The actor, who recently earned his first Emmy for HBO Max’s The Pitt, opened up about his role in Dexter Season 5.
Believe it or not, Dexter first premiered 19 years ago. Over its eight-season run — plus the Dexter: New Blood revival — the series introduced dozens of guest stars. Many of them met the same fate: strapped to Dexter Morgan’s infamous kill table. For those actors, the experience wasn’t exactly glamorous. Several have admitted in interviews that lying motionless under plastic wrap was far from comfortable.
One of those guest stars was Shawn Hatosy, who fans may remember as Boyd Fowler, Dexter’s second victim in Season 5’s chilling Barrel Girl Case. Hatosy, now known for his acclaimed role in HBO Max’s The Pitt, appeared in Episodes 2 and 3 back in 2010 — and left a lasting impression.
Boyd Fowler: A Disturbed Character in Dexter Season 5
Boyd Fowler wasn’t just another villain. On the surface, he worked for Miami-Dade County’s Department of Sanitation, cleaning roadkill off the streets. But Dexter quickly discovered his darker side after noticing drops of blood in a rental van Boyd had used.
That discovery led Dexter into the Everglades, where he watched Boyd dump a barrel into a swamp. Returning later that night, Dexter uncovered the horrifying truth: the swamp was a graveyard filled with barrels containing the murdered victims of Boyd and his associates, all connected to motivational speaker-turned-monster Jordan Chase (Jonny Lee Miller).
After a tense game of cat and mouse, Boyd eventually ended up on Dexter’s kill table — one of the most memorable early kills of Season 5. His death also set the stage for Dexter meeting Lumen (Julia Stiles), a key figure in that season’s story arc.
Shawn Hatosy on Playing Boyd Fowler
This summer, following his first Emmy nomination (and eventual win) for The Pitt, Hatosy reflected on his short but impactful stint in Dexter. Asked if he’d ever consider reprising the role in Dexter: Resurrection, the upcoming sequel series, he didn’t hesitate:
“Absolutely. That was a delicious character,” Hatosy said when reflecting on Boyd Fowler. “So much going on; too many layers. I really enjoyed getting into his shoes.”
While the actor expressed gratitude for the experience of joining Dexter, his feelings toward Boyd himself were far less warm — and understandably so. “Talk about disturbed. It’s hard to find something to love about Boyd... but I did. I think he had a true appreciation for animals, dead or alive,” Hatosy said with a laugh during an interview with Deadline.
Could Boyd Fowler Return in Dexter: Resurrection?
At first glance, Boyd’s return might sound impossible — after all, Dexter killed him 15 years ago. But Dexter has a history of bringing back dead characters through dream sequences, hallucinations, and psychological callbacks. In fact, Dexter: Resurrection has already teased the return of iconic figures like Arthur (John Lithgow), Miguel (Jimmy Smits), and even Doakes (Erik King).
Still, the chances of Boyd reappearing are slim. Unlike Arthur or Miguel, Fowler didn’t have a major long-term impact on Dexter’s psyche. Outside of introducing Lumen, his storyline was neatly closed. That said, fans know better than to rule anything out in the Dexter universe — especially with Hatosy himself expressing genuine enthusiasm about returning.
15 Years Later, Boyd Fowler Still Resonates
