- Dexter Scott King, son of Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has died at 62 from prostate cancer, according to his wife Leah Weber. He passed away peacefully in his sleep at their home in Malibu.
- Dexter followed in his father’s footsteps as a civil rights activist and also had a career as an actor and producer. He faced criticism during his tenure as chairman, president, and CEO of the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change for his decisions and disputes with his mother.
- The King family estate has sometimes led to disagreements among Dexter and his siblings. In 2014, he and his brother sued their sister over the ownership of their father’s Nobel Peace Prize and his traveling bible. Dexter leaves behind his wife, Leah Weber.
Additional Coverage:
- Dexter Scott King: 5 Things to Know About Martin Luther King Jr.’s Youngest Son Who Died at 62 (newsbreak.com)
Dexter Scott King, the youngest son of the late Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott King, has passed away at the age of 62 from prostate cancer, according to a statement from his wife, Leah Weber. Leah confirmed that Dexter passed away peacefully in his sleep at their home in Malibu. She praised his bravery and determination in battling the disease until the end. Dexter was only seven years old when his father was assassinated in 1968, and he followed in his dad’s footsteps in his career.
Dexter attended Moorehouse College, his father’s alma mater, and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He took over the King Center for Nonviolent Social Change in 1989, but resigned after four months due to a dispute with his mother. In 1993, he became the chairman, president, and CEO of the organization, although he faced criticism for some of his decisions, including firing staff members and closing a child care center.
In addition to his work as a civil rights activist, Dexter was also an actor and producer. He portrayed his father in the 2002 TV movie “The Rosa Parks Story” and voiced him in the 1999 animated film “Our Friend, Martin.” He also collaborated with Prince and Whitney Houston on the album “King Dream Chorus & Holiday Crew: King Holiday” released in 1986 to commemorate the Martin Luther King Jr. federal holiday.
Dexter experienced the loss of his mother on his 45th birthday. Coretta Scott King passed away in 2006 at the age of 76, and her funeral was held on February 7th, 2006, at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia. Dexter had three siblings: an older brother, Martin Luther King III, an older sister, Yolanda Denise King, and a younger sister, Bernice King. Unfortunately, Yolanda passed away in 2007 at the age of 51.
Dexter and his siblings shared control of the King family estate, which sometimes led to disagreements. In 2014, Dexter and his brother sued their sister, Bernice, over the ownership of their father’s Nobel Peace Prize and his traveling bible used by Barack Obama at his second inauguration. The lawsuit was resolved in 2016.
Martin Luther King III, in a statement, expressed his devastation at Dexter’s sudden passing and asked for prayers for the entire King family, especially Dexter’s wife, Leah Weber. Bernice King, CEO of the King Center, also released a statement expressing her heartbreak at losing another sibling and asking for strength during this difficult time.
Dexter married Leah in a private ceremony in California in July 2013, and the couple did not have any children.