
Jefferson Mays
Biography
Jefferson Mays (born Lewis Jefferson Mays; June 8, 1965) is an American film, stage and television actor.
Mays was raised in Clinton, Connecticut with his parents, a naval intelligence officer and a children's librarian, and his siblings. Mays graduated from Yale College, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree, and the University of California, San Diego, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts.
Mays appeared on Broadway in I Am My Own Wife, a Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Doug Wright, from November 2003 (previews) to October 31, 2004. He had appeared in the play Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in May 2003, and at the La Jolla Playhouse in July 2001.
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Mays won the 2004 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, the 2004 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding One-Person Show, an Obie Award, and a 2004 Theatre World Award for his solo performance. He also won the 2007 Helpmann Award for Best Male Actor in a Play for seasons of I Am My Own Wife in Australia in 2006.
In 2007, he appeared as Henry Higgins in a revival of Pygmalion and starred as Private Mason in a revival of Journey's End. In August 2009, Mays appeared at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Quartermaine's Terms by Simon Grey.
Mays starred in the 2013 Broadway musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, in which he played eight roles. He won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical. He also was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical and tied for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (with Neil Patrick Harris).
Known for
WestworldLiam Dempsey, Sr.8.0
The GiverCommunity (voice)6.6
The Ballad of Buster ScruggsGilbert Longabaugh (segment "The Gal Who Got Rattled")7.1
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCarl Rudnick8.0
The BlacklistNorman Devane7.6
FringeNicholas Boone8.1
Inherent ViceDr. Threeply6.5
Lie to MeSidney Carlton7.9
The AmericansWalter Taffet7.9
The Tragedy of MacbethDoctor6.9
AlfieDr. Miranda Kulp5.9
How to Lose Friends & Alienate PeopleBill Nathanson6.0
Filmography
- 2026Los VampiresFilm: George Wilmore
- 2025RebuildingFilm: Mr. Cassidy
- 2025WeathermakerFilm: Dad
- 2023SenecaFilm: Narrator (voice)
- 2022JuliaSeries: Albert Duhamel (8 episodes)
- 2021The Tragedy of MacbethFilm: Doctor
- 2021HacksSeries: T.L. Gurley (2 episodes)
- 2020Charles Dickens' A Christmas CarolFilm: Narrator, Writer
- 2020Perry MasonSeries: Virgil Sheets (5 episodes)
- 2019I Am the NightSeries: George Hodel (6 episodes)
- 2018The Ballad of Buster ScruggsFilm: Gilbert Longabaugh (segment "The Gal Who Got Rattled")
- 2018CuratedFilm: The Curator
- 2017Rebel in the RyeFilm: William Maxwell
- 2016WestworldSeries: Liam Dempsey, Sr. (1 episode)
- 2015Ned RifleFilm: Dr. Ford
- 2015Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtSeries: Daddy (voice) (1 episode)
- 2015I Am MichaelFilm: Preacher Teacher
- 2014Inherent ViceFilm: Dr. Threeply
- 2014The RavenFilm: Voice over (voice)
- 2014The Cask of AmontilladoFilm: Fortunato
- 2014The GiverFilm: Community (voice)
- 2014My AmericaFilm
- 2013The BlacklistSeries: Norman Devane (1 episode)
- 2013The AmericansSeries: Walter Taffet (4 episodes)
- 2009The Good WifeSeries: Diplomat Van Buskirk (1 episode)
- 2009Nurse JackieSeries: Tim (1 episode)
- 2009Lie to MeSeries: Sidney Carlton (1 episode)
- 2008How to Lose Friends & Alienate PeopleFilm: Bill Nathanson
- 2008FringeSeries: Nicholas Boone (1 episode)
- 2006The Notorious Bettie PageFilm: Little John
- 2005The CloserSeries: Dr. Easton (1 episode)
- 2005The FightFilm
- 2004AlfieFilm: Dr. Miranda Kulp
- 2002Benjamin FranklinSeries: Elkanah Watson (3 episodes)
- 2001Law & Order: Criminal IntentSeries: Keifer Gates (1 episode)
- 1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitSeries: Carl Rudnick (7 episodes)
- 1999The Big Brass RingFilm: Garne Strickland
- 1998Cousin BetteFilm: Stidmann
- 1997Hudson River BluesFilm: Eric
- 1997Liberty!Series: James Madison (6 episodes)
- 1995The Low LifeFilm: Hollywood Mogul
- 1994Some Folks Call It a Sling BladeFilm: Gerry Woolridge
- 1993Grey KnightFilm: Martin Bradley
- 1990Law & OrderSeries: Mr. Olson (1 episode)
Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.