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Jefferson Mays

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Jefferson Mays
Mays at International Peace Institute
Born
Lewis Jefferson Mays

(1965-06-08) June 8, 1965 (age 61)
New London, Connecticut, U.S.[1]
EducationYale University (BA)
University of California, San Diego (MFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1988–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2003)​

Lewis Jefferson Mays (born June 8, 1965) is an American actor. He is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Tony Award, a Helen Hayes Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, two Drama Desk Awards, two Outer Critics Circle Awards and three Obie Awards.

Life and career

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Mays was raised in Clinton, Connecticut, with his parents, a naval intelligence officer and a children's librarian, and his siblings.[2] 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 from the graduate acting program.[3][2] He appeared at La Jolla Playhouse,[4] Long Wharf Theatre,[5] the Williamstown Theatre Festival,[6] and Playwrights Horizons.[7]

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.[8] He had appeared in the play Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in May 2003,[7] and at the La Jolla Playhouse in July 2001.[4] 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.[8] 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.[citation needed]

Mays starred in two Broadway revivals in 2007. He appeared as Henry Higgins in Pygmalion,[9] in which he won critical praise. The TheaterMania reviewer called him "pitch-perfect", and the production an "excellent revival".[10] He appeared in a revival of Journey's End in February to June 2007, in which he starred as Private Mason.[11] Ben Brantley, in The New York Times, called the production "acutely staged and acted."[12] The TheaterMania reviewer wrote: "Mays is a reliable, obliging Mason."[13]

In August 2009, Mays appeared at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Quartermaine's Terms by Simon Grey.[6][14]

Mays starred in the 2013 Broadway musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, in which he played nine roles. He performed in the musical from October 2013 (previews) until closing on January 17, 2016.[15][16][17] He won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.[18] He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical[19] and tied for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (with Neil Patrick Harris).[17][20] Mays played Terje Rød-Larsen in the Broadway play Oslo, for which he received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination. Mays played Mayor George Shinn in the 2022 Broadway revival of The Music Man.[21]

Mays also narrates audiobooks, including The Expanse series,[22][23][24] The Invention of Sound by Chuck Palahniuk[25][26] and Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said.[27] His narration was recognized by an Audie Award and a number of Earphones Awards.[28][29]

Mays has appeared in several television programs as well; he notably appeared in several episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as cross-dressing murderer Carl Rudnick, and as Black Dahlia suspect George Hodel in the Turner Network Television miniseries I Am the Night. His television credits include Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie, The Americans, and Hacks.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Mays is married to Australian actress Susan Lyons.[3]

Acting credits

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1993Ghost BrigadeMartin Bradley
1994Some Folks Call It a Sling BladeGerry WoolridgeShort film[30]
1995The Low LifeHollywood Mogul[31]
1997Hudson River BluesEric
1998Cousin BetteStidmann[32]
1999The Big Brass RingGarne Strickland[33]
2004KinseyEffete Man's Friend[34]
2004AlfieDr. Miranda Kulp[35]
2005The Notorious Bettie PageLittle John[36]
2006Memoirs of My Nervous IllnessDaniel Schreber
2008How to Lose Friends & Alienate PeopleBill Nathanson
2014The GiverCommunity (voice)
2014Inherent ViceDr. Threeply
2014Ned RifleDr. Ford[37]
2015I Am MichaelPreacher Teacher
2017Rebel in the RyeWilliam Maxwell
2018The Ballad of Buster ScruggsGilbert LongabaughSegment: "The Gal Who Got Rattled"
2021The Tragedy of MacbethDoctor
2025RebuildingMr. Cassidy
2025The PanicTeddy Roosevelt
2026Los VampiresGeorge Wilmore

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
1988DynamanDynabeige (voice)
1991A Week in Joe's BasementAlexEpisode: "Remote Control"
1997Liberty! The American RevolutionJames Madison6 episodes
2002Benjamin FranklinElkanah Watson3 episodes
2005The CloserDr. EastonEpisode: "Fatal Retraction"
2008Law & Order: Criminal IntentKeifer GatesEpisode: "Legacy"
2009Law & OrderAttorney OlsenEpisode: "Pledge"
2009FringeNicholas BooneEpisode: "Midnight"
2010Nurse JackieTimEpisode: "P.O. Box"
2010God in AmericaJeremiah MooreEpisode: "A New Adam/A New Eden"
2010Lie to MeSidney CarltonEpisode: "Double Blind"
2010Detroit 1-8-7Dr. Roger Kosowski2 episodes
2011Mildred PierceMan in Blue CoatEpisode: "Four"
2011The Good WifeDiplomat Van BuskirkEpisode: "Affairs of State"
2012My AmericaPerformerEpisode: "Fire in Dreamland"
2014–2016Law & Order: Special Victims UnitDr. Carl Rudnick7 episodes
2015The AmericansWalter Taffet4 episodes[38]
2015The KnickAttorney WhittingEpisode: "You're No Rose"[39]
2015–2016Unbreakable Kimmy SchmidtDaddy2 episodes[40]
2019I Am the NightGeorge Hodel6 episodes
2019The BlacklistNorman DevaneEpisode: "Norman Devane (No. 138)"
2020WestworldLiam Dempsey Sr.Episode: "Genre"
2020Perry MasonVirgil Sheets5 episodes
2021, 2026HacksT.L. Gurley2 episodes
2022–2023JuliaP. Albert Duhamel8 episodes

Theatre

[edit]
Jefferson Mays & Terje Rød-Larsen
Jefferson Mays, who plays the part of Terje Rød-Larsen in Oslo, with International Peace Institute (IPI) President Terje Rød-Larsen, at a special performance of the play hosted by IPI.
Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1992Bella, Belle of ByelorussiaSergei/Vladivostok JimmyWPA Theatre, Off-Broadway
1994Moe's Lucky SevenMokiePlaywrights Horizons, Off-Broadway
1995QuillsAbbé de CoulmierNew York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway
1998Culture of DesireDiana VreelandNew York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway
2000Lydie Breeze, Parts I & IIJeremiah GradyNew York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway
2003I Am My Own WifeCharlotte von Mahlsdorf, et al.Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway
2003Lyceum Theatre, Broadway
2007Journey's EndPrivate MasonBelasco Theatre, Broadway
2007PygmalionHenry HigginsAmerican Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2010Measure for MeasureDuke VincentioThe Duke on 42nd Street, Off-Broadway
2011Blood and GiftsSimon CraigMitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Off-Broadway[41]
2012The Best ManSheldon MarcusGerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Broadway[42]
2012A Gentleman's Guide to Love and MurderThe D'Ysquith FamilyHartford Stage
2013Old Globe Theatre
2013Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway[43]
2016OsloTerje Rød-LarsenMitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Off-Broadway
2016The Front PageRoy V. BensingerBroadhurst Theatre, Broadway
2017OsloTerje Rød-LarsenVivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway
2018A Christmas CarolVarious CharactersGeffen Playhouse
2021The Music ManMayor George ShinnWinter Garden Theatre, Broadway
2022A Christmas CarolVarious CharactersNederlander Theatre, Broadway
2026AmadeusAntonio SalieriPasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, CA

Awards

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Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2004 Tony Award Best Actor in a Play I Am My Own Wife Won [44]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Solo Performance Won
Theatre World Award N/a Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Solo Performance Won
2012 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Blood and Gifts Nominated [45]
Outer Critics Circle Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Nominated [46]
2014 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Nominated [47]
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Won
2017 Tony Award Best Actor in a Play Oslo Nominated
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated

References

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  1. ↑ American Theatre Wing (2012-06-04). The Tony Awards: History, Highlights and Backstage (Working In The Theatre #413). Retrieved 2024-11-06 – via YouTube.
  2. 1 2 Rizzo, Frank. "The Earnest Jefferson Mays" Hartford Courant, January 25, 2004
  3. 1 2 Margaret Gray (March 12, 2013). "Jefferson Mays' fractured personality". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
  4. 1 2 Ehren, Christine. "La Jolla Playhouse Workshops Wright's 'I Am My Own Wife' July 10-29" Playbill, July 10, 2001
  5. ↑ Ehren, Christine. "Long Wharf Meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern c/o Wood and Mays April 25-June 3" Playbill, April 25, 2001
  6. 1 2 "Jefferson Mays Stars in 'Quartermaine's Terms' at Williamstown" Playbill, August 15, 2009
  7. 1 2 Jones, Kenneth. " 'I Am My Own Wife', Doug Wright's Tale of a European Transvestite's Life, Opens May 27 in NYC" Playbill, May 27, 2003
  8. 1 2 " 'I Am My Own Wife' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
  9. ↑ " 'Pygmalion' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
  10. ↑ Finkle, David. "Reviews. 'Pygmalion'" theatermania.com, October 16, 2007
  11. ↑ "'Journey's End' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
  12. ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'Journey's End'", The New York Times, February 23, 2007, p. E3
  13. ↑ Finkle, David. "Review. 'Journey's End' " theatermania.com, February 22, 2007.
  14. ↑ Quartermaine's Terms, wtfestival.org, accessed June 9, 2016.
  15. ↑ Stewart, Zachary. "Final Bow: The 9,000 Deaths of Jefferson Mays in 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'", theatermania.com, January 4, 2016.
  16. ↑ Haun, Harry. "Playbill.com offers a behind-the-scenes look at opening night of the new Broadway musical 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' " Playbill, November 18, 2013
  17. 1 2 " 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
  18. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; 'Gentleman's Guide' Wins Four Awards" Playbill, May 12, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Tony Awards 2014: The complete list of nominees and winners" Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2014.
  20. ↑ Hempstead, Pete. "Drama Desk Award Winners Led by 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' " theatermania.com, June 1, 2014
  21. ↑ "The Music Man, Starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, Sets New Broadway Dates".
  22. ↑ Thorne, Claire (2020-09-24). "The Impact of Audio: A Review of 'The Expanse' Series". Fanbase Press. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  23. ↑ Ullery, Scott (2021-11-16). "Narrator Jefferson Mays". Narrated Podcast (Podcast). No. 126. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  24. ↑ "2012 Audie Awards". Audio Publishers Association. Retrieved 2024-11-07.
  25. ↑ Green, Elece [@oodlesOFnoodles] (2020-09-09). "Post" (Tweet). Retrieved 2024-11-04 – via Twitter.
  26. ↑ The Invention of Sound. 2020-01-07. ISBN 978-1-5491-8391-1. Retrieved 2024-11-04. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
  27. ↑ Literati Audio [@Firstroundkao] (2024-09-24). "Post" (Tweet). Retrieved 2024-11-04 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  28. ↑ "2017 Audie Awards". Audio Publishers Association. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  29. ↑ "Audiobook Reviews: Read by Jefferson Mays, Earphones Award Winner". AudioFile Magazine. Retrieved 2024-11-06.
  30. ↑ Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
  31. ↑ The Low Life tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
  32. ↑ Cousin Bette tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
  33. ↑ The Big Brass Ring tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
  34. ↑ Kinsey tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
  35. ↑ Alfie tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
  36. ↑ The Notorious Bettie Page tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
  37. ↑ Ned Rifle tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
  38. ↑ Eyerly, Alan. "'The Americans' recap: Fiery end to South African plot" Los Angeles Times, March 19, 2015
  39. ↑ Leeds, Sarene. "TV Recap. 'You're No Rose'" ew.com, October 23, 2015
  40. ↑ Zuckerman, Esther. "Your guide to the guest stars in 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'" ew.com, March 10, 2015
  41. ↑ Isherwoord, Christopher. "Choosing Sides in Afghanistan: Spies Playing in the Great Game" The New York Times, November 22, 2011
  42. ↑ " 'The Best Man', Starring John Larroquette and James Earl Jones, Receives Second Broadway Extension" broadway.com, May 16, 2012
  43. ↑ "Jefferson Mays (Performer) | Playbill".
  44. ↑ "Jefferson Mays profile". broadway.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
  45. ↑ Bacalzo, Dan. "2012 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced" theatermania.com, April 27, 2012
  46. ↑ Gans, Andrew. "62nd Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations Announced; 'Nice Work' Receives Nine Nods" Playbill, April 23, 2012
  47. ↑ "Jefferson Mays Theatre Credits and Profile".
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