David Magidoff’s career spans nearly two decades, with appearances in acclaimed series like The Morning Show, American Crime Story: Impeachment, and most recently, the Dexter revival series. As Officer Teddy Reed in Dexter: New Blood and now Dexter: Resurrection, Magidoff is learning that sometimes, being himself is the best thing he can bring to the role. In this bite-sized interview on Actors With Issues, the actor opens up about his influences, the collaborative magic of television, and why the upcoming season is something fans won’t want to miss.
Finding the Funny and the Honest
Magidoff’s early inspirations were performers who could walk the line between comedy and drama. “I was a big Bill Murray fan… because he was able to do dramatic roles and comedy roles,” he shared. “Gene Wilder [too]… someone I also really had great reverence for.”
What both actors had in common, he said, was their ability to bring a consistent energy across genres. “The story that’s being told could be a comedy or a drama, but how they behave in that space is almost the same,” he noted. “I try my best to… just do what’s written on the page.”
That philosophy carries into Magidoff’s approach on set, especially in ensemble series like Dexter. “I have zero control over any of it, in a really good way,” he explained. “Trust that all these amazing people are all doing their very best at the job.”
Dexter Returns… and So Does the City
Magidoff is especially excited for what Dexter: Resurrection brings to the table, not only in plot, but in setting. “Miami was a big character and energy for the first eight seasons. Then we had the snowy backwoods of upstate New York. Now you have New York City,” he said.
Fans can expect a new kind of playground for the iconic serial killer. “Dexter in New York? Come on,” Magidoff laughed. “There’s a million characters that he’s gonna bump into.”
The show will feature an impressive ensemble, including Peter Dinklage, Kristen Ritter, Neil Patrick Harris, and Uma Thurman. “But you’re like, actually this is really more about Dexter in New York,” he emphasized. “What happens with Dexter Morgan in New York City? Because we’ve never seen that.”
Without giving too much away, he teased, “He’s alive… that’s really good,” adding that the creators, including Clyde Phillips and Marcos Siega, “really got to play.”
The Unexpected Joy of Playing a Cop
While Officer Teddy Reed might not be the character Magidoff expected to play, it’s one he’s grown to enjoy. “I initially didn’t think I would ever play a cop. I don’t think this guy’s a cop, that’s just me,” he laughed. “But then you realize, you put on a cop uniform and you’re a cop.”
He credits the experience of playing Teddy across seasons with teaching him about authenticity. “The creators are like, the whole point of Teddy is that Teddy shouldn’t be,” he said. “So it’s like, what if I was just me in a cop uniform?”
Learning the mechanics of playing law enforcement added another yet layer. “In New Blood, learning how to cuff a guy and knock him down… do it the right and appropriate way, and not pinch his skin, is not easy!”
Ultimately, Magidoff believes roles stick when they mirror the actor. “Especially in television… we are going to be cast in something very similar to our real-life personality,” he said. “Ideally, great acting is not acting, it’s honesty.”
Voiceover Work and Finding Your Voice
Magidoff’s work in voiceover came later in his career, spurred by fatherhood. “I had a kid, and I was like, it’d be fun to do voiceover,” he said. He quickly learned that even in animation, the goal is still authenticity. “Everyone wants to hear your voice,” he said. “I’ll watch a tape sometimes and be like, I just sort of presented something. Let’s take that presentation off. How do I drop into my voice?”
It’s the same mindset he brings to auditions. “If I don’t show the most ‘me’, then it’s gonna look fake,” he said. “All we have, and what I’ve realized more than ever these days, is my own voice.”
Don’t miss David Magidoff’s return to the franchise in Dexter: Resurrection, in a two-episode premiere July 11th on Paramount+ with Showtime, and telecast on Showtime July 13th at 8pm.
