Michael C. Hall

Biography

Michael Carlyle Hall (born February 1, 1971) is a highly acclaimed American actor, best known for his complex and compelling portrayals in popular television series.   

Born and raised in Raleigh, North Carolina, Hall's father, William Carlyle Hall, was an electrical engineer who passed away when Michael was only 11. His mother, Janice Styons Hall, is a guidance counselor. He attended Ravenscroft School and later graduated from Earlham College with a degree in English. He further honed his acting skills at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree in acting.   

Hall's professional acting career began on stage. He made his Broadway debut in 1996 as the Emcee in Cabaret. He also appeared in productions of Corpus Christi, Henry V, Macbeth, Timon of Athens, and Cymbeline.   

His breakthrough role came in 2001 when he was cast as the intense and meticulous David Fisher in the HBO drama series Six Feet Under. His performance garnered critical acclaim and earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination. The series ran for five seasons and is considered one of the landmark shows of the early 2000s.   

Following the success of Six Feet Under, Hall took on the iconic role of Dexter Morgan in the Showtime series Dexter, which premiered in 2006. As Dexter, a forensic technician who leads a secret life as a vigilante serial killer, Hall delivered a captivating and nuanced performance. He received numerous accolades for this role, including a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Dexter aired for eight seasons and returned for a limited series revival, Dexter: New Blood, in 2021-2022, with Hall reprising his signature role.   

Beyond his prominent television work, Hall has also appeared in several films, including Paycheck (2003), Gamer (2009), Peep World (2010), Kill Your Darlings (2013), and Cold in July (2014).   

He has also maintained a presence on stage, returning to Broadway in productions such as Hedwig and the Angry Inch in 2014, Lazarus in 2015-2016 (a musical co-created by David Bowie), and Skittles Commercial: The Broadway Musical in 2019.

In 2010, Hall publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma, and he underwent treatment while continuing to work on Dexter. He has since been in remission.   

Michael C. Hall is celebrated for his ability to portray complex and often morally ambiguous characters with depth and charisma, solidifying his place as a compelling and respected actor in both television and theater.