusade. Remar played the role in flashbacks and the "dark passenger" counseling Dexter. 

It'd take far too long to list Remar's credits since Dexter, as he's appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows, from blockbusters like X-Men, Transformers, and Oppenheimer to a regular role on the CW series, Black Lightning. Anywhere he appears, Remar's tone make for a terrific performance. 

C.S. Lee as Vince Masuka

Born: December 30, 1971

Age when Dexter premiered: 35

Age today: 52

A recurring character in the first season of Dexter, Vince Masuka became so popular that he was made a regular for the rest of the show's run. His sardonic and raunchy humor clashed with Dexter as he also harbored a crush on Debra. C.S. Lee was well cast for the part and had a nice sense of humor.

Lee has been appearing in more TV shows like Chicago Med, For All Mankind and The Brothers Sun. He is a dependable actor, as well as an advocate for Asian representation in film.

Desmond Harrington as Joey Quinn

Born: October 19, 1976

Age when Dexter premiered: 30

Age today: 47

Debuting in the third season, Joey Quinn was a new Miami PD detective partnered with Debra and had some feelings for her. They did live together, but Quinn's temper and tendency to get into trouble landed him in a few scrapes over the years. Desmond Harrington had starred in films like Ghost Ship before landing the role.

Since Dexter, Harrington has starred as Jack Bass on Gossip Girl and reunited with Carpenter on CBS' Limitless. He most recently starred on Elementary and 2020's Manhunt series to show he can't let go of playing cops. 

Aimee Garcia as Jamie Batista

Born: November 28, 1978

Age when Dexter premiered: 28

Age today: 45

Debuting in season 6, Jamie was Angel's younger sister who came to Miami to attend graduate school and was hired as Dexter's nanny. Known for her feisty attitude, she had a relationship with Quinn as she was promoted to a regular for the show's final season.

Aimee Garcia had appeared in several short-lived sitcoms before Dexter that showed her great comic timing. She's best known now for playing quirky medical examiner Ella on Lucifer and most recently the Hulu comedy Woke.

Geoff Pierson as Tom Matthews

Born: June 16, 1949

Age when Dexter premiered: 57

Age today: 75

While not a main cast member, Geoff Pierson was a regular presence on Dexter as Tom Matthews, the Deputy Chief of the Miami PD. Matthews had a lot of flaws from his bigotries to caring more about political office. Yet, he cared for Dexter's father and did become an unlikely ally later in the show's run

Geoff Pierson had been a TV show star since 1980's Texas soap opera and a run on Ryan's Hope. In the 1990s, he had a nice revival with the sticomes Grace Under Fire and Unhappily Ever After. He's kept busy on TV with guest turns and recurring roles on Designated Survivor, 24 and most recently City on Fire to show he's good at both drama and comedy.

All eight seasons of Dexter are now streaming on Netflix.