For Worcester actor-musician Tierre Diaz, 'Dexter' role a part to kill for

Having lasted since 2018 without a day job, Worcester actor and musician Tierre Diaz is no rookie when it comes to being on screen. He’s played lead and featured roles in People’s Choice Award nominee “The Purge: Election Year," the dramatic film “Bike Thief,” and “I Wanna Dance With Somebody,” a biopic about the life of Whitney Houston, which was partially shot in Worcester and is expected out in 2022. 

Earlier this year, Diaz received the surprise of his life when he found out he’d been cast in season 9 of "Dexter: New Blood." A longtime fan of "Dexter," Diaz said, “it was a dream come true” being assigned to play the role of Zach’s friend, an Iron Lake wrestler whose character name is yet to be revealed at the time of this writing. 

“'Dexter' is and has been one of my favorite shows of all time, but the show ended 8 years ago and that was way before I began my acting career," Diaz said. "As a fan, there was no sense of me thinking I’d ever be on the show. Then I think it was around early 2020 when I found an announcement that the show was returning and I was so excited. Then a couple weeks went by and more information about the show came out and I found out it was being filmed in Massachusetts … and I was like ‘Woah, I need to be on this show.’”  

Landing his role in the new series was an arduous task. By the time he found casting agents to submit his portfolio to, most characters had already been booked as filming locations were being announced. 

“When there’s already filming dates confirmed, that means the majority of the casting has already happened. So I went all out. I reached out to any type of source, found out who was casting, I sent my headshots, my availability, my acting reels, and I went all out," Diaz said. "I put in action to try and make it happen, and more importantly, I put my energy towards it. I made the conscious decision to channel my energy that I’m already on the show. So I wrote it down in my journal. I’m big on manifestation and journaling and I just knew I was going to get on. I found out in late February that I’d been cast.” 

On top of hustling last-minute to distribute his acting portfolio, Diaz had done enough research to know the "Dexter" role was being listed under a code name — a common tactic in high-profile filming. 

“I booked the role without even knowing it was 'Dexter.' It was under the code name 'Marble.' And at that point I said 'yes' to the role because of the amount of dates on it and I knew how good of a paycheck that was, and that whatever the project was I wanted in. When I called my girlfriend to tell her I booked the role (on) 'Marble,' we did some research and found out it was for 'Dexter.'”

The first scene Diaz appears front and center aired Nov. 14 in episode 2 “Storm of (Expletive)” when Zach and his friends show up to Dexter’s cabin, which had become home base in a missing person search. Diaz is seen wearing a forest green and gold Iron Lake letterman jacket as he and the rest of the posse approach the desolate woods surrounding the cabin in search of Matt Caldwell. More about Diaz's’ character will be revealed as the series unfolds. 

While Diaz ate up the memories and friendships he’d developed on set, his most cherished moment is when he got face time with  Michael C. Hall, who plays the role of Dexter Morgan. As with landing the role in the first place, getting personal facetime with Hall required time and sleuthing.  

“There were small nuggets of time where we were on set with 'Dexter,' but when I’m around Michael, he’s working. The last thing I wanted to do is interrupt him at his craft, and nobody really goes near him other than the main cast. But I knew our moment was going to come,” said Diaz.

“Fast forward to the last day of filming. I was like, ‘I have to make this happen today, so we finish shooting and I’m supposed to go home. But I took it upon myself to prolong the going home part, and told the crew I forgot something on set, so I strategically waited for a moment with Michael, and I got it. And I expressed to him how I started my acting career years after the show ended and thanked him for bringing the show back.” 

According to Diaz, during his encounter with Hall, “His Dexter wall came down and his face lit up.”

Diaz will release his second album, “Maniflex,” featuring the Insane Clown Posse and other surprise collaborators, in mid-2022. The album was written and recorded during the same time period Diaz was filming "Dexter." Diaz will perform live at the Palladium Jan. 8, opening for Redman and Methodman. Doors open at 8 p.m.

Watch "Dexter: New Blood" Sunday’s 9 pm. on Showtime. Follow Diaz's journey on Instagram @Tierrediaz or subscribe to his YouTube channel Tierre Diaz Official”