Dexter: Resurrection star Eric Stonestreet got a role in Modern Family thanks to a failed audition, revealed showrunner 

The story of Dexter and Dexter: New Blood continues in the crime drama series Dexter: Resurrection. It premiered on Showtime and Paramount Plus on July 11, 2025. The drama's protagonist is Dexter Morgan, played by Michael C. Hall, who flees a near-death experience and journeys to New York City in search of his son Harrison. While Harrison, on the other hand, is suppressing his own evil impulses.

Peter Dinklage and Uma Thurman are two of the series' new and recurring characters. The show explores the themes of identity, parenting, and salvation in a new context with new problems.

Eric Stonestreet who is best known for his work on Modern Family, auditioned for a role in Dexter in 2006 but was not picked. He went on to play Cameron Tucker, a character that represented a watershed point in his career as a result of the rejection. When he emerges as a serial murderer in Dexter: Resurrection over 19 years later, he completes the cycle and demonstrates his dramatic versatility.

Dexter: Resurrection producer Clyde Phillips revealed at a panel at San Diego Comic-Con 2025 that Stonestreet had previously auditioned for the original Dexter series in 2006. He said:

"Eric Stonestreet came in to audition. At the time, he was a working day-player actor. "He came in to audition to be one of the victims of Brian Moser [Christian Camargo]. And he didn't get the job. The next week, the week he would have been working for us as a victim of Brian Moser, he went and auditioned for Modern Family."

More about Dexter: Resurrection star Eric Stonestreet

In an unexpected turn of events, Eric Stonestreet, best known for his role as Cameron Tucker on Modern Family, has joined the cast of Dexter: Resurrection. Many people may not be aware that his participation with the Dexter franchise began years ago with a failed audition.

For season one of Dexter, he auditioned for the part of one of the Ice Truck Killer victims and he didn't get the role. Stonestreet tested out for Modern Family a few days after his unsuccessful audition, a choice that would affect the rest of his career.

He first auditioned for Phil Dunphy's part, which eventually went to Ty Burrell. But the casting crew opted to make a new character specifically for Stonestreet since they thought he was unique. Cameron Tucker, one of the most enduring and adored characters in the series, was that character. He became a comedic favorite when his performance won him two Emmy Awards.

After over nineteen years, Stonestreet has finally made an appearance in the Dexter universe—not as a victim, but as a far more important and evil figure. His character in Dexter: Resurrection is the unidentified serial killer "Rapunzel." Since making his debut in the Call Me Red episode, his character has had a significant influence. His range as an actor is evident in this performance, which differs significantly from his joyful and expressive role on Modern Family.

Stonestreet was " flattered" to be a part of the Dexter: Resurrection as he revealed in a recent interview:

"I was just stoked that they called and asked me to do it. I had been a fan of Dexter for a long time. It was when Modern Family happened, so I had lost track of it. But when Clyde [Phillips] and Scott [Reynolds] called and said, "Hey, we'd love for you to do this", I was flattered. A. Because they thought of me. And B. it's a world that I'd always wanted to play in."

The story of Stonestreet is a great example of how obstacles may result in unanticipated opportunities. What may have been just another small television segment became the start of something far bigger and his return to Dexter years later marks the pinnacle of a lengthy and fruitful career.

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