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 Mays was raised in Clinton, Connecticut, with his parents, a naval intelligence officer and a children's librarian, and his siblings.Rizzo, Frank. "The Earnest Jefferson Mays" Hartford Courant, January 25, 2004 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. He appeared at La Jolla Playhouse, Long Wharf Theatre,Ehren, Christine. "Long Wharf Meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern c/o Wood and Mays April 25-June 3" Playbill, April 25, 2001 the Williamstown Theatre Festival,"Jefferson Mays Stars in 'Quartermaine's Terms' at Williamstown" Playbill, August 15, 2009 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." 'I Am My Own Wife' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016 He had appeared in the play Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in May 2003,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 and at the La Jolla Playhouse in July 2001.Ehren, Christine. "La Jolla Playhouse Workshops Wright's 'I Am My Own Wife' July 10-29" Playbill, July 10, 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," 'Pygmalion' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016 in which he won critical praise. The TheaterMania reviewer called him "pitch-perfect", and the production an "excellent revival".Finkle, David. "Reviews. 'Pygmalion'" theatermania.com, October 16, 2007 He appeared in a revival of Journey's End in February to June 2007, in which he starred as Private Mason."'Journey's End' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016 Ben Brantley, in The New York Times, called the production "acutely staged and acted."Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'Journey's End'", The New York Times, February 23, 2007, p. E3 The TheaterMania reviewer wrote: "Mays is a reliable, obliging Mason."Finkle, David. "Review. 'Journey's End' " theatermania.com, February 22, 2007.
In August 2009, Mays appeared at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Quartermaine's Terms by Simon Grey.Quartermaine's Terms, wtfestival.org, accessed June 9, 2016.
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.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.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 He won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.Gans, Andrew. "64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; 'Gentleman's Guide' Wins Four Awards" Playbill, May 12, 2014. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical"Tony Awards 2014: The complete list of nominees and winners" Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2014. and tied for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (with Neil Patrick Harris)." 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016Hempstead, Pete. "Drama Desk Award Winners Led by 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' " theatermania.com, June 1, 2014 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.
Mays also narrates audiobooks, including The Expanse series, The Invention of Sound by Chuck Palahniuk and Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said. His narration was recognized by an Audie Award and a number of Earphones Awards.
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.
Personal life Mays is married to Australian actress Susan Lyons.
Acting credits Film Year Title Role Notes Ref.1993 Ghost Brigade Martin Bradley 1994 Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade Gerry Woolridge Short film Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016 1995 The Low Life Hollywood Mogul The Low Life tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016 1997 Hudson River Blues Eric 1998 Cousin Bette Stidmann Cousin Bette tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016 1999 The Big Brass Ring Garne Strickland The Big Brass Ring tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016 2004 Kinsey Effete Man's Friend Kinsey tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016 2004 Alfie Dr. Miranda Kulp Alfie tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016 2005 The Notorious Bettie Page Little John The Notorious Bettie Page tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016 2006 Memoirs of My Nervous Illness Daniel Schreber 2008 How to Lose Friends & Alienate People Bill Nathanson 2014 The Giver Community (voice) 2014 Inherent Vice Dr. Threeply 2014 Ned Rifle Dr. Ford Ned Rifle tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016 2015 I Am Michael Preacher Teacher 2017 Rebel in the Rye William Maxwell 2018 The Ballad of Buster Scruggs Gilbert Longabaugh Segment: "The Gal Who Got Rattled" 2021 The Tragedy of Macbeth Doctor 2025 Rebuilding Mr. Cassidy 2025 The Panic Teddy Roosevelt 2026Los VampiresGeorge Wilmore
Television Year Title Role Notes Ref. 1988 Dynaman Dynabeige (voice) 1991 A Week in Joe's Basement Alex Episode: "Remote Control" 1997 Liberty! The American Revolution James Madison 6 episodes 2002 Benjamin Franklin Elkanah Watson 3 episodes 2005 The Closer Dr. Easton Episode: "Fatal Retraction" 2008 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Keifer Gates Episode: "Legacy" 2009 Law & Order Attorney Olsen Episode: "Pledge" 2009 Fringe Nicholas Boone Episode: "Midnight" 2010 Nurse Jackie Tim Episode: "P.O. Box" 2010 God in America Jeremiah Moore Episode: "A New Adam/A New Eden" 2010 Lie to Me Sidney Carlton Episode: "Double Blind" 2010 Detroit 1-8-7 Dr. Roger Kosowski 2 episodes 2011 Mildred Pierce Man in Blue Coat Episode: "Four" 2011 The Good Wife Diplomat Van Buskirk Episode: "Affairs of State" 2012 My America Performer Episode: "Fire in Dreamland" 2014–2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Carl Rudnick 7 episodes 2015 The Americans Walter Taffet 4 episodes Eyerly, Alan. "'The Americans' recap: Fiery end to South African plot" Los Angeles Times, March 19, 2015 2015 The Knick Attorney Whitting Episode: "You're No Rose" Leeds, Sarene. "TV Recap. 'You're No Rose'" ew.com, October 23, 2015 2015–2016 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Daddy 2 episodes Zuckerman, Esther. "Your guide to the guest stars in 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'" ew.com, March 10, 2015 2019 I Am the Night George Hodel 6 episodes 2019 The Blacklist Norman Devane Episode: "Norman Devane (No. 138)" 2020 Westworld Liam Dempsey Sr. Episode: "Genre" 2020 Perry Mason Virgil Sheets 5 episodes 2021, 2026 Hacks T.L. Gurley 2 episodes 2022–2023 Julia P. Albert Duhamel 8 episodes
Theatre
Year Title Role Venue Ref. 1992 Bella, Belle of Byelorussia Sergei/Vladivostok Jimmy WPA Theatre, Off-Broadway 1994 Moe's Lucky Seven Mokie Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway 1995 Quills Abbé de Coulmier New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway 1998 Culture of Desire Diana Vreeland New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway 2000 Lydie Breeze, Parts I & II Jeremiah Grady New York Theatre Workshop, Off-Broadway 2003 I Am My Own Wife Charlotte von Mahlsdorf, et al. Playwrights Horizons, Off-Broadway 2003 Lyceum Theatre, Broadway 2007 Journey's End Private Mason Belasco Theatre, Broadway 2007 Pygmalion Henry Higgins American Airlines Theatre, Broadway 2010 Measure for Measure Duke Vincentio The Duke on 42nd Street, Off-Broadway 2011 Blood and Gifts Simon Craig Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Off-Broadway Isherwoord, Christopher. "Choosing Sides in Afghanistan: Spies Playing in the Great Game" The New York Times, November 22, 2011 2012 The Best Man Sheldon Marcus Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, Broadway " 'The Best Man', Starring John Larroquette and James Earl Jones, Receives Second Broadway Extension" broadway.com, May 16, 2012 2012 A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder The D'Ysquith Family Hartford Stage 2013 Old Globe Theatre 2013 Walter Kerr Theatre, Broadway 2016 Oslo Terje Rød-Larsen Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, Off-Broadway 2016 The Front Page Roy V. Bensinger Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway 2017 Oslo Terje Rød-Larsen Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway 2018 A Christmas Carol Various Characters Geffen Playhouse 2021 The Music Man Mayor George Shinn Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway 2022 A Christmas Carol Various Characters Nederlander Theatre, Broadway 2026 Amadeus Antonio Salieri Pasadena Playhouse, Pasadena, CA
Awards Year Award Category Nominated work Result 2004 Tony Award Best Actor in a Play I Am My Own Wife Drama Desk Award Outstanding Solo Performance Theatre World Award Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Solo Performance 2012 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Blood and Gifts Bacalzo, Dan. "2012 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced" theatermania.com, April 27, 2012 Outer Critics Circle Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Gans, Andrew. "62nd Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations Announced; 'Nice Work' Receives Nine Nods" Playbill, April 23, 2012 2014 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical 2017Tony AwardBest Actor in a PlayOslo Drama League AwardDistinguished Performance
References
External links
Jefferson Mays biography, iammyownwife.com; accessed July 11, 2015.