"Dexter" Stars Talk John Lithgow and What's Ahead For Season 5

[JamesG]

As fans reel from Dexter's season 4 finale shocker, several of the show's stars are still savoring their experiences shooting it, and particularly the addition of guest star John Lithgow. The Oscar-nominated actor (and 3rd Rock from the Sun alum) played this past season's resident baddie, the Trinity Killer -- a religious family man whose charitable works belied his dark side.

"It's been fantastic," said C.S. Lee, who plays show's geeky forensics expert, Vince Masuka. Lee and fellow stars spoke with AOL TV at Sunday's Dexter finale party in Los Angeles.

"I knew right from the first three or four episodes in [that] it was going to be great. Having John Lithgow with us -- he's an amazing actor, an amazing guy. And he's so nice in person, that when you see him play this serial killer, it's that much more creepy -- because you're drawn to him, and next thing you know, he's going to chop you on the head with a hammer."


"All the things that you learn as an actor, he does," Lee continued.

"He's there, he's ready, he's willing to go anywhere that the director wants him to go, and he's willing to work with the actors in terms of where the scene will go, and comes up with the best idea, in the interest of the show."



And Lithgow's presence resonated with everyone on the cast.

Season 4's other new addition -- namely Marty, the affable coffee cart guy at Miami Metro -- also took note. "Here I was in this dinky little trailer, and I walk outside and there's John Lithgow's trailer," laughed Alex Lewis, who plays the fist-bumping barista. "It was intimidating."



Despite the Trinity Killer's penchant for racking up a body count, Lithgow gushed about his murderous role.

"You hear actors pay tribute to writers all the time," he said. "But this really was an unusual bunch ... They build these 12 episodes like a Chinese puzzle, and they kept on revealing these astonishing secrets, many of them revolving around my character. He was ... endlessly fascinating."



Lithgow also opened about working with Dexter star Michael C. Hall, who plays the titular role.

"He's really a rare actor," he said. "It was great for him and the whole series to have a serial killer on that's far more terrifying than Dexter -- he looked like a pussycat. It was much easier for him to be a protagonist this season."



While Dexter may have seemed like a kinder, gentler killer in season 4, his wife Rita (Julie Benz) became tougher.

"One of the most surprising things that came out of the season for me is the fact that Rita's become the nemesis to a serial killer, which just goes to show you how sympathetic Michael C. Hall's performance is as Dexter," said Benz.

"Here's a woman who is just trying to be a wife, and has her own struggles, and thinks her husband is a drug addict and a cheater, and she's become a big baddie."




In the wake of the season's challenges and that finale bombshell, Dexter's stars played innocent about what's ahead for season 5. Only Lee would speculate, albeit with tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Of fan interest in a Masuka-Debra (Jennifer Carpenter) romance, he said, "Jennifer and I always joke around that in the end, we're going to end up getting married, and it will be love after work."

"The relationship that Masuka and Debra have is one of those fun relationships -- you bulls--t, punch in the arm," Lee said.

"But in the end, they're co-workers, and I think they're both caring people ... but they have a lot of issues to cut through, which may make them good partners."



Yet, as the season came to an end, it wasn't just jokes and praise flying at the finale party.

Lithgow noted one of the hurdles he faced on the show's set. "A lot of it was physically strenuous," he said. "I'm getting a little old to hang off of buildings."

http://insidetv.aol.com/2009/12/14/d...hgow-season-5/