Fans are in disbelief after David Zayas shared how many hats Batista actually wore during the series.
In Hollywood, wardrobes play a huge role in shaping a character’s identity. As TV shows progress season after season, these wardrobes often grow richer and more detailed, and Dexter is no exception.
Many of the show’s outfits had multiple copies, especially Dexter Morgan’s iconic olive-green “kill shirt” and matching cargo pants, which became one of the most recognizable looks in the series.
But when it comes to memorable fashion choices in Dexter, few stand out quite like Angel Batista’s signature fedora hats. Played by David Zayas, Batista’s tropical shirts and stylish fedoras perfectly matched both his Cuban heritage and the sun-soaked Miami setting of the show.
Zayas portrayed Angel Batista in 96 episodes of the original Dexter series, two episodes of Dexter: New Blood, and 10 more in Dexter: Resurrection. Recently, during the Dexter panel at Scaradise 2025 in Tampa, the actor was asked by a fan just how many fedoras his character actually wore throughout the series.
And the answer? It’s way more than you might think.
Before revealing the number, Zayas laughed and admitted that he kept quite a few himself:
“Well, I took about 20, so there were a lot more than that,” he said.
He then added:
“In every episode, there was a new hat. You know, there were about 100 episodes, and I think it was 100 new hats. I loved some more than others, but they were all pretty cool.”
That means Angel Batista wore roughly 108 different fedoras across his appearances in Dexter, New Blood, and Resurrection. While some of the hats may have looked similar, Zayas confirmed that nearly every episode featured a brand-new one.
This fun behind-the-scenes detail highlights the incredible attention to detail of Dexter’s costume department. Even for a supporting character like Batista, the team went above and beyond to make sure his look was both authentic and memorable (cosplayers seem to love it), turning a such simple accessory into a defining part of his identity.
It’s small details like these that remind us fans why Dexter remains one of television’s most meticulously crafted shows.