John Malone
Jan 22, 2024 - 10:05

Dexter King, younger son of Martin Luther King Jr., dies at 62 | Entertainment

Dexter Scott King, son of Martin Luther King Jr., died of prostate cancer. He was an actor and civil rights leader.

Dexter Scott King, the younger son of the late civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, passed away on Monday after battling prostate cancer, as announced by the King Center in Atlanta. His wife, Leah Weber King, confirmed that he died in his sleep at their home in Malibu, California. He was 62 years old.

Leah Weber King expressed that Dexter fought the disease with great courage and determination until the very end, facing the challenge with bravery and might, much like he had faced other challenges in his life. Born in Atlanta on January 30, 1961, Dexter was named after the Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, where his father had served as a pastor.

At the tender age of seven, he tragically lost his father when Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968. Reverend Dr. Bernice A. King, CEO of the King Center, expressed her deep heartbreak at the loss of another sibling and asked for strength to get through this difficult time.

Following in his father's footsteps, Dexter attended Morehouse College in Atlanta. At the time of his passing, he held the positions of chairman of the King Center and president of the King Estate. He also pursued a career in acting and portrayed his father in the 2002 television movie "The Rosa Parks Story."

Reverend Al Sharpton, founder and president of the National Action Network, expressed his sadness at Dexter's passing, highlighting how he had turned his pain into activism and dedicated his life to advancing the dream his parents had for their children and future generations.

Dexter was preceded in death by his father, mother, and sister Yolanda. He is survived by his wife of 11 years, Leah Weber King, his sister Bernice King, his brother Martin Luther King III, his niece, Yolanda Renee King, and other family members.