Rita Bennett
Encyclopedia
Rita Bennett is a fictional character
created by Jeff Lindsay
for his book series about a vigilante
serial killer
named Dexter Morgan
. She also appeared in the television series
Dexter, based on Lindsay's books. She was the girlfriend and later, wife of Dexter in both media. Portrayed by Julie Benz
, Rita was a series regular in the first four seasons until she was killed in the season four
finale, "The Getaway
". The character made her last television appearance in 2010; she was a special guest star in Dexter season five
opener entitled "My Bad
". The character remains alive in the Dexter novels and has appeared in every book in the series. Rita never learns Dexter is a serial killer in either medium.
In the novels, Dexter initially considers Rita little more than part of his disguise to act and feel like a normal human being. He later admits to growing quite fond of Rita, whom he married in the third book, Dexter in the Dark
. In the television series, Rita is portrayed as a loving and caring mother who is emotionally damaged due to physical abuse by her former husband, Paul Bennett. Rita is the mother of Astor Bennett (Christina Robinson
) and Cody Bennett (Preston Bailey
), and later in the television series, gives birth to Dexter's son, Harrison. She is the mother of Cody, Astor, and gives birth to Dexter's daughter Lily Anne in the book series.
Benz received positive reviews for her portrayal of Rita, winning a Satellite Award and Saturn Award
, and receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Dexter executive producer Clyde Phillips
claimed the staff did not know Rita would be killed until late in the fourth season, but that her death began to feel inevitable as the story evolved. Benz was notified the day before the script was distributed to the cast and was disappointed, but found the scene revealing her death to be "very poetic". The character's departure was considered controversial by some reviewers; E!
writer Kristin Dos Santos said that it "might go down as one of the most shocking deaths ever on television."
. As of 2011 there are five books in the Dexter series, all of which include Rita. Rita first appears in the original novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter
. In the book series, Dexter Morgan
's "love" for Rita seems less sincere than it does in the television series; he primarily considers her a part of his "disguise". In the TV series, Dexter initially begins dating Rita to seem like a normal person, but later admits he has grown "fond" of her, to the extent that he talks with a psychiatrist about his relationship issues — albeit to a psychiatrist he plans to kill.
In Darkly Dreaming Dexter, the two are already together, but it is explained that Dexter started dating her solely to improve his "disguise" as a normal person. Because she was brutalized by her now-jailed ex-husband, Rita does not expect much of Dexter. By the novel's climax, Dexter admits that he is fond of her children, Astor and Cody, the closest he can get to feeling love. By a humorous misunderstanding, the couple become engaged in Dearly Devoted Dexter
and married at the end of Dexter in the Dark
. In the TV series, it is explicitly stated that Debra introduced them (after responding to the domestic dispute call) in the hope they would start dating. The books do not explain how they met. In the books, Rita is a physical fitness buff; she and Dexter regularly go for 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) runs, long bike rides, and weightlifting sessions together. In the novels, Rita lives and, in the fifth book, Dexter is Delicious
, she gives birth to Dexter's daughter Lily Anne. In the novels, Dexter discovers that Rita's children, Cody and Astor, are budding sociopaths
and decides to provide them with the same "guidance" that his adoptive father Harry
gave to him; namely, to teach them how to be careful, efficient killers of those who "deserve it". Rita is kept in the dark about the true nature of their relationship. The television series is based on Darkly Dreaming Dexter.
" and is introduced as Dexter Morgan's girlfriend. It is revealed early on that Rita was physically
and sexually
abused by her former husband, Paul Bennett (Mark Pellegrino
). Dexter's sister Debra Morgan
answered a domestic violence call and saved her life. The premiere also introduces Bennett's two children, Astor (Christina Robinson
) and Cody Bennett (Preston Bailey
). Ignorant of Dexter's secret life as a serial killer
, Rita appears regularly throughout the first season
as his main source of support. She plays a much larger role in the episode "Return to Sender
", in which Paul Bennett is released from prison and demands to be at his daughter's birthday party. Rita asks that he not come to the party. In "Circle of Friends
", Rita tells Paul he can see his children only through supervised visits for six months before she will consider letting him have unsupervised visitation rights. She hands him divorce papers that include that clause, and Paul signs them. In "Father Knows Best", Paul begins slipping into old habits when Rita prevents him from seeing the children. He forces his way into her house, where she defends herself by hitting him over the head with a baseball bat. In "Seeing Red
", Paul presses charges against Rita for assault. When Paul visits Rita's house, he threatens Dexter when they are alone in the kitchen; the latter reacts by hitting him with a frying pan. After Paul loses consciousness, Dexter drives him back to his hotel and frames
the man for drug abuse. Dexter alerts the police and Paul is sent back to prison.
In the second season
premiere
Rita takes her children Astor and Cody to see Paul in prison. He insists that he was framed by Dexter — that Dexter dragged him out of Rita's house before drugging him and tipping off the police — and that if she could find his missing shoe it would prove his innocence. Rita tells him that there is no shoe, despite having found it more than a month previously. She later admits that she found the shoe, but refuses to acknowledge that Dexter is involved. That night she receives a call from the prison and learns that Paul was killed in an inmate altercation. In "Waiting to Exhale", after Paul's funeral, Rita confronts Dexter about his involvement in Paul's death, and he admits to having an addiction — which Rita infers to mean drugs. Rita threatens to leave Dexter if he does not commit to a program to deal with his drug addiction. He starts attending Narcotics Anonymous
meetings, where a mysterious and flirtatious woman named Lila Tournay (Jaime Murray
) volunteers to be his sponsor. In "See-Through" Rita's visiting mother, Gail (JoBeth Williams
), becomes sure that Dexter is hiding something from the family. In "Dex, Lies, and Videotape", Rita breaks up with Dexter when she suspects that he is having an affair.
In "That Night, a Forest Grew," Rita stands up to her mother and insists that she move out of the house. Rita tells Dexter that he is no longer welcome to visit her house or her children. He apologizes, admitting that his affair with Lila was a mistake, but she is still hesitant to forgive him. Lila retaliates by pursuing Dexter's co-worker and friend, Angel Batista
. In "There's Something About Harry," Rita and Dexter reconcile and visit the beach together. Lila plans to frame Angel for raping her. In the second season finale
, Dexter is forced to lie about running away with Lila, in front of his sister Debra. Lila, feeling hurt, leaves with what she recognizes as Dexter's bag of murder equipment. She goes to Rita's house and drugs the babysitter in order to abduct the children. When Dexter realizes that Astor and Cody are missing, he goes to Lila's apartment. She starts a fire and locks the three of them inside. Rita calls Debra for help and Debra decides to skip her flight to Oregon
, with her boyfriend Frank Lundy. Dexter manages to pass Astor and Cody through a small window to the outside, and escapes after breaking down a thin wall.
In the season three
opener "Our Father
," Rita craves chocolate pudding and, recalling another instance, realizes that she is pregnant. In "All In The Family", after an unsuccessful marriage proposal, Dexter must convince Rita that he is looking for more than a convenient merger of finances and parenthood. In "Turning Biminese," Rita is hospitalized after a medical emergency and Dexter cannot be found. Dexter is hesitant when Rita suggests that they buy a house and move in together. Rita becomes angry at Dexter's refusal to help organize their wedding. In the third season finale, "Do You Take Dexter Morgan?", Rita and Dexter get married.
In the fourth season
opener, Rita and Dexter are living happily together in a suburban neighborhood with Astor, Cody, and new baby Harrison. In "Remains to be Seen" Dexter is in a terrible car accident, and Rita demands that he give her his keys so that she can drive him. In "If I Had A Hammer," friction begins to develop in the couple's relationship. Dexter gets marriage advice from the Trinity killer, Arthur Mitchell (a serial killer, and the main antagonist in season four). In "Hungry Man," Rita works hard to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. She shares a kiss with the next door neighbor, Elliot, when she asks if she can use his stove because hers will not handle all the food. Dexter arrives for an appointment with Rita for marriage counseling, but gets called to a crime scene as soon as he arrives; soon after, Rita confesses that she and Elliot kissed. In the fourth season finale
, after convincing his wife to go out of town for safety, Dexter tracks down Arthur and captures him. Dexter insists he is different, but Arthur says they are the same. Dexter kills Arthur with a framing hammer and disposes of the body. When he returns home, he finds a message from Rita that she returned to pick up her identification for the flight. Dexter finds her dead in the bathtub, murdered. Their baby Harrison is crying in a pool of Rita's blood on the bathroom floor, just as Dexter as a child was left in a pool of his own mother's blood. In the fifth season
premiere "My Bad
", Dexter realizes, much to his own surprise, that he genuinely loved her and is devastated at losing her. Julie Benz
reprised her role as Rita as a special guest star in a flashback to her and Dexter's first date, and as a corpse.
for his series of novels about sociopath Dexter Morgan
and she is featured in every book in the series. Clyde Phillips
and Melissa Rosenberg
wanted to bring the character into the television series when casting for the TV version, Dexter. Julie Benz
was given a copy of the script in 2005 and was asked to audition for the part. She was surprised because the script was "one of the best pilot scripts [she] ever read." She also read for the part of Debra
and joked that she would have auditioned for Dexter's role. Benz had been a fan of Michael C. Hall
from his role in Six Feet Under. She said in an interview with Vanity Fair
, "I was such a fan, to the point where my cell-phone ring was the show’s theme song. I had to change it once I got cast!". Benz performed for four seasons, until her character was killed in the series.
Rita is presented in the series as a loving and caring mother. As a result of her abuse from her husband, Rita has no interest in sex
, which Dexter is secretly comfortable about. She developed a strong character. At the beginning of season two, the producers approached Benz about character growth. They wanted to make Rita stronger and less shattered than she was in the first season. Benz has said that she was "Very sad to hear that. Because I loved playing her in season one where she was this very damaged, fragile bird who was just struggling so hard to make a better world for her kids, but just could not do it."
" included a series-changing twist, leading to widespread speculation about it. Security precautions were taken to prevent the finale's secrets from becoming exposed. Network staff members were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements, and decoy scripts were drafted and disseminated to protect the twist ending. In one of the alternates, Dexter learned about a child murderer escaping from prison, and tried to decide whether to join Rita on vacation or go after the escaped killer. Nobody but essential cast and staff were allowed on the set during filming of the episode, and the scripts and DVDs of the episode were watermarked before they were taken off the set.
Clyde Phillips
claimed the Dexter staff did not know how the finale would conclude until late in the season, but he said Rita's death began to feel inevitable as the story evolved. Benz said she had been told that Lithgow knew about it from the beginning of the season. Phillips said the staff felt obligated to do more than kill the Trinity Killer in the final episode, especially because he felt the death of the third season antagonist (played by Jimmy Smits
) was not handled "as well as we could have". The writers discussed the idea of having Debra find out about Dexter's secret life, but decided they could not anticipate how drastically the series would be changed by that. Benz heard rumors from David Zayas
that her character would be killed in the episode, but she was not notified until much later. The producers met with her the day before the season finale script was distributed to the cast. She said, "It was a tough meeting. In a bizarre way, it felt like a scene from Defending Your Life
." Benz described the death scene as "very poetic". Clyde Philips said, "She wasn’t happy. She loved being with us. We loved having her with us. She took it... professionally. She was greatly disappointed. She’s a professional. She works in television. She knew that this was a possibility."
The mystery writer J.A. Jance wrote in the Los Angeles Times
, "Yes, it's a bit of a shock to discover that some of the TV series' characters who died last season or the season before are back among the living between the covers of Lindsay's new book. Rita, Dexter's long-suffering wife who died a terrible death in a bathtub in last year's season finale, is alive and well and having a baby in Dexter Is Delicious. But my advice to readers is this: Don't quibble. Get over it. After all, fiction is an alternate universe to begin with, and Lindsay's dark, comedic fiction is an alternate universe once removed."
and LaGuerta
all getting a good amount of development”. He added, “There were a couple of forced moments in "Popping Cherry", most notably the drug dealer who came to Rita's house, in broad daylight, demanding money for her ex-husband's debts; it was all a bit over the top and cliché. On the other hand, it was interesting to note Dexter's inaction in that scene, making one wonder if perhaps he fears that any public display of physical defense, even for Rita, might result in him going too far and revealing what he is." Jarett Wieselman of the New York Post
has said, "Rita always felt like the light in that dark show", and "In the beginning Rita was the vessel through which the audience could love Dexter." UGO.com placed Rita Bennett 7th on a list of "Top 11 Girlfriends on TV". Zap2it
created a poll entitled "Best Mom" as part of their "Greatest TV Characters" series of polls; Rita was voted 12th on a list of 14 characters.
The TV.com
staff were less appreciative, listing her as 7th out of the "Ten Most Annoying Characters on TV". They noted that "While we mostly love the beatific Julie Benz
, her complaining wifey character has been reduced to little more than whimpering and murmuring about Dexter's commitment to the family..." and summarised with "Might Rita die next week? For the first time since the series began, we really feel like we wouldn't miss her."
Rita was killed in the fourth season finale "The Getaway." This was a subject of controversy. E!
writer Kristin Dos Santos called the ending "horrifying" and said, "This death just might go down as one of the most shocking deaths ever on television." Claire Zulkey said that the twist ending was intense, and the teleplay was woven with feature several moments that had led him to expect different conclusions. He praised what he expected to be a "re-set" of the series after Rita's death. Marcia White of The Express-Times
declared Dexter "one of the best cable dramas on TV" and called the final scene between Dexter and Rita completely shocking. Mark Dawidziak of The Plain Dealer said the episode was shocking and suspenseful, calling Dexter "a series that leaves you guessing as the psychological ambiguities run deeper and darker".
has been well received for her portrayal of Rita Bennett, winning and being nominated for a multitude of awards. These including one Satellite Award win for Best Supporting Actress and a Saturn Award
win for Best Supporting Actress. She was also nominated for a Scream Award for Best Horror Actress and was jointly nominated, in 2009 and 2010, for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
created by Jeff Lindsay
Jeff Lindsay (writer)
Jeff Lindsay is the pen name of American playwright and crime novelist Jeffry P. Freundlich , best known for his novels about sociopathic vigilante Dexter Morgan. Many of his earlier published works include his wife Hilary Hemingway as a co-author. His wife is the niece of Ernest Hemingway and an...
for his book series about a vigilante
Vigilante
A vigilante is a private individual who legally or illegally punishes an alleged lawbreaker, or participates in a group which metes out extralegal punishment to an alleged lawbreaker....
serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
named Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan is a fictional character in a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay, including Darkly Dreaming Dexter , Dearly Devoted Dexter , Dexter in the Dark , Dexter by Design , Dexter is Delicious and Double Dexter...
. She also appeared in the television series
Dexter (TV series)
Dexter is an American television drama series, which debuted on Showtime on October 1, 2006. The sixth season premiered on October 2, 2011. The series centers on Dexter Morgan , a bloodstain pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer...
Dexter, based on Lindsay's books. She was the girlfriend and later, wife of Dexter in both media. Portrayed by Julie Benz
Julie Benz
Julie M. Benz is an American actress, best known for her roles as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and as Rita Bennett on Dexter, for which she won the 2006 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television...
, Rita was a series regular in the first four seasons until she was killed in the season four
Dexter (season 4)
On October 21, 2008, Showtime commissioned a fourth and fifth season of Dexter, each consisting of 12 episodes. The show's writers convened during February and March 2009 to brainstorm ideas for the fourth season, and filming was scheduled to begin in June 2009...
finale, "The Getaway
The Getaway (Dexter)
The Getaway is the fourth season finale of the American television drama series Dexter, and the 48th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on Showtime on December 13, 2009. In the episode, Dexter goes to great lengths to stop Arthur, who now knows Dexter's true identity...
". The character made her last television appearance in 2010; she was a special guest star in Dexter season five
Dexter (season 5)
The fifth season of Dexter premiered on September 26, 2010, and consisted of 12 episodes. The season focuses on how Dexter deals with his recent loss, coming to terms with the death of his wife.- Plot :...
opener entitled "My Bad
My Bad (Dexter)
"My Bad" is the première of the fifth season of the Showtime series Dexter and the show's forty-ninth episode overall. It was written by Chip Johannessen, the show's former executive producer and showrunner, and directed by Steve Shill...
". The character remains alive in the Dexter novels and has appeared in every book in the series. Rita never learns Dexter is a serial killer in either medium.
In the novels, Dexter initially considers Rita little more than part of his disguise to act and feel like a normal human being. He later admits to growing quite fond of Rita, whom he married in the third book, Dexter in the Dark
Dexter in the Dark
Dexter in the Dark is a 2007 novel written by Jeff Lindsay. This is the third book in the Dexter series, preceded by the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter—which formed the basis of the Showtime television series Dexter—and Dearly Devoted Dexter, its 2005 sequel.Dexter in the Dark was released...
. In the television series, Rita is portrayed as a loving and caring mother who is emotionally damaged due to physical abuse by her former husband, Paul Bennett. Rita is the mother of Astor Bennett (Christina Robinson
Christina Robinson (actress)
Christina Robinson is an American child actress, best known for playing Astor Bennett in Showtime TV series, Dexter. Twin sister of Courtney Robinson.-Career:...
) and Cody Bennett (Preston Bailey
Preston Bailey
Preston Bailey is an American child actor who started acting at the age of two. He is probably most known for appearing in the Showtime TV series Dexter and for starring in such as films Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Children of the Corn, and The Crazies.-Biography:Bailey was born in...
), and later in the television series, gives birth to Dexter's son, Harrison. She is the mother of Cody, Astor, and gives birth to Dexter's daughter Lily Anne in the book series.
Benz received positive reviews for her portrayal of Rita, winning a Satellite Award and Saturn Award
Saturn Award
The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
, and receiving a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination. Dexter executive producer Clyde Phillips
Clyde Phillips
Clyde B. Phillips is a writer and producer for television and film. He has written for the shows Dexter, Shout About Movies, Suddenly Susan, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Midas Valley, and Trapper John, M.D....
claimed the staff did not know Rita would be killed until late in the fourth season, but that her death began to feel inevitable as the story evolved. Benz was notified the day before the script was distributed to the cast and was disappointed, but found the scene revealing her death to be "very poetic". The character's departure was considered controversial by some reviewers; E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
writer Kristin Dos Santos said that it "might go down as one of the most shocking deaths ever on television."
Literature
Rita Bennett was a character in the Dexter series of novels written by author Jeff LindsayJeff Lindsay (writer)
Jeff Lindsay is the pen name of American playwright and crime novelist Jeffry P. Freundlich , best known for his novels about sociopathic vigilante Dexter Morgan. Many of his earlier published works include his wife Hilary Hemingway as a co-author. His wife is the niece of Ernest Hemingway and an...
. As of 2011 there are five books in the Dexter series, all of which include Rita. Rita first appears in the original novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter
Darkly Dreaming Dexter
Darkly Dreaming Dexter is a 2004 novel by Jeff Lindsay, the first in his series about serial killer Dexter Morgan. It has formed the basis of the Showtime television series Dexter and won the 2005 Dilys Award and the 2007 'Book to TV' award....
. In the book series, Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan is a fictional character in a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay, including Darkly Dreaming Dexter , Dearly Devoted Dexter , Dexter in the Dark , Dexter by Design , Dexter is Delicious and Double Dexter...
's "love" for Rita seems less sincere than it does in the television series; he primarily considers her a part of his "disguise". In the TV series, Dexter initially begins dating Rita to seem like a normal person, but later admits he has grown "fond" of her, to the extent that he talks with a psychiatrist about his relationship issues — albeit to a psychiatrist he plans to kill.
In Darkly Dreaming Dexter, the two are already together, but it is explained that Dexter started dating her solely to improve his "disguise" as a normal person. Because she was brutalized by her now-jailed ex-husband, Rita does not expect much of Dexter. By the novel's climax, Dexter admits that he is fond of her children, Astor and Cody, the closest he can get to feeling love. By a humorous misunderstanding, the couple become engaged in Dearly Devoted Dexter
Dearly Devoted Dexter
Dearly Devoted Dexter is a crime/horror novel by Jeff Lindsay, the second in his series about psychopathic vigilante Dexter Morgan, which has been adapted into a television series.-Plot:...
and married at the end of Dexter in the Dark
Dexter in the Dark
Dexter in the Dark is a 2007 novel written by Jeff Lindsay. This is the third book in the Dexter series, preceded by the 2004 novel Darkly Dreaming Dexter—which formed the basis of the Showtime television series Dexter—and Dearly Devoted Dexter, its 2005 sequel.Dexter in the Dark was released...
. In the TV series, it is explicitly stated that Debra introduced them (after responding to the domestic dispute call) in the hope they would start dating. The books do not explain how they met. In the books, Rita is a physical fitness buff; she and Dexter regularly go for 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) runs, long bike rides, and weightlifting sessions together. In the novels, Rita lives and, in the fifth book, Dexter is Delicious
Dexter is Delicious
Dexter Is Delicious is the fifth novel written by Jeff Lindsay, and the fifth book in the 'Dexter Morgan' book series. The book was released in the UK on July 8, 2010 and September 7, 2010 in the United States.The book contains elements of cannibalism...
, she gives birth to Dexter's daughter Lily Anne. In the novels, Dexter discovers that Rita's children, Cody and Astor, are budding sociopaths
Antisocial personality disorder
Antisocial personality disorder is described by the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, fourth edition , as an Axis II personality disorder characterized by "...a pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others that begins in childhood...
and decides to provide them with the same "guidance" that his adoptive father Harry
Harry Morgan (Dexter)
Detective Harrison "Harry" Morgan is a fictional character in the Showtime television series Dexter and the novels by Jeff Lindsay upon which it is based. In the television series he is portrayed by James Remar. Harry is Dexter Morgan's adoptive father, now deceased...
gave to him; namely, to teach them how to be careful, efficient killers of those who "deserve it". Rita is kept in the dark about the true nature of their relationship. The television series is based on Darkly Dreaming Dexter.
Television
Rita Bennett appears in the premiere episode of Dexter, entitled "DexterDexter (episode)
"Dexter", or "Pilot", is the pilot and first episode of the first season of American television drama series Dexter, which premiered on October 1, 2006 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by developer James Manos, Jr. and directed by Michael Cuesta. It was based on the opening...
" and is introduced as Dexter Morgan's girlfriend. It is revealed early on that Rita was physically
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
and sexually
Sexual abuse
Sexual abuse, also referred to as molestation, is the forcing of undesired sexual behavior by one person upon another. When that force is immediate, of short duration, or infrequent, it is called sexual assault. The offender is referred to as a sexual abuser or molester...
abused by her former husband, Paul Bennett (Mark Pellegrino
Mark Pellegrino
Mark Ross Pellegrino is an American actor of film and television. He is best known for his work on Lost as Jacob and for playing Lucifer on Supernatural.-Career:...
). Dexter's sister Debra Morgan
Debra Morgan
Debra Morgan is a fictional character created by Jeff Lindsay for his Dexter book series. She also appears in the television series, based on Lindsay's books, portrayed by Jennifer Carpenter. In Lindsay's novels, she first appeared in Darkly Dreaming Dexter, and has featured in every novel...
answered a domestic violence call and saved her life. The premiere also introduces Bennett's two children, Astor (Christina Robinson
Christina Robinson (actress)
Christina Robinson is an American child actress, best known for playing Astor Bennett in Showtime TV series, Dexter. Twin sister of Courtney Robinson.-Career:...
) and Cody Bennett (Preston Bailey
Preston Bailey
Preston Bailey is an American child actor who started acting at the age of two. He is probably most known for appearing in the Showtime TV series Dexter and for starring in such as films Judy Moody and the Not Bummer Summer, Children of the Corn, and The Crazies.-Biography:Bailey was born in...
). Ignorant of Dexter's secret life as a serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
, Rita appears regularly throughout the first season
Dexter (season 1)
The first season of Dexter is an adaptation of Jeff Lindsay's first novel in the Dexter series, Darkly Dreaming Dexter. Subsequent seasons have featured original storylines. This season aired from October 1, 2006 to December 17, 2006, and follows Dexter's investigation of "The Ice Truck Killer"...
as his main source of support. She plays a much larger role in the episode "Return to Sender
Return to Sender (Dexter)
"Return to Sender" is the sixth episode of the first season of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on November 5, 2006 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Timothy Schlattmann and was directed by Tony Goldwyn. In the episode, Dexter Morgan "Return...
", in which Paul Bennett is released from prison and demands to be at his daughter's birthday party. Rita asks that he not come to the party. In "Circle of Friends
Circle of Friends (Dexter)
"Circle of Friends" is the seventh episode of the first season for the television series Dexter, and the 7th episode of the series as a whole. It introduces Mark Pellegrino as Paul Bennett. The Ice Truck Killer is supposedly identified, but Dexter is skeptical...
", Rita tells Paul he can see his children only through supervised visits for six months before she will consider letting him have unsupervised visitation rights. She hands him divorce papers that include that clause, and Paul signs them. In "Father Knows Best", Paul begins slipping into old habits when Rita prevents him from seeing the children. He forces his way into her house, where she defends herself by hitting him over the head with a baseball bat. In "Seeing Red
Seeing Red (Dexter)
"Seeing Red" is the tenth episode of the first season of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on December 3, 2006 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Kevin R. Maynard and was directed by Michael Cuesta...
", Paul presses charges against Rita for assault. When Paul visits Rita's house, he threatens Dexter when they are alone in the kitchen; the latter reacts by hitting him with a frying pan. After Paul loses consciousness, Dexter drives him back to his hotel and frames
Frameup
A frame-up or setup is an American term referring to the act of framing someone, that is, providing false evidence or false testimony in order to falsely prove someone guilty of a crime....
the man for drug abuse. Dexter alerts the police and Paul is sent back to prison.
In the second season
Dexter (season 2)
The second season of Dexter premiered on September 30, 2007, and ended on December 16, 2007. "It's Alive", the season premiere, attracted 1.09 million viewers in the United States, making Dexter the first Showtime series to attract more than a million viewers with a season premiere...
premiere
It's Alive! (Dexter)
"It's Alive!" is the second season premiere and thirteenth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on September 30, 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Daniel Cerone and was directed by Tony Goldwyn. In the episode, which takes...
Rita takes her children Astor and Cody to see Paul in prison. He insists that he was framed by Dexter — that Dexter dragged him out of Rita's house before drugging him and tipping off the police — and that if she could find his missing shoe it would prove his innocence. Rita tells him that there is no shoe, despite having found it more than a month previously. She later admits that she found the shoe, but refuses to acknowledge that Dexter is involved. That night she receives a call from the prison and learns that Paul was killed in an inmate altercation. In "Waiting to Exhale", after Paul's funeral, Rita confronts Dexter about his involvement in Paul's death, and he admits to having an addiction — which Rita infers to mean drugs. Rita threatens to leave Dexter if he does not commit to a program to deal with his drug addiction. He starts attending Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous
Narcotics Anonymous is a twelve-step program modeled after Alcoholics Anonymous describing itself as a "fellowship or society of men and women for whom drugs had become a major problem," and it is the second-largest 12-step organization...
meetings, where a mysterious and flirtatious woman named Lila Tournay (Jaime Murray
Jaime Murray
Jaime Murray is an English actress, best known for playing Stacie Monroe in Hustle and Lila Tournay in season two of the Showtime series Dexter. She has also had recurring roles as H.G...
) volunteers to be his sponsor. In "See-Through" Rita's visiting mother, Gail (JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams
JoBeth Williams is an American film and television actress and director, and current President of the Screen Actors Guild Foundation.-Early life:...
), becomes sure that Dexter is hiding something from the family. In "Dex, Lies, and Videotape", Rita breaks up with Dexter when she suspects that he is having an affair.
In "That Night, a Forest Grew," Rita stands up to her mother and insists that she move out of the house. Rita tells Dexter that he is no longer welcome to visit her house or her children. He apologizes, admitting that his affair with Lila was a mistake, but she is still hesitant to forgive him. Lila retaliates by pursuing Dexter's co-worker and friend, Angel Batista
Angel Batista
Detective Sergeant Ángel Juan Marcos Batista is a fictional character in the Showtime television series Dexter and the novels by Jeff Lindsay upon which it is based.-Character biography:...
. In "There's Something About Harry," Rita and Dexter reconcile and visit the beach together. Lila plans to frame Angel for raping her. In the second season finale
The British Invasion (Dexter)
"The British Invasion" is the twelfth episode and finale of the second season of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on December 16, 2007 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Daniel Cerone and was directed by Steve Shill. In the episode, Lila...
, Dexter is forced to lie about running away with Lila, in front of his sister Debra. Lila, feeling hurt, leaves with what she recognizes as Dexter's bag of murder equipment. She goes to Rita's house and drugs the babysitter in order to abduct the children. When Dexter realizes that Astor and Cody are missing, he goes to Lila's apartment. She starts a fire and locks the three of them inside. Rita calls Debra for help and Debra decides to skip her flight to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, with her boyfriend Frank Lundy. Dexter manages to pass Astor and Cody through a small window to the outside, and escapes after breaking down a thin wall.
In the season three
Dexter (season 3)
The third season of Dexter premiered on September 28, 2008, and ended on December 14, 2008. "Our Father", the season premiere, attracted 1.22 million viewers in the United States, making it Showtime's highest-rated drama season premiere since Nielsen Media Research began compiling ratings in...
opener "Our Father
Our Father (Dexter)
"Our Father" is the third season premiere and twenty-fifth overall episode of the American television drama series Dexter, which first aired on September 28, 2008 on Showtime in the United States. The episode was written by Clyde Phillips and directed by Keith Gordon. In the episode, which takes...
," Rita craves chocolate pudding and, recalling another instance, realizes that she is pregnant. In "All In The Family", after an unsuccessful marriage proposal, Dexter must convince Rita that he is looking for more than a convenient merger of finances and parenthood. In "Turning Biminese," Rita is hospitalized after a medical emergency and Dexter cannot be found. Dexter is hesitant when Rita suggests that they buy a house and move in together. Rita becomes angry at Dexter's refusal to help organize their wedding. In the third season finale, "Do You Take Dexter Morgan?", Rita and Dexter get married.
In the fourth season
Dexter (season 4)
On October 21, 2008, Showtime commissioned a fourth and fifth season of Dexter, each consisting of 12 episodes. The show's writers convened during February and March 2009 to brainstorm ideas for the fourth season, and filming was scheduled to begin in June 2009...
opener, Rita and Dexter are living happily together in a suburban neighborhood with Astor, Cody, and new baby Harrison. In "Remains to be Seen" Dexter is in a terrible car accident, and Rita demands that he give her his keys so that she can drive him. In "If I Had A Hammer," friction begins to develop in the couple's relationship. Dexter gets marriage advice from the Trinity killer, Arthur Mitchell (a serial killer, and the main antagonist in season four). In "Hungry Man," Rita works hard to prepare Thanksgiving dinner. She shares a kiss with the next door neighbor, Elliot, when she asks if she can use his stove because hers will not handle all the food. Dexter arrives for an appointment with Rita for marriage counseling, but gets called to a crime scene as soon as he arrives; soon after, Rita confesses that she and Elliot kissed. In the fourth season finale
The Getaway (Dexter)
The Getaway is the fourth season finale of the American television drama series Dexter, and the 48th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on Showtime on December 13, 2009. In the episode, Dexter goes to great lengths to stop Arthur, who now knows Dexter's true identity...
, after convincing his wife to go out of town for safety, Dexter tracks down Arthur and captures him. Dexter insists he is different, but Arthur says they are the same. Dexter kills Arthur with a framing hammer and disposes of the body. When he returns home, he finds a message from Rita that she returned to pick up her identification for the flight. Dexter finds her dead in the bathtub, murdered. Their baby Harrison is crying in a pool of Rita's blood on the bathroom floor, just as Dexter as a child was left in a pool of his own mother's blood. In the fifth season
Dexter (season 5)
The fifth season of Dexter premiered on September 26, 2010, and consisted of 12 episodes. The season focuses on how Dexter deals with his recent loss, coming to terms with the death of his wife.- Plot :...
premiere "My Bad
My Bad (Dexter)
"My Bad" is the première of the fifth season of the Showtime series Dexter and the show's forty-ninth episode overall. It was written by Chip Johannessen, the show's former executive producer and showrunner, and directed by Steve Shill...
", Dexter realizes, much to his own surprise, that he genuinely loved her and is devastated at losing her. Julie Benz
Julie Benz
Julie M. Benz is an American actress, best known for her roles as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and as Rita Bennett on Dexter, for which she won the 2006 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television...
reprised her role as Rita as a special guest star in a flashback to her and Dexter's first date, and as a corpse.
Casting and characterization
The character of Bennett was originally invented by Jeff LindsayJeff Lindsay (writer)
Jeff Lindsay is the pen name of American playwright and crime novelist Jeffry P. Freundlich , best known for his novels about sociopathic vigilante Dexter Morgan. Many of his earlier published works include his wife Hilary Hemingway as a co-author. His wife is the niece of Ernest Hemingway and an...
for his series of novels about sociopath Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan
Dexter Morgan is a fictional character in a series of novels by Jeff Lindsay, including Darkly Dreaming Dexter , Dearly Devoted Dexter , Dexter in the Dark , Dexter by Design , Dexter is Delicious and Double Dexter...
and she is featured in every book in the series. Clyde Phillips
Clyde Phillips
Clyde B. Phillips is a writer and producer for television and film. He has written for the shows Dexter, Shout About Movies, Suddenly Susan, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Midas Valley, and Trapper John, M.D....
and Melissa Rosenberg
Melissa Rosenberg
Melissa Anne Rosenberg is an American screenwriter. She has worked in both film and television and has been nominated for two Emmy Awards, and two Writers Guild of America Awards. She won a Peabody Award...
wanted to bring the character into the television series when casting for the TV version, Dexter. Julie Benz
Julie Benz
Julie M. Benz is an American actress, best known for her roles as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and as Rita Bennett on Dexter, for which she won the 2006 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television...
was given a copy of the script in 2005 and was asked to audition for the part. She was surprised because the script was "one of the best pilot scripts [she] ever read." She also read for the part of Debra
Debra Morgan
Debra Morgan is a fictional character created by Jeff Lindsay for his Dexter book series. She also appears in the television series, based on Lindsay's books, portrayed by Jennifer Carpenter. In Lindsay's novels, she first appeared in Darkly Dreaming Dexter, and has featured in every novel...
and joked that she would have auditioned for Dexter's role. Benz had been a fan of Michael C. Hall
Michael C. Hall
Michael Carlyle Hall is an American actor whose television roles include David Fisher on the HBO drama series Six Feet Under and Dexter Morgan on the Showtime series Dexter. In 2009, Hall won a Golden Globe award and a Screen Actors Guild Award for his role in Dexter.-Early life:Hall was born in...
from his role in Six Feet Under. She said in an interview with Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, "I was such a fan, to the point where my cell-phone ring was the show’s theme song. I had to change it once I got cast!". Benz performed for four seasons, until her character was killed in the series.
Rita is presented in the series as a loving and caring mother. As a result of her abuse from her husband, Rita has no interest in sex
Sexual abstinence
Sexual abstinence is the practice of refraining from some or all aspects of sexual activity for medical, psychological, legal, social, philosophical or religious reasons.Common reasons for practicing sexual abstinence include:*poor health - medical celibacy...
, which Dexter is secretly comfortable about. She developed a strong character. At the beginning of season two, the producers approached Benz about character growth. They wanted to make Rita stronger and less shattered than she was in the first season. Benz has said that she was "Very sad to hear that. Because I loved playing her in season one where she was this very damaged, fragile bird who was just struggling so hard to make a better world for her kids, but just could not do it."
Death
Rita's death was alluded to by Dexter producers, who told media outlets "The GetawayThe Getaway (Dexter)
The Getaway is the fourth season finale of the American television drama series Dexter, and the 48th overall episode of the series. It originally aired on Showtime on December 13, 2009. In the episode, Dexter goes to great lengths to stop Arthur, who now knows Dexter's true identity...
" included a series-changing twist, leading to widespread speculation about it. Security precautions were taken to prevent the finale's secrets from becoming exposed. Network staff members were forced to sign non-disclosure agreements, and decoy scripts were drafted and disseminated to protect the twist ending. In one of the alternates, Dexter learned about a child murderer escaping from prison, and tried to decide whether to join Rita on vacation or go after the escaped killer. Nobody but essential cast and staff were allowed on the set during filming of the episode, and the scripts and DVDs of the episode were watermarked before they were taken off the set.
Clyde Phillips
Clyde Phillips
Clyde B. Phillips is a writer and producer for television and film. He has written for the shows Dexter, Shout About Movies, Suddenly Susan, Parker Lewis Can't Lose, Midas Valley, and Trapper John, M.D....
claimed the Dexter staff did not know how the finale would conclude until late in the season, but he said Rita's death began to feel inevitable as the story evolved. Benz said she had been told that Lithgow knew about it from the beginning of the season. Phillips said the staff felt obligated to do more than kill the Trinity Killer in the final episode, especially because he felt the death of the third season antagonist (played by Jimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits
Jimmy Smits is an American actor. Smits is perhaps best known for his roles as attorney Victor Sifuentes on the 1980s legal drama L.A. Law, as NYPD Detective Bobby Simone on the 1990s police drama NYPD Blue, and as Congressman Matt Santos on The West Wing...
) was not handled "as well as we could have". The writers discussed the idea of having Debra find out about Dexter's secret life, but decided they could not anticipate how drastically the series would be changed by that. Benz heard rumors from David Zayas
David Zayas
David Zayas is a Puerto Rican theatrical, film, and television actor. He is most known for his roles as Angel Batista on Showtime's series Dexter and as Enrique Morales on the HBO prison drama Oz.- Life and career :...
that her character would be killed in the episode, but she was not notified until much later. The producers met with her the day before the season finale script was distributed to the cast. She said, "It was a tough meeting. In a bizarre way, it felt like a scene from Defending Your Life
Defending Your Life
Defending Your Life is a 1991 romantic comedy/fantasy film about a man who must justify his lifelong fears and insecurities after he dies and arrives in the afterlife. The film was written, directed by, and stars Albert Brooks. It also stars Meryl Streep, Rip Torn and Lee Grant.The movie was filmed...
." Benz described the death scene as "very poetic". Clyde Philips said, "She wasn’t happy. She loved being with us. We loved having her with us. She took it... professionally. She was greatly disappointed. She’s a professional. She works in television. She knew that this was a possibility."
The mystery writer J.A. Jance wrote in the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
, "Yes, it's a bit of a shock to discover that some of the TV series' characters who died last season or the season before are back among the living between the covers of Lindsay's new book. Rita, Dexter's long-suffering wife who died a terrible death in a bathtub in last year's season finale, is alive and well and having a baby in Dexter Is Delicious. But my advice to readers is this: Don't quibble. Get over it. After all, fiction is an alternate universe to begin with, and Lindsay's dark, comedic fiction is an alternate universe once removed."
Critical reaction
The character of Rita has been well received by critics, who praised Benz’s portrayal. Eric Goldman of IGN has said, “Dexter does a solid job of developing the roles of the supporting cast, with Rita, Deb, DoakesJames Doakes
James Doakes is a fictional character in the Showtime television series Dexter and the novels by Jeff Lindsay upon which it is based. In the television series he is portrayed by Erik King. Doakes is a police detective with the rank of Sergeant serving as lead case investigator to Miami Police...
and LaGuerta
Maria LaGuerta
Captain María Esperanza del Alma LaGuerta , known in the books as Migdia LaGuerta, is a fictional character in the Showtime television series Dexter and the novels by Jeff Lindsay upon which it is based. She is portrayed by Lauren Vélez in the television series...
all getting a good amount of development”. He added, “There were a couple of forced moments in "Popping Cherry", most notably the drug dealer who came to Rita's house, in broad daylight, demanding money for her ex-husband's debts; it was all a bit over the top and cliché. On the other hand, it was interesting to note Dexter's inaction in that scene, making one wonder if perhaps he fears that any public display of physical defense, even for Rita, might result in him going too far and revealing what he is." Jarett Wieselman of the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
has said, "Rita always felt like the light in that dark show", and "In the beginning Rita was the vessel through which the audience could love Dexter." UGO.com placed Rita Bennett 7th on a list of "Top 11 Girlfriends on TV". Zap2it
Zap2it
Zap2it is an American website and affiliate network that provides news, photos and video, local TV listings and movie showtimes. The site is produced by Tribune Media Services , part of the publishing division of the Chicago-based Tribune Company...
created a poll entitled "Best Mom" as part of their "Greatest TV Characters" series of polls; Rita was voted 12th on a list of 14 characters.
The TV.com
TV.com
TV.com is a website owned by CBS Interactive. The site covers television and focuses on English-language shows made or broadcast in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and Japan...
staff were less appreciative, listing her as 7th out of the "Ten Most Annoying Characters on TV". They noted that "While we mostly love the beatific Julie Benz
Julie Benz
Julie M. Benz is an American actress, best known for her roles as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and as Rita Bennett on Dexter, for which she won the 2006 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television...
, her complaining wifey character has been reduced to little more than whimpering and murmuring about Dexter's commitment to the family..." and summarised with "Might Rita die next week? For the first time since the series began, we really feel like we wouldn't miss her."
Rita was killed in the fourth season finale "The Getaway." This was a subject of controversy. E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
writer Kristin Dos Santos called the ending "horrifying" and said, "This death just might go down as one of the most shocking deaths ever on television." Claire Zulkey said that the twist ending was intense, and the teleplay was woven with feature several moments that had led him to expect different conclusions. He praised what he expected to be a "re-set" of the series after Rita's death. Marcia White of The Express-Times
The Express-Times
The Express-Times is a daily newspaper published in Easton, Pennsylvania, with an emphasis on local news. It has won awards in both New Jersey and Pennsylvania.-Ownership:...
declared Dexter "one of the best cable dramas on TV" and called the final scene between Dexter and Rita completely shocking. Mark Dawidziak of The Plain Dealer said the episode was shocking and suspenseful, calling Dexter "a series that leaves you guessing as the psychological ambiguities run deeper and darker".
Accolades
Julie BenzJulie Benz
Julie M. Benz is an American actress, best known for her roles as Darla on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel and as Rita Bennett on Dexter, for which she won the 2006 Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television...
has been well received for her portrayal of Rita Bennett, winning and being nominated for a multitude of awards. These including one Satellite Award win for Best Supporting Actress and a Saturn Award
Saturn Award
The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
win for Best Supporting Actress. She was also nominated for a Scream Award for Best Horror Actress and was jointly nominated, in 2009 and 2010, for a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series.
| Group | Category | Year | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Satellite Award | Best Supporting Actress in a Series, Miniseries or TV Film | 2006 Satellite Awards 2006 The 11th Satellite Awards, honoring the best in film- and televisionmaking in 2006, were given on 18 December 2006.-Best Actor - Drama: Forest Whitaker - The Last King of Scotland*Leonardo DiCaprio - Blood Diamond*Ryan Gosling - Half Nelson... |
|
| Saturn Award Saturn Award The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within... |
Best Supporting Actress | 2010 | |
| Scream Award | Best Horror Actress | 2008 | |
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | 2009 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards ----Best Cast - Motion Picture: Inglourious Basterds----Best Cast - Drama Series: Mad Men Best Cast - Comedy Series: Glee ... |
|
| Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | 2010 16th Screen Actors Guild Awards ----Best Cast - Motion Picture: Inglourious Basterds----Best Cast - Drama Series: Mad Men Best Cast - Comedy Series: Glee ... |