"I want fans to be respectful," the beloved actor said in a recent interview.
It’s not unusual for TV shows and movies to spawn iconic lines that go viral, becoming timeless memes. Dexter is no exception. Since its premiere in October 2006, the show stood apart from other dramas by daring to put a serial killer in the leading role.
But by the end of Season 1, one line was about to define Dexter fandom forever: Sergeant James Doakes storming onto the screen with the now-legendary, “Surprise, motherf***er.” That moment became an internet sensation, and nearly two decades later, it remains one of the most beloved—and memed—quotes in television history.
Now, with Dexter: Resurrection Season 1 wrapped, Erik King who brought Doakes to life, recently sat down with The Brett Allan Show on YouTube. The actor reflected on Doakes’ enduring popularity, his cameo in the new season, and what it’s really like to be approached by fans yelling the infamous quote in public.
Appreciating Dexter and the Gift of Returning as Doakes
“The internet life of Doakes seems to have more legs than the actual character on screen, of course. It feels amazing to have people still appreciate the work.” King said. He continued: “It’s quite a gift to have the producers of the show ask me to come back and join them for Dexter: Resurrection. And I’m a fan of the show, man, so I’m glued anyway. To have the opportunity to come back and hang out with my cast members and give the audience a little something special—it was a gift.
Building the Character of James Doakes
“Jeff Lindsay’s books. Darkly Dreaming Dexter, I believe the first one was—I did read that book. We were encouraged not to read beyond that because the story was going to go in different directions. ” the actor said. He also added: “Of course, I took a peek at some other versions of Dexter, but Jeff had already laid a strong foundation of who Doakes was. We knew he was a ball buster. We knew he was a great cop. We knew he would keep pursuing until things made sense for him. Unfortunately, when they did make sense, he had to go.
It was well drawn from the very beginning. My father was an ex-police officer, so I’d had some experience being around cops.”
Did Erik King Know Doakes’ Death Was Coming?
The actor revealed that he didn’t know at the beginning. “I don’t think it would be smart to tell an actor early on that their character is going to die, unless they have a limited contract. You never want to play the end of the story. But probably four episodes out from my death, I was told. They were gracious, thoughtful, and supportive. The cast and crew were like family.
But I also attribute that to the fans. The internet, social media, memes—they kept Doakes alive. The ‘Surprise, motherf***er’ meme, the ‘You can’t prove it’ memes—that’s the fans, man. We have to give it to them. I had no idea. We didn’t have social media then the way we do now. Back then it was Vine, not Instagram stories and TikTok edits. I had no idea it would end up like this.”
Living With the “Surprise, Motherf***er” Meme in Real Life
Erik King was pretty honest when it comes to his response: “It is great to still be able to talk about the show. I don't mind talking about it. I think sometimes when I'm walking in the street and somebody comes up to me and says, ‘Surprise, motherf***er,’ out of nowhere, and I'm going to Costco, it takes me a minute. I want the fans to be respectful. But yeah, I'm proud of the work. I'm proud of our writers. I'm proud of the producers who created this beautiful juggernaut that all of us still enjoy.”
He also added: “It's crazy how long it's lasted. Like the fact that it's continued this long. And when I make the comment about ‘Surprise, motherf***er,’ I'm saying that when I'm moving through my life and I'm not thinking about that, and I'm at Costco and somebody says that to me, I'm not thinking Dexter.”
Separating Doakes From Erik King: Fans See the Difference
“Most of the time.” King said and then he continued: “The joy about it is that when I get to really converse with people, hang out with people, they say, oh, they always say to me, ‘You’re so nice. I didn’t… You’re a nice guy.’ I’m like, did you really think I was Doakes, man? Like for real? I'm thinking, what are we doing here? So yeah, it's all gravy. It's all a great opportunity to do the work and give the fans something that they enjoy.”
Watch the full interview with Erik King below: