Comedian

Comedian

Born: July 26, 1961; Died: October 18, 2013.

Felix Dexter, who has died aged 52, was a likeable, inventive comedian who emerged at a critical time in the comedy scene when the traditional standup - white, male, middle-aged - was beginning to be replaced by much more exciting alternatives. He was one of the first alternative black comedians and an inspiration to many of the black actors and comics who came after him.

He was born on Saint Kitts in the Caribbean and moved to London with his family when he was seven. He began training as a lawyer at University College London before moving to Stanford University in California to complete his studies.

However, after failing his final law exams, comedy happened by accident. He was in the Jongleurs Comedy Club when the compere asked if there was anyone who wanted to try the open spot. Dexter jumped at it and, although it was a disaster, it awakened the desire to perform in him and he tried again later, with more success.

He began to develop a successful career on the comedy circuit before finding success on television in the sketch and standup show The Real McCoy. The programme, which began in 1991, was groundbreaking because it was led by Black and Asian comedians performing material that was aimed at a black audience.

Dexter was an immediate success with that audience and was particularly adept at sending up some of the habits and traits of his race without ever going too far or resorting to the stereotypes that had plagued the standup of the 1970s. Particularly popular was his accountant character who would poke fun at West Indians. Another of his popular characters was a black man who lives in the Cotswolds and is whiter than any white man could ever be.

The Real McCoy led to a pilot show with Dexter as the star, but the BBC did not pick it up and he went on to make appearances in other people's programmes. It meant that he never quite achieved the fame and success that many of his peers thought he should have but he worked solidly, appearing in The Fast Show, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Absolutely Fabulous as Saffie's boyfriend and just before his death the sitcom Citizen Khan as Omar. He was also a regular on radio 4's improvised phone-in show Down the Line.

He had occasional success as a straight actor too, appearing as Autolycus in The Winter's Tale for the Royal Shakespeare Company and, with Helen Mirren, in Mourning Becomes Electra at the National.

He had been suffering from bone marrow cancer and is survived by his mother Doreen.