JM
Photo of Jefferson Mays

Jefferson Mays

Actor, Writer
Born June 8, 1965 (59 years)
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.

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).
Movies & Shows on Plex
  • I Am Michael
Known For
  • I Am the Night
  • Rebel in the Rye
  • I Am Michael
  • Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade
  • Ned Rifle
  • Grey Knight
  • The Big Brass Ring
  • The Low Life
  • Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
  • Memoirs of My Nervous Illness

Filmography

2023
Seneca · as Narrator (voice)
2022
Julia (2022) (TV Series) · as Albert Duhamel
2021
2021
Hacks (TV Series) · as T.l. Gurley
2020
2020
Perry Mason (2020) (TV Series) · as Virgil Sheets
2019
I Am the Night (TV Series) · as George Hodel
2018
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs · as Gilbert Longabaugh (segment "the Gal Who Got Rattled")
2018
Shatterbox Anthology (TV Series) · as Curator
2017
Rebel in the Rye · as William Maxwell
2016
Westworld (TV Series) · as Liam Dempsey, Sr.
2015
I Am Michael · as Preacher Teacher
2015
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (TV Series) · as Daddy
2014
Inherent Vice · as Dr. Threeply
2014
Ned Rifle · as Dr. Ford
2014
The Giver · as Community (voice)
2014
The Knick (TV Series) · as Attorney Whitting
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (TV Series) · as Lord Adalbert D'ysquith
2013
The Blacklist (TV Series) · as Norman Devane
2013
The Americans (2013) (TV Series) · as Walter Taffet
2011
Mildred Pierce (TV Series) · as Man In Blue Coat
2010
2010
Detroit 1-8-7 (TV Series) · as Dr. Roger Kosowski
2009
The Good Wife (TV Series) · as Diplomat Van Buskirk
2009
Nurse Jackie (TV Series) · as Tim
2009
Lie to Me (TV Series) · as Sidney Carlton
2008
2008
Fringe (TV Series) · as Nicholas Boone
2006
Memoirs of My Nervous Illness · as Daniel Schreber
2005
The Notorious Bettie Page · as Little John
2005
The Closer (TV Series) · as Dr. Easton
2004
Alfie · as Dr. Miranda Kulp
2004
Kinsey · as Effete Man's Friend
2002
Benjamin Franklin (TV Series) · as Elkanah Watson
2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent (TV Series) · as Keifer Gates
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series) · as Carl Rudnick
1999
The Big Brass Ring · as Garne Strickland
1998
Cousin Bette · as Stidmann
1997
1997
Liberty! The American Revolution (TV Series) · as James Madison
1995
The Low Life · as Hollywood Mogul
1994
Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade · as Gerry Woolridge
1993
Grey Knight · as Martin Bradley
1990
Law & Order (TV Series) · as Mr. Olson
1988
Night Flight Presents Dynaman (TV Series) · as Dynabeige (1988)
1987
American Experience (TV Series) · as Additional Voice

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