A respected blood splatter analyst for Miami Metro Homicide, father and vigilante serial killer who tracks down and methodically murders murderers.
He is, rather surprisingly, a thoroughly likeable chap.
Perhaps it's because he follows "The Code" when he kills - Dexter's victims must be killers themselves who have killed someone without justifiable cause and will likely do so again.
Or perhaps it's because we sympathise with him - orphaned at the age of 3 when his mother was murdered, he has been struggling to control his murderous impulses his whole life. He does not know what normal is.
Michael C. Hall, the award-winning actor who brings Dexter to life on our screens, believes it's because there could be a little bit of Dexter in all of us. We all have our secrets.
"I think we live in a world where we don't often feel in control and he's someone who has taken a form of control. I think people relish the opportunity to identify with someone, who is, on paper, doing reprehensible things," he told Signal.
Whatever it is, it has won an audience of millions, rave reviews and a host of awards.
"The show appeals to different people for different reasons, but I think one of the basic reasons is while he is killing people, we give over to a sense that he has no choice but to serve his dark passenger."
Hall is speaking from a restaurant in Auckland where the 40-year-old, perhaps best known in New Zealand for his role as David Fisher in Six Feet Under, is indulging in some East Coast oysters and blue cod.
Hall, his publicity officer and a mate - "he's the minister of weekend activities" - are in New Zealand undertaking publicity duties for Sky channel Soho.
Although their work will be in the North Island, Hall says the trio will take time to visit Milford Sound and indulge in some adventure activities in Queenstown.
"New Zealand is so beautiful, it's got such natural beauty. I'm told Milford and the South Island is really beautiful."
The sixth season of Dexter went to air on Soho last Tuesday.
The first episode opened with Dexter appearing to be squirming in pain. He calls 911 and requests paramedics for what he says is a stab wound.
It is all part of a plan to draw two specific paramedics who, Dexter has found, let innocent patients die for their personal monetary gain.
Dexter kills them both with defibrillators.
It is a nice change to his favoured technique of wrapping his victims in cling wrap to catch the blood, stabbing them and disposing of their remains at sea.
Despite rumours in the United States a seventh series could be be in jeopardy because Hall is demanding $1 million an episode - an issue he declines to talk about - he is confident filming will go ahead.
"That was all blown out of proportion. It's pretty much all locked down. There will be a series seven."
Having work and his personal life in the public eye is something Hall is used to.
On January 13 last year, Hall's agent confirmed he was undergoing treatment for Hodgkin's lymphoma. He accepted his Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award in 2010 while wearing a knitted cap over his bald head and he wore a wig for most of series 5 of Dexter.
On April 25, 2010, it was announced Hall was in remission.
Last week, he said he was still healthy and rarely thought of what could have been.
"I've been in remission for going on two years. I was lucky enough to catch it relatively early.
"I don't worry about it at all. There's a real futility in worrying. I'm just glad I'm here and healthy."
While Hall is concentrating this week on enjoying some bungy jumping in Queenstown, his long-term plan is a little broader.
"Where will I be in 10 years? Hopefully living on planet Earth."
• The sixth season of Dexter screens on Tuesdays at 8.30pm on SoHo.
