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.

He has appeared at La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre, the Williamstown Theatre Festival, and Playwrights Horizons.

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.

Mays starred in two Broadway revivals in 2007. He appeared as Henry Higgins in Pygmalion, in which he won critical praise. The TheaterMania reviewer called him "pitch-perfect", and the production an "excellent revival." He appeared in a revival of Journey's End in February to June 2007, in which he starred as Private Mason. Ben Brantley, in the New York Times, called the production "acutely staged and acted." The TheaterMania reviewer wrote: "Mays is a reliable, obliging Mason."

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 performed in the musical from October 2013 (previews) until closing on January 17, 2016. 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).

Mays is married to Australian actress Susan Lyons.

Film

• Rebel in the Rye (2017)
• Ned Rifle (2014)
• Inherent Vice (2014)
• How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (2008)
• The Notorious Bettie Page (2005)
• Alfie (2004)
• Kinsey (2004)
• The Big Brass Ring (1999)
• Cousin Bette (1998)
• The Low Life (1995)
• Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994)

Television

• The Americans (2015)
• Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015)
• The Knick (2015)
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2014, 2015, 2016)
• My America (2012)
• The Good Wife (2011)
• Mildred Pierce (2011)
• Detroit 1-8-7 (2010)
• Lie to Me (2010)
• God in America (2010)
• Nurse Jackie (2010)
• Fringe (2009)
• Law & Order (2009)
• Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2008)
• 30 Rock (2006)
• The Closer (2005)
• A Week in Joe's Basement (1991)
• Dynaman (1988)

Stage (selected)

• Oslo (2017)
• The Front Page (2016)
• A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder (2013)
• The Best Man (2012 revival)
• Blood and Gifts (2011)
• Pygmalion (2007)
• Journey's End (2007)
• I Am My Own Wife (2003)

• Ned Rifle tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
• The Notorious Bettie Page tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
• Alfie tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
• Kinsey tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
• The Big Brass Ring tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
• Cousin Bette tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
• The Low Life tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
• Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
• Eyerly, Alan. "'The Americans' recap: Fiery end to South African plot" LOs Angeles Times, March 19, 2015
• Zuckerman, Esther. "Your guide to the guest stars in 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'" ew.com, March 10 2015
• Leeds, Sarene. "TV Recap. 'You're No Rose'" ew.com, October 23 2015
• " 'The Best Man', Starring John Larroquette and James Earl Jones, Receives Second Broadway Extension" broadway.com, May 16, 2012
• Isherwoord, Christopher. "Choosing Sides in Afghanistan: Spies Playing in the Great Game" The New York Times, November 22, 2011