R.I.P. Michael Nader, the dashing Dex Dexter of 'Dynasty' and Siddo on 'Gidget'

Surfing led him to a career alongside Gidget, Alexis Colby and Erica Kane.

Michael Nader is best known for playing a billionaire playboy, but his acting career had far more humble beginnings. He owed his career to his surfing skills, really.

His parents split soon after he was born, and mom took Michael west to California. Growing up in Los Angeles, he took to the beach and water. When he was 16, in 1961, Nader appeared in a LIFE Magazine spread on the budding surfing craze, in a piece titled "The Mad, Happy Surfers: A Way of Life on the Wavetops."

Hollywood took notice, and the surfer boy landed small roles in Beach Party films. His breakthrough recurring role was as "Siddo" on Gidget. Back then, he went by "Mike." The gig kept him close to a surfboard, as you can see here in a pose with costar Sally Field.

Everett CollectionNader on 'Gidget'

Despite his affinity for the waves, Nader found his true calling in soap operas. Daytime came calling first, as he had a regular role on As the World Turns in the late 1970s. Most will fondly recall the actor as the (arguably second) true love of Alexis Colby's life on Dynasty.

Jon-Erik Hexum, the Voyagers! star who would tragically die young in 1984, was one of the finalists for the role of Dex Dexter. Nader nabbed the role instead. The filthy rich entrepreneur was intended to be a small role, a transitional love interest for Alexis (Joan Collins) after her break from Blake Carrington.

Nader would stay on Dynasty until the end of the series, from 1983–89, becoming Alexis' ride-or-die lover.

In the Nineties, Nader returned to daytime, playing another notable boyfriend, this time by the side of Erica Kane (Susan Lucci) on All My Children.

Nader's real-life wife, Jodi Lister, released a statement that her husband had died, according to The Hollywood Reporter. He was 76.

Are you sure you want to delete this comment?
Close

14 Comments

Markvaladez 38 months ago
For some reason, I always got Michael Nader mixed up with James Darren.
38 months ago
Any relation to George Nader?
Sway 38 months ago
RIP Michael Nader. Remembering him as the suave, debonair, man who wooed those formidable women in the soaps.
Read that he and his wife were avid dog lovers and fostered dogs.
DethBiz 38 months ago
RIP Mr. Nader. Will always remember him as Dimitri Marick on AMC. Also, on an episode of Perry Mason in the early 90s.
LoveMETV22 38 months ago
R.I.P. Michael Nader, Never watched Soaps or any of the Dynasty type shows. I remember reading the term soap opera originated from the shows sponsorship by soap manufacturers.
LoveMETV22 38 months ago
This comment has been removed.
LoveMETV22 38 months ago
This comment has been removed.
LoveMETV22 stephaniestavr5 38 months ago
Thank you for the add.
UTZAAKE 38 months ago
The pictorial mentioned in the article was in the September 1, 1961 issue of LIFE. Wouldn't be surprised if Michael Nader was the one featured in the opening photograph. https://books.google.com/books?id=rVQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA47&source=gbs_toc_r&cad=2#v=onepage&q&f=false What I remember the most about him was his voice which almost sounded like that of Bob Einstein. Would've love to hear him say "I'm sorry. That's not for me...or my child."
MrsPhilHarris 38 months ago
I realize he was young during Gidget, but it doesn’t look like the same person.
Tresix 38 months ago
Since I didn't watch "Dynasty", I remember him as the first villain from the original "The Flash" TV series with John Wesley Shipp.
justjeff 38 months ago
*sigh* Many of us are getting to that age when many familiar faces from film, TV, radio, music or cartoons are passing on.

To those who love doo-wop music, we recently lost Willie Winfield of The Harptones, who gave us "A Sunday Kind of Love" and other group harmony favorites...
Load previous comments
justjeff 38 months ago
This comment has been removed.
justjeff stephaniestavr5 38 months ago
Stephanie, I've been a fan of Neil Diamond for years - but kind of stopped listening to his 'newer' music after "Heartlight". I found "Heading for the Future" too much commercial pap. I loved his 'thoughful' period on Uni Records, and was nuts about his 'hand-clapping' pop hits on Bang ("Cherry, Cherry", "The Boat That I Row", etc.)

As for my pacemaker, I've had it about 11 years... and will be due for a replacement in about 6 months or so (God willing)... I consider Feb. 15th my "re-birthday". This is not any kind of a religious comment... What I mean is that I've been given a second lease on life on that date, and am grateful for it.
stephaniestavr5 38 months ago
This comment has been removed.
stephaniestavr5 38 months ago
It seems like one after another is passing away. All the musical & movie/TV stars I remember from my youth. Very sobering.
Are you sure you want to delete this comment?