DEXTER is based on the compelling novel “Darkly Dreaming Dexter” by Jeff Lindsay, a South Florida native. Orphaned at the age of four and harbouring a traumatic secret, Dexter is adopted by a police officer who recognizes Dexter’s homicidal tendencies and guides his son to channel his gruesome passion for human vivisection in a constructive way - by killing those heinous perpetrators who are above the law or who have slipped through the cracks of justice. A respected member of the police force, a perfect gentleman and a man with a soft spot for children, it's hard not to like Dexter. Although his drive to kill is unflinching, he struggles to emulate normal emotions he doesn't feel, and to keep up his appearance as a caring, socially responsible human being.

Awards:

Dexter Season 1 won the Best DVD Release of a TV Show in Satellite Awards 2007.

Dexter Season 1 won the Best Television Series, Drama in Satellite Awards 2007.

Michael C. Hall won the Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television in 2007 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA.

Michael C. Hall won the Individual Achievement in Drama in Television Critics Association Awards 2007.

Michael C. Hall won the Best Actor in a Series, Drama in Satellite Awards 2007.

Lauren Vélez won the Best Actress (Drama) in NAMIC Vision Awards 2007.

David Zayas Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in Satellite Awards 2007.

Eric S. Anderson (creative director), Josh Bodnar (editor), Lindsay Daniels (designer) and Colin Davis (main title producer) won the Outstanding Main Title Design in Emmy Awards 2007.

Elena Maganini (editor) won the Outstanding Single Camera Picture Editing for a Drama Series in Emmy Awards 2007.

Characters:

DEXTER MORGAN played by Michael C. Hall
He'll charm fellow officers with a doughnut, wile away a Sunday with his girlfriend Rita, or chop up a victim and package their body parts in plastic bags. Hiding beneath the mundane exterior and contrived façade of Dexter, a charming blood spatter expert for the Miami Police Department, is an obsession with meting his own twisted brand of justice: stalking and murdering the guilty.

RITA BENNETT played by Julie Benz
Rita's everything Dexter's looking for in a girlfriend: broken and sexually disinterested. Surviving a violent ex-husband and harbouring the mental scars to prove it, Rita is struggling to raise two kids on her own. Together, Dexter and Rita attempt to create a sense of normalcy in their often twisted lives.

DEBRA MORGAN played by Jennifer Carpenter
As Dexter puts it about his cop sister, "if I could have feelings at all, I'd have them for Deb." Her career ambitions — getting out of vice and into homicide — fall short due to insecurity and the belief within the department that she does her best police work in a 'sex suit'. Deb looks up to Dexter but senses there is more to him than meets the eye.

SGT. DOAKES played by Erik King
An ill-tempered vet, Doakes is the one cop on the force, supposed experts in judging character, who suspects something isn't quite right with Dexter.

LT. MARIA LAGUERTA played by Lauren Vélez
Whether a wink, a sly look or hand on his shoulder, Lt. LaGuerta, the division's boss and resident dictator, makes no attempt to hide her sexual interest in Dexter.

ANGEL BATISTA played by David Zayas
A fellow homicide detective, Batista works closely with Dexter on forensics cases and while he may not share Dexter's blood lust, he definitely appreciates the art of killing.

HARRY MORGAN played by James Remar
Harry Morgan, Dexter's adopted father and a former homicide detective, was first to spot Dexter's passion for human vivisection and helped his son channel his homicidal impulses in a more constructive pursuit: delivering vigilante justice.

VINCENT MASUKA played by C.S. Lee
Masuka is the wise-cracking forensic expert who assists Dexter in crime scene investigations, who's never too busy to make an inappropriate pass at Debra.