Ah, Dexter, the show that made us question if we should be rooting for a serial killer. But let’s be honest, half of us were watching for the crime and the other half for the drama behind the scenes. One of the biggest off-screen twists? Michael C. Hall, Dexter himself and Jennifer Carpenter, his on-screen sister, Debra were actually married in real life.
Yep, it was all love and murder on TV, of course until their marriage met a tragic end, though thankfully, it didn’t involve plastic wrap and a kill room. Now, years after their divorce, fans are still wondering, did these two manage to stay friends, or did their relationship get chopped up like one of Dexter’s victims? Let’s dive in!
The marriage, the divorce, and everything in between
For those who missed the real-life Dexter drama, here’s a quick rundown. According to InStyle, Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter started dating in 2007 while working together on Dexter. In 2008, they tied the knot in a low-key ceremony, proving that love can bloom even in the most murderous of workplaces.
But by 2010, just two years later, their relationship was deader than one of Dexter’s victims. The couple announced their split, the details were kept pretty quiet, but rumors flew like blood spatter. Some said Hall’s battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma put a strain on the marriage. Others whispered about possible behind-the-scenes tension.
And because Hollywood loves drama, their divorce was finalized in 2011, right in the middle of Dexter’s run. That means these two had to keep playing siblings and maintain some semblance of chemistry on screen while dealing with their off-screen breakup. If that’s not commitment to your craft, what is?
So… are Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter still friends or what?
Here’s the million-dollar question, did Michael C. Hall and Jennifer Carpenter remain friends after their divorce, or did they go their separate ways faster than Dexter fleeing Miami? The answer? Surprisingly, they handled it like pros.
Unlike many celebrity splits that end in social media shade and passive-aggressive interviews, Hall and Carpenter have been consistently supportive of each other. Jennifer even stood by Michael’s side when he battled cancer, proving that their bond wasn’t just for show.
Both have spoken highly of each other, describing their post-divorce relationship as amicable and even warm. At the PaleyFest Dexter Fall Farewell event (via US Weekly), Carpenter said,
Our marriage didn’t look like anyone else’s, and our divorce didn’t either, so…I said it before, just because the marriage ended doesn’t mean the love did. I’m crying. It’s an awkward thing to talk about your personal life in front of a bunch of strangers, but there’s nothing but love and respect [between us]. Nothing.
When Dexter: New Blood, the revival series was announced, she came back for it, because nothing says friendship like willingly signing up to haunt your ex-husband on TV. So, while their romantic relationship may have ended in a body bag, figuratively, their friendship is alive and well. No drama, no bitterness, just two exes who managed to keep things professional and even friendly. Hollywood, take notes!
Dexter is streaming on Netflix.
This post belongs to FandomWire and first appeared on FandomWire
