Jefferson Mays
Known for Acting · 43 credits
- Born
- 1965-06-08 (age 60)
- Place of birth
- Connecticut, USA
- Also known as
- Lewis 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.
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.
Known For
TV Shows (18)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
as Carl Rudnick
Law & Order
1990
as Mr. Olson
The Blacklist
2013
as Norman Devane
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
as Keifer Gates
The Good Wife
2009
as Diplomat Van Buskirk
The Closer
2005
as Dr. Easton
Fringe
2008
as Nicholas Boone
Westworld
2016
as Liam Dempsey, Sr.
Hacks
2021
as T.L. Gurley
The Americans
2013
as Walter Taffet
Lie to Me
2009
as Sidney Carlton
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt
2015
as Daddy (voice)
Nurse Jackie
2009
as Tim
Perry Mason
2020
as Virgil Sheets
Julia
2022
as Albert Duhamel
Liberty!
1997
as James Madison
I Am the Night
2019
as George Hodel
Benjamin Franklin
2002
as Elkanah Watson
Movies (25)
The Ballad of Buster Scruggs
2018
as Gilbert Longabaugh (segment "The Gal Who Got Rattled")
Inherent Vice
2014
as Dr. Threeply
The Giver
2014
as Community (voice)
Rebuilding
2025
as Mr. Cassidy
Alfie
2004
as Dr. Miranda Kulp
The Tragedy of Macbeth
2021
as Doctor
The Notorious Bettie Page
2006
as Little John
How to Lose Friends & Alienate People
2008
as Bill Nathanson
Rebel in the Rye
2017
as William Maxwell
I Am Michael
2015
as Preacher Teacher
Grey Knight
1993
as Martin Bradley
Cousin Bette
1998
as Stidmann
Seneca
2023
as Narrator (voice)
The Low Life
1995
as Hollywood Mogul
Ned Rifle
2015
as Dr. Ford
Hudson River Blues
1997
Curated
2018
as The Curator
The Big Brass Ring
1999
as Garne Strickland
Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade
1994
as Gerry Woolridge
The Cask of Amontillado
2014
as Fortunato
The Raven
2014
as Voice over (voice)
My America
2014
Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol
2020
as Narrator
The Fight
2005
Weathermaker
2025
as Dad
About 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… With 43 credits spanning from 1990 to 2025, Jefferson Mays has appeared in 25 films and 18 TV shows.
Fans searching for Jefferson Mays movies, Jefferson Mays filmography, or the latest projects starring Jefferson Mays can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Jefferson Mays Movies
- The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018) — as Gilbert Longabaugh (segment "The Gal Who Got Rattled")
- Inherent Vice (2014) — as Dr. Threeply
- The Giver (2014) — as Community (voice)
- Rebuilding (2025) — as Mr. Cassidy
- Alfie (2004) — as Dr. Miranda Kulp
Where to Watch Jefferson Mays Films
Most Jefferson Mays movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Jefferson Mays, check our movies catalogue and browse page.