Why the actor in Dexter: Original Sin looked older than he was supposed to.
It’s been three months since Dexter: Original Sin wrapped its thrilling first season, and fans are already buzzing about what’s next. With Season 2 officially greenlit, the cast will soon receive updates about when filming will resume for the highly anticipated sophomore season.
One of the most widely praised aspects of Dexter: Original Sin was its stellar casting. While early skepticism surrounded the casting choices—especially concerns about certain actors not resembling their original-series counterparts—many of those doubts were quickly put to rest as the season unfolded.
However, not all casting choices were met without criticism. A particular point of discussion among fans was the portrayal of little Dexter Morgan in flashback scenes. Eli Sherman, the young actor tasked with playing toddler Dexter, left some viewers scratching their heads due to his age and appearance.
Why Did Little Dexter Look Older Than Expected?
Since Dexter: Original Sin is a prequel chronicling the early life of our favorite vigilante serial killer, it naturally includes multiple flashbacks. While longtime fans were already familiar with bits of Dexter’s traumatic backstory—thanks to flashbacks in the original series—Original Sin expanded significantly on the story of Laura Moser (Dexter’s mother), her relationship with Harry Morgan, and the events leading to her tragic demise.
Throughout the 10-episode run of Original Sin, viewers witnessed numerous flashback scenes that span roughly one year in young Dexter’s life. In these scenes, Dexter is supposed to be around two to three years old, just as he was in the original show’s flashbacks. Yet many fans noticed that Eli Sherman appeared noticeably older than a typical toddler.
A Look Back: Who Played Toddler Dexter in the Original Series?
For comparison, the original Dexter series also featured a slightly older-looking version of three-year-old Dexter. That role was portrayed by Maxwell Huckabee, a child actor known for appearances in Mad Men, Alias, Bones, and Chuck.
Fun fact: Eli Sherman was six years old while filming Dexter: Original Sin. Maxwell Huckabee, by contrast, was five when he portrayed the same character in the original series. Neither actor was actually three years old at the time of filming.
Why Don’t Shows Cast Actual 3-Year-Olds?
It might seem odd at first, but there’s a reason why a lot of TV shows and movies cast older kids to play much younger characters—it’s not a mistake, but a very deliberate choice in Hollywood.
For starters, labor laws are a big factor. Children under four have strict limits on how long they can work each day. That makes filming harder, slower, and more expensive. Beyond legal restrictions, toddlers are just not very predictable on set. They have short attention spans, can’t always follow direction, and often struggle with consistency between takes. Directors need reliability, and older children are simply easier to manage.
Then there’s the question of acting. Most three-year-olds can’t convincingly deliver dialogue or express complex emotions. Older kids—like Eli Sherman, for example—can tap into more nuanced performances that feel believable on screen. That’s essential for roles that involve real emotional weight.
Comfort and safety on set matter too. Long filming days and emotionally intense scenes can be overwhelming, even for adults. A slightly older child is usually better equipped, both mentally and physically, to handle those demands.
Of course, the magic of filmmaking helps bridge the gap. Costumes, camera angles, set design, and even posture coaching can help older kids look and feel younger on screen. That’s exactly what happened with both Sherman and Huckabee in their respective roles.
In Dexter: Original Sin, Sherman had a lot more to do than his predecessor. With more screen time and deeper emotional scenes—especially with Laura, Brian, and Harry—it was essential to cast someone capable of carrying that kind of narrative load.
A Performance That Surpassed Expectations
Despite the challenges of portraying a character so young—especially in scenes involving blood, trauma, and emotionally intense content—Eli Sherman delivered a performance that many fans felt was both memorable and touching.
Bonus Fact: Eli Sherman recently turned seven years old in late April, marking another milestone for the young actor whose role left an impression on Dexter fans.
Will Eli reprise his role in Season 2? Everything depends on the direction the series takes.