Felix Dexter

Early life

Dexter was born in Saint Kitts, in the Caribbean, and moved to Surrey with his family at the age of seven. He studied Law at University College London and began training as a barrister, before embarking on a career in comedy. He began by touring late night comedy venues, including Jongleurs club in London and The Comedy Store, before being hired to work with an all-black cast in the BBC TV sketch show The Real McCoy; which was initially based on a stage show Dexter performed at the Hackney Empire Theatre.

Television

He became one of the regular performers on the later series of The Fast Show. He also appeared in Citizen Khan, which first aired in 2012, as Omar, a Somali Muslim who works at a mosque in Sparkhill, Birmingham. The second series of the show aired October 2013. He also starred in Absolutely Fabulous as John, the father of Saffron's baby.

Radio

On BBC Radio 4 he featured in the satirical spoof radio phone-in show Down the Line and starred in the dramatisation of Delete This at Your Peril part of The Bob Servant Emails, written by Neil Forsyth

Death

Dexter died on 18 October 2013. He had been suffering from multiple myeloma.

On 17 November 2013, BBC Two television broadcast a 30-minute retrospective programme called Respect: A Felix Dexter Special, featuring tributes from friends and colleagues.

Legacy

In 2014 Dexter was posthumously given Screen Nation's Edric Connor Inspiration award.