Dexter Gordon (February 27, 1923–April 25, 1990) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist, and an Academy Award-nominated actor. He is considered one of the first bebop tenor players. A famous photograph by Herman Leonard of Gordon smoking a cigarette during a set at the Royal Roost in New York City in 1948 is one of the more iconic images in the history of jazz.

Gordon's height was 6 feet 5 inches, and so consequently he was also known as 'Long Tall Dexter'.

Dexter (Keith) Gordon (February 27, 1923 - April 25, 1990) American tenor saxophonist, was one of the first bebop tenor players to carve out a distinctive style. He matured into one of the major tenor voices in post-war jazz — an exciting and original player who was perhaps the single strongest influence on the young John Coltrane. He ranks with Sonny Rollins, Coltrane, Stan Getz, Joe Henderson, and a dozen or so others as one of the modern masters of the tenor. From 1940 to 1980, Dexter Gordo