Buzz
Initially, Erik King felt uncertain about becoming an internet meme. His portrayal of Sergeant James Doakes, the tenacious officer who harbored deep suspicions about his colleague and secret serial killer Dexter Morgan in Showtime's Dexter, coincided with the rise of online culture capturing memorable moments from film and TV.
“It was strange,” King shares with Mytour. “Having a performance taken out of context was new to me, so it required some adjustment. However, I ultimately found it complimentary.”
In 2016, marking the 10th anniversary of Dexter, Mytour spoke with King about Doakes’s premature demise, the influence of his father on the role, and the skill of catching serial killers off guard with explosive language. Now, 15 years since the show’s debut, as Dexter Morgan prepares for his return, we’re revisiting that insightful discussion.
Was Doakes's intensity evident in the script from the start?
I believe Doakes's identity was clear from the beginning. The intensity was present, but the contempt developed over time. As Dexter continued to evade him, Doakes grew increasingly frustrated. My father worked in federal law enforcement, and I have many relatives and friends in policing, so I drew from their experiences.
Did your father influence the character of Doakes?
Doakes embodies a lot of my father’s traits. He passed away in 2011, but I often teased him, saying, 'This character is basically you.' While exaggerated, my father had no patience for nonsense. If someone parked in front of his house, even on a public street, he wouldn’t hesitate to express his displeasure—often with colorful language. [Laughs]
Doakes and Dexter often engaged in a mental battle, but it sometimes turned physical. Michael C. Hall once mentioned being surprised by your strength during a fight scene. Do you recall that?
I’m genuinely surprised he mentioned that. If he felt that way, he never showed it. Michael is taller than me, so I had to give it my all. Doakes had to confront him with full force, like a bowling ball, to stand his ground because I knew how it would ultimately unfold. As an actor, Michael always delivered.
Doakes’s biggest flaw was his early suspicion of Dexter, which likely sealed his fate. When did you find out he would die at the end of season two?
I was informed about four to six episodes into the 12-episode season. One of the producers kindly called me—something that doesn’t always happen. He said, “I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is, we’re writing some fantastic material for you. The bad news is, your time is limited.” [Laughs] My first concern was how the rest of the cast would take it, as I’ve always been close with them. I knew the energy I brought to the set as Erik King and as Doakes, and I didn’t want it to turn into, “What a pity.” So, I kept it under wraps for as long as possible.
Were you satisfied with how his story concluded?
To stay true to his character, he had to uncover something about Dexter. It couldn’t have been eight or nine seasons of, “I’m watching you, motherf*cker.” That wouldn’t have worked. While I wished the character could’ve stayed longer, I completely understood the decision.
Was there ever any talk about Doakes surviving the cabin explosion?
Not that I was aware of. Once the cabin exploded and debris was scattered everywhere, I had no doubt about his fate.
Doakes had a unique way with words. How did you discover that some of his memorable lines had become internet memes?
I was at a gym in North Carolina, trying to bulk up again, when I was approached about returning for season seven [in a flashback]. A guy came up to me and said, “Have you seen this website? They’ve inserted Doakes into all these other movies.” You know, like Ghost—“surprise, motherf*cker.” Just short clips where someone turns around, and there’s Doakes.
As an actor, it was startling and a bit surreal to see Doakes take on a life of his own. Now, I find it flattering. Lines like “French fries, motherf*cker” and others—I’ve seen them all. [Laughs]
If that was strange, the Doakes bobblehead must have been even more surprising for you.
I own a few of them. They send it to you for approval, asking, “Does it resemble you?” “Yeah, I suppose it kind of looks like me.”
What do you believe would have become of Doakes if he hadn’t encountered Dexter?
He likely would have risen to police captain. Doakes was incredibly driven, with relentless determination—much like Dexter. I always compared them to two pitbulls circling each other. He wouldn’t stop until he uncovered the truth, and we all know how that ended for him.
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