History of Dexter (TV series) in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: June 20, 2024

"Dexter" is a crime drama TV series set in Miami that aired from 2006 to 2013. The show follows Dexter Morgan, a forensic bloodstain pattern analyst who leads a double life as a vigilante serial killer. He targets murderers who have escaped justice due to flaws in the legal system. The first season is based on Jeff Lindsay's novel "Darkly Dreaming Dexter," but later seasons developed independently while incorporating elements from the book series.

2002: Launch of IMDb.com Pro

IMDb.com Pro, a subscription service providing comprehensive information and resources for entertainment professionals, was launched in 2002.

2004: Publication of "Darkly Dreaming Dexter"

In 2004, "Darkly Dreaming Dexter", the first novel in Jeff Lindsay's series featuring the character Dexter Morgan, was published. This novel would serve as the basis for the first season of the TV series.

2004: Nielsen Begins Including Premium Cable Shows in Ratings

Nielsen, the television audience measurement company, started incorporating original shows from premium cable channels into its ratings system in 2004, changing the television landscape by providing a more comprehensive view of viewership across different platforms.

October 1, 2006: "Dexter" Premieres on Showtime

On October 1, 2006, the crime drama television series "Dexter", premiered on Showtime.

December 14, 2006: Michael C. Hall Nominated for Golden Globe

On December 14, 2006, Michael C. Hall received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his portrayal of Dexter Morgan at the 64th Golden Globe Awards.

2006: "Dexter" Premieres to Critical Acclaim

During the 2006 fall season, "Dexter" premiered to largely positive reviews, becoming the third-highest-rated show of that season based on Metacritic scores, which aggregated reviews from 27 critics.

August 2007: Dexter: Music from the Showtime Original Series Release

The soundtrack for the Dexter TV series, "Dexter: Music from the Showtime Original Series," was released in August 2007, featuring music from the show's first two seasons.

December 2007: Parents Television Council Opposes Potential "Dexter" Broadcast Reruns

In December 2007, the Parents Television Council (PTC) voiced their opposition to CBS's consideration of airing reruns of "Dexter", citing concerns over the show's graphic content and themes.

2007: "Dexter" Awarded Peabody Award

In 2007, "Dexter" received a Peabody Award, recognizing its excellence in storytelling and cultural impact.

January 29, 2008: Parents Television Council Protests "Dexter" Broadcast on YouTube

On January 29, 2008, the Parents Television Council (PTC) publicly objected to CBS's decision to post promotional videos of "Dexter" on YouTube, arguing that the show's content was inappropriate for a wider audience.

February 17, 2008: Edited "Dexter" Premieres on CBS

On February 17, 2008, an edited version of "Dexter" premiered on CBS. The network made cuts to the show's language, sexual content, and scenes depicting violence, aiming to make it more suitable for broadcast television.

December 14, 2008: "Dexter" Season Three Finale Sets Ratings Record for Showtime

Airing on December 14, 2008, the season three finale of "Dexter" drew 1.51 million viewers, establishing a new ratings record for Showtime's original series since 2004, the year Nielsen began factoring in original shows from premium cable channels.

2008: "Dexter" and Michael C. Hall Receive Emmy Nominations

"Dexter" and its lead actor, Michael C. Hall, earned Primetime Emmy Award nominations in 2008. The show was nominated for Outstanding Drama Series, while Hall received a nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

2008: "Dexter" Receives First Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series

In 2008, "Dexter" received its first nomination for Outstanding Drama Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards. This marked the first time a Showtime drama series achieved this recognition.

July 25, 2009: Murder in Spain Potentially Linked to "Dexter"

On July 25, 2009, a man and his girlfriend in Spain were implicated in the murder of his brother and pregnant partner. The man, who possessed the complete DVD collection of "Dexter", reportedly drew inspiration from the show's depiction of crime scene cleanup and methods for concealing evidence.

September 13, 2009: Dexter iPhone Game Release

A video game based on Dexter's first season launched on the iPhone platform on September 13, 2009, allowing fans to interact with the show's universe.

October 25, 2009: Dexter: Early Cuts Premiere

On October 25, 2009, "Dexter: Early Cuts," an animated web series, premiered. Michael C. Hall returned to voice Dexter.

December 13, 2009: "Dexter" Season Four Finale Draws Record Viewership

The season four finale of "Dexter" aired on December 13, 2009, and attracted a record-breaking 2.6 million viewers, making it Showtime's most-watched original series episode at that time.

2009: Andrew Conley Case Links "Dexter" to Real-Life Crime

In 2009, a disturbing case emerged involving 17-year-old Andrew Conley, who confessed to strangling his 10-year-old brother. Conley claimed he was inspired by the TV show "Dexter", drawing a chilling connection between the fictional world of the show and a real-life crime.

February 2010: Dexter Action Figure Announcement

EMCE Toys announced plans to release Dexter action figures in February 2010, further solidifying the show's presence in merchandise and collectibles.

March 2010: Dexter Bust Release

Dark Horse Comics released a Dexter bust in March 2010 as part of its "Last Toys on the Left" series, offering a unique collectible for fans.

April 2010: Trinity Killer Bobblehead Release

In April 2010, a bobblehead doll of the Trinity Killer, a memorable antagonist from Dexter, was released, adding to the show's merchandise line.

July 2010: Dexter Game On Launch

Showtime launched an interactive game, "Dexter Game On," in July 2010, engaging fans in a real-world experience tied to the show's fifth season.

September 2010: Dexter Board Game Release

September 2010 saw the release of a Dexter board game, offering fans a tangible way to engage with the show's characters and themes.

October 15, 2010: Dexter iPad Game Release

On October 15, 2010, the Dexter video game expanded its reach with a release on the iPad platform, further capitalizing on the show's popularity.

October 25, 2010: Dexter: Early Cuts: Dark Echo Premiere

The second season of the Dexter web series, "Dexter: Early Cuts: Dark Echo," debuted on October 25, 2010, exploring Dexter's life after Harry's death.

November 4, 2010: "Dexter" Connection in Swedish Murder Case

On November 4, 2010, a 21-year-old woman in Sweden, referred to as the "Dexter killer" or "Dexter woman," fatally stabbed her 49-year-old father in the heart. During questioning, she drew parallels between herself and Dexter Morgan, and her phone displayed a picture of the character when her father called, suggesting a possible influence from the show on her actions.

2010: Michael C. Hall and John Lithgow Win Golden Globes for "Dexter"

In 2010, both Michael C. Hall and John Lithgow won Golden Globe Awards for their performances in "Dexter" season four. Hall won for Best Actor in a Television Series - Drama, and Lithgow won for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film.

February 15, 2011: Dexter PC Game Release

The Dexter video game became available on PCs on February 15, 2011, marking its expansion beyond mobile platforms and reaching a wider gaming audience.

April 12, 2011: Mark Twitchell Murder Trial

On April 12, 2011, Mark Twitchell was found guilty of the planned murder of Johnny Altinger. The case drew comparisons to Dexter due to the nature of the crime.

July 2011: "Dexter-Inspired" Killer Sentenced in Sweden

In July 2011, the 21-year-old woman in Sweden who had killed her father and claimed a connection to the character Dexter Morgan was sentenced to seven years in prison for her crime.

2011: "Dexter" Earns Fourth Consecutive Emmy Nomination for Outstanding Drama Series

By 2011, "Dexter" had garnered nominations for Outstanding Drama Series at the Primetime Emmy Awards for four consecutive years, solidifying its place as a critically acclaimed show.

2012: "Dexter" Ranks Ninth on IMDb.com Pro's Top-Rated Shows

"Dexter" secured the ninth position on IMDb.com Pro's list of highest-rated shows for the first decade of the platform's existence, spanning from 2002 to 2012.

2012: Michael C. Hall Receives Fifth Consecutive Emmy Nomination for Lead Actor

Michael C. Hall's performance as Dexter Morgan earned him his fifth consecutive nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series at the 2012 Primetime Emmy Awards.

April 2013: Showtime Announces Final Season of "Dexter"

In April 2013, Showtime made the announcement that "Dexter" would conclude after its upcoming eighth season.

July 2013: Dexter Comic Book Series Release

July 2013 marked the debut of a Dexter comic book series written by Jeff Lindsay, the show's creator, expanding the Dexter universe into a new medium.

September 22, 2013: "Dexter" Series Finale Airs

On September 22, 2013, the final episode of the crime drama "Dexter" aired, marking the end of the show's original run.

January 2014: Dexter Prop Auction

An auction of original props from the Dexter series was held in January 2014, giving fans a chance to own a piece of the show's history.

January 24, 2014: Elizabeth Thomas Murder

On January 24, 2014, Elizabeth Thomas was found murdered. Her boyfriend, Steven Miles, who claimed to be obsessed with Dexter, was later convicted of the crime.

October 2, 2014: Steven Miles Sentencing

On October 2, 2014, British teenager Steven Miles was sentenced to 25 years for the murder and dismemberment of his girlfriend, Elizabeth Thomas. Miles' obsession with Dexter was noted during the trial.

2014: Dexter: Down Under Release

In 2014, "Dexter: Down Under," another limited comic book series, continued the expansion of the Dexter narrative in the comic book format.

August 13, 2015: Dexter: Hidden Darkness Release

On August 13, 2015, "Dexter: Hidden Darkness," a hidden object mobile game, was released, allowing players to step into Dexter's shoes and solve crimes.

October 2020: Dexter Revival Announced

In October 2020, Showtime announced the revival of "Dexter" for a 10-episode limited series, with Michael C. Hall reprising his role and Clyde Phillips returning as showrunner.

October 2020: Announcement of "Dexter: New Blood"

The return of "Dexter" was officially announced in October 2020, with a new limited series titled "Dexter: New Blood".

November 17, 2020: Marcos Siega to Direct

On November 17, 2020, Marcos Siega was announced as the director for six episodes of the "Dexter" limited series. He would also executive produce alongside Hall, John Goldwyn, Sara Colleton, Bill Carraro, and Scott Reynolds.

January 2021: Key Casting Decisions

In January 2021, Clancy Brown joined the cast of "Dexter" as Kurt Caldwell, the main antagonist, and David Magidoff was cast as Teddy.

February 2021: Production Begins and Casting Announcements

Production for the "Dexter" revival commenced in February 2021, with a planned fall 2021 premiere. Jamie Chung and Oscar Wahlberg also joined the cast in recurring roles.

June 2021: Dexter Morgan Figure Release

Flashback announced a highly detailed 1/6th scale figure of Dexter Morgan in June 2021, catering to collectors and fans of the show.

June 2021: John Lithgow Returns

June 2021 brought the news that John Lithgow would reprise his role as Arthur Mitchell in the "Dexter" revival.

July 2021: Jennifer Carpenter's Return and Flashbacks

In July 2021, it was revealed that Jennifer Carpenter would also return for the "Dexter" revival, reprising her role. Both Lithgow and Carpenter's characters would appear in flashback scenes.

November 7, 2021: Premiere of "Dexter: New Blood"

"Dexter: New Blood", a ten-episode limited series revival of "Dexter", premiered on November 7, 2021, with Michael C. Hall reprising his role.

January 9, 2022: "Dexter: New Blood" Concludes

On January 9, 2022, the final episode of "Dexter: New Blood", the revival series of "Dexter", aired.

January 11, 2022: Benjamin Beale Arrest

On January 11, 2022, Benjamin Beale was arrested in New Orleans after the discovery of a decapitated body in his freezer. The murder was linked to the show Dexter, drawing significant controversy.

May 18, 2022: Aaftab Poonawala Murder

On May 18, 2022, Aaftab Poonawala murdered his partner, Shraddha Walkar, in Delhi, India. He dismembered her body, storing parts in a refrigerator, a crime inspired by the show Dexter.

January 2023: "Dexter: Original Sin" Prequel Announced

In January 2023, a prequel series titled "Dexter: Original Sin" was announced to be in development, exploring a younger Dexter's early days with the Miami Metro police department.

February 2023: Dexter: New Blood Continuation Announced

In February 2023, "Dexter: New Blood" continuation was announced, focusing on Dexter's son, Harrison Morgan, and his struggles with his own violent nature.