Home / Arts and Entertainment / Rita's Shocking Death: Benz & Lithgow Recall Dexter Finale
Rita's Shocking Death: Benz & Lithgow Recall Dexter Finale
29 Oct
Summary
- Actress Julie Benz wasn't over Rita's shocking death 17 years later.
- John Lithgow reveals the Dexter finale's ending was initially fake.
- The shocking death of Rita Morgan profoundly impacted the show.
Seventeen years after her character Rita Morgan's shocking death on "Dexter," actress Julie Benz confessed she has not yet come to terms with the pivotal event. Benz, who initially auditioned for the role of Deb, found a profound connection with Rita, seeing her as a symbol of hope in the otherwise dark series. Rita's demise, following the birth of her son Harrison, marked a turning point.
John Lithgow, who portrayed the Trinity Killer, Arthur Mitchell, shared his surprise at the show's creative choices. Lithgow initially encountered a "meh" ending during a table read, only to learn it was a deliberate deception to conceal Rita's murder. He described the character of Arthur Mitchell as a fascinating duality.
The season 4 finale, "The Getaway," featured Dexter Morgan killing Arthur Mitchell, only to return home and find Rita dead in the bathtub. This game-changing twist, kept secret from the cast, profoundly impacted audiences and the show's narrative arc, with Michael C. Hall noting it was the first time Dexter truly lost control.
