Michael Nader was born in 1945 in Los Angeles. He is the nephew of actor George Nader. He studied at the Actor’s Studio in New York. He made his movie debut in 1963 in “Beach Party”. He went on to make “Muscle Beach Party”, “For Those Who Think Young”, “The Trip”, “Blue” and “Fled”. He had great success on television as Dex Dexter in “Dynasty” from 1983 until 1989. In recent years has been active guest starring on such television shows as “Law & Order SVU. Michael Nader died aged 76 in 2021.
Michael Nader obituary in Guardian in 2021.
Actor who starred as Dex Dexter, a match for Alexis Carrington Colby, in the glamorous 1980s TV soap Dynasty
Anthony HaywardThu 9 Sep 2021 17.38 BST
Michael Nader, who has died of cancer aged 76, was a TV heart-throb of the 1980s, appearing in the glitzy American soap Dynasty as Dex Dexter, who for a while “tamed” Alexis, the “superbitch” played by Joan Collins, in the TV-speak of the time. Dynasty’s ratings had soared with the introduction of Collins at the start of the programme’s second series in 1981. Her character was seeking revenge on her first husband, the ruthless oil business billionaire Blake Carrington (played by John Forsythe).
In 1983, after her short-lived marriage to Blake’s business competitor, Cecil Colby (Lloyd Bochner) – he died of a heart attack minutes after the wedding – Nader arrived in Denver, Colorado, as the tall, broad-shouldered, square-jawed mining engineer Dex, acting for his family’s company. Advertisementhttps://a3776aee5ab55d37f0728859b71e6725.safeframe.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-38/html/container.html
Dex and Alexis were immediately drawn to one another and the two became lovers. Their relationship was tempestuous and Nader added to the already edge-of-your-seats drama when he showed that Dex – notable most of the time for being honest, unlike most of those around him – had the measure of Alexis.
Dex later slept with her daughter, Amanda (Catherine Oxenberg), when the pair were snowed in at a ski lodge, before marrying Alexis in 1985. For a while, such increasingly sensational storylines saw Dynasty overtake Dallas, its rival American soap featuring Larry Hagman as the satan in a stetson JR Ewing, in both the American ratings and worldwide viewing figures.
While Collins battled for the upper hand with the other rich, glamorous women, Nader’s character, a former Green Beret, swung into action when Moldavian rebels launched an attack on the chapel where Amanda was marrying the Prince of Moldavia (Michael Praed).
Alexis eventually filed for divorce in 1987 after walking in on Dex and Amanda in bed together, but he stayed in Denver to work on a Carrington-Colby pipeline project. The couple could never completely break their ties as Dex continued to look out for Alexis – and they briefly resumed their relationship. “He remains the most caring and yet the most macho of the males,” wrote the TV critic Hilary Kingsley.
The fate of the pair was literally left hanging in the balance in Dynasty’s final episode, in 1989, when Alexis tackled Dex about his affair with her cousin Sable (Stephanie Beacham) and they both fell from a hotel balcony.
Nader was born in St Louis, Missouri, to Minnette (nee Glogovac) and John Nader, a descendant of Lebanese immigrants. His uncle was George Nader, a B-movie actor whose partner, Mark Miller, later became Rock Hudson’s personal secretary.
Several months after Michael’s birth, his parents split up and he moved to Los Angeles with his mother, who became a backing singer for Lena Horne. He was struck by a drink-drive motorist when he was six and underwent cosmetic surgery but was left with a scar on his cheek.
A rebel at Palisades Charter high school, he found a release in surfing in Malibu. “You got a pair of trunks, the ocean, a board under you – and no regulations,” said Nader.
On leaving school at 18, his surfing skills and tall, slim, athletic build led him to be cast in the film Beach Party (1963), a musical comedy marketed with the line: “It’s what happens when 10,000 kids meet on 5,000 beach blankets!”
It launched the big screen’s colourful teen “beach party” phenomenon starring the popular actor-singers Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Over the next two years, Nader appeared in a further seven films in the series, including Beach Blanket Bingo (1965), with Linda Evans playing a “beach bunny” and up-and-coming singer. He went from being one of the crowd to featured roles.
He then landed a semi-regular part in the sitcom Gidget (1965-66) as Siddo, a school friend of Sally Field’s surfing, boy-mad teenager.
Apart from Dynasty, Nader was best known in his homeland for parts in two daytime soap operas, first as Kevin Thompson, a mining company worker, in As the World Turns (1976-78). Later, he played the mysterious Hungarian count Dimitri Marick in All My Children (1991-2001) but was sacked after being arrested in possession of an illegal substance, which resulted in him going into rehab. Years earlier, he had admitted to using marijuana and psychedelic drugs in his teens as a “spiritual quest”. He made a comeback as Dimitri for more than 40 episodes in 2013.
Nader’s first two marriages, to Robin Weiss (1984-90) and Beth Windsor (1992-94), ended in divorce. He is survived by his third wife, Jodi Lister, whom he married in 2004, and Lindsay, the daughter from his first marriage.
Michael Robert Nader, actor, born 19 February 1945; died 23 August 2021
Michael Nader (1945–2021) was the definitive “Sophisticated Heavy” of the 1980s and 90s. While he possessed the classic, rugged handsomeness that could have easily relegated him to the role of a standard romantic lead, Nader infused his characters with a sharp, calculating intelligence and a hint of dangerous vulnerability.
His career is a fascinating case study in the evolution of the “TV Star,” as he moved from the carefree surfing films of the 1960s to becoming a pillar of the American soap opera epic.
1. Career Arc: From Beach Blanket to Boardroom
-
The “Beach Party” Beginnings (1963–1967): Nader began his career as a recurring face in the popular American International Pictures beach movies, such as Beach Party and How to Stuff a Wild Bikini. In these roles, he was the quintessential California youth—athletic, tan, and largely decorative.
-
The Prime-Time Breakthrough (1983–1989): After a decade of guest spots and a role in the soap As the World Turns, Nader landed the role that would define his career: Dex Dexter on the global phenomenon Dynasty. He was brought in to be the only man capable of truly “handling” Alexis Colby (Joan Collins).
-
The Daytime Icon (1991–2001): Following the end of Dynasty, Nader moved to All My Children, where he played Dimitri Marick. This role solidified his status as “Daytime Royalty,” playing a character that blended European aristocracy with modern American business grit.
-
The Later Challenges: Nader’s career faced significant hurdles due to personal struggles with substance abuse, which led to a hiatus in the early 2000s, followed by a poignant return to the screen in the final years of his life.
2. Critical Analysis of Key Performances
Dynasty – The “Anti-Hero” Husband
As Farnsworth “Dex” Dexter, the corporate raider and soldier of fortune.
-
Analysis: Nader’s casting was a pivot point for the series. Unlike the “softer” men who had previously surrounded Alexis Colby, Dex was physically and intellectually imposing. Nader used a low-key, simmering intensity that allowed him to command a scene without raising his voice.
-
Critique: Critics often noted that Nader brought a “Noir” sensibility to the high-glamour world of Dynasty. He played Dex with a certain weariness—the look of a man who had seen combat and wasn’t impressed by social standing. This gave the character a grounded masculinity that made the soap opera’s melodrama feel more consequential.
All My Children – The Romantic Intellectual
As Count Dimitri Marick, the lord of Wildwind.
-
Analysis: This role required a more sophisticated, operatic range. Nader had to balance the character’s aristocratic arrogance with a deep, soulful capacity for love. He utilized his vocal cadence—a rich, deliberate baritone—to suggest a man of high culture and ancient lineage.
-
Critique: Nader was praised for his chemistry with co-star Susan Lucci (Erica Kane). While many soap opera actors relied on broad gestures, Nader relied on stillness. He understood that in the medium of the “close-up,” the most effective acting happens in the eyes. His Dimitri was a man of “secrets,” making him perpetually captivating to the audience.
3. Style and Legacy: The “Modern Classicist”
Michael Nader’s acting style was defined by a specific sculptural physicality. He didn’t just walk into a room; he inhabited it.
| Attribute | Critical Impact |
| The “Masculine Vulnerability” | Nader had a rare ability to let a character’s “mask” slip, showing a flash of pain or insecurity that made his “tough guy” roles more sympathetic. |
| Vocal Authority | His voice was a major instrument; he used silence and pauses as effectively as dialogue to build tension. |
| Stylistic Consistency | Whether in the 19th-century setting of a period piece or a modern boardroom, Nader maintained a sense of timeless elegance. |
The “Dex Dexter” Benchmark
In the history of prime-time soaps, the “Dex Dexter” archetype is frequently cited as the gold standard for a romantic lead. Nader proved that a male character could be a sex symbol while also being morally complex and intellectually formidable. He helped move the genre away from “cardboard” heroes into a space of more nuanced character studies.
Critical Note: Michael Nader was an actor who excelled in the “Grand Format.” He understood the heightened reality of the soap opera and the prime-time epic, but he approached it with the discipline of a classical actor. His legacy is that of a performer who brought a high degree of dignity and “weight” to popular entertainment