Jefferson Mays

Jefferson Mays

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).

Acting

2025

Rebuilding
Movie

Mr. Cassidy

2023

Seneca
Movie

Narrator (voice)

2022

Julia
Tv

Albert Duhamel

2021

Hacks
Tv

T.L. Gurley

2019

I Am the Night
Tv

George Hodel

2018

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
Movie

Gilbert Longabaugh (segment "The Gal Who Got Rattled")

2017

Rebel in the Rye
Movie

William Maxwell

2016

Westworld
Tv

Liam Dempsey, Sr.

2015

2015

I Am Michael
Movie

Preacher Teacher

2014

Inherent Vice
Movie

Dr. Threeply

2014

The Giver
Movie

Community (voice)

2013

The Blacklist
Tv

Norman Devane

2013

The Americans
Tv

Walter Taffet

2009

The Good Wife
Tv

Diplomat Van Buskirk

2008

Fringe
Tv

Nicholas Boone

2005

The Closer
Tv

Dr. Easton

2004

Alfie
Movie

Dr. Miranda Kulp

2002

Benjamin Franklin
Tv

Elkanah Watson

1999

The Big Brass Ring
Movie

Garne Strickland

1998

1997

Liberty!
Tv

James Madison

1995

The Low Life
Movie

Hollywood Mogul

1993

Grey Knight
Movie

Martin Bradley

1990

Law & Order
Tv

Mr. Olson

Infos

Full Name
Jefferson Mays
Gender
Male
Date of Birth
6/8/1965
Also Known As

Lewis Jefferson Mays