Yes, it’s true: Hall doesn’t find it easy to leave the character behind once filming wraps.
For nearly two decades, Dexter Morgan has stood as one of television’s most iconic antiheroes. Long before dark protagonists became a mainstream trend, Showtime’s Dexter emerged in 2006 and reshaped the TV landscape. At the time, Tony Soprano reigned supreme as the ultimate complex character, but Dexter quickly carved his own legacy—ushering in a new wave of morally ambiguous leads that continues to this day.
Michael C. Hall, who masterfully portrayed Dexter Morgan, has often expressed his deep connection to the role. But like many actors who embody a beloved character for years, the experience can be both a blessing and a creative challenge.
Hall played Dexter for eight seasons from 2006 to 2013, then returned for 2021’s Dexter: New Blood. Following the controversial ending of that revival, Hall himself acknowledged it was a mistake to kill off the character. He later initiated conversations to bring Dexter back—ultimately leading to the now fan-favorite Dexter: Resurrection.
But how challenging is it for Hall to step back into the shoes of a character so complex, so psychologically layered—especially after long breaks in between? Or, perhaps the better question is: is it difficult at all?
During a recent interview at San Diego Comic-Con, in a sit-down with Rotten Tomatoes correspondent Mark Ellis, Hall was asked a striking question:
"Is it harder to get into character or harder to get out of character as Dexter Morgan?"
With a knowing smirk and that unmistakable glint in his eyes—the same look that sends chills down our spines—Hall answered without hesitation:
"Out of…"
He elaborated:
"I think he's there, you know, if he needs to be gotten into. I mean, I'm not insane. I don't think I'm him," he clarified. "But I definitely have found, like, finishing up this season, it's taken a little longer to, you know, stop that phase where you're just sort of standing there in the middle of the grocery store aisle wondering what to do with yourself. I don't know. It's tricky. But I would say 'out of.'"
His response offers a fascinating glimpse into the psychological toll and muscle memory that comes with portraying someone like Dexter—a meticulous serial killer who walks the line between justice and monstrosity.
For Hall, returning to the role is like riding a bike—one finely tuned over years of adapting Dexter’s unique mannerisms, emotional detachment, and razor-sharp presence. But slipping out of that mindset takes time. It lingers. It follows him home.
And yet, it’s exactly this level of immersion that continues to make Michael C. Hall’s performance so compelling—and why Dexter Morgan remains one of the most unforgettable characters in television history.