Jefferson Mays

Life and career

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 from the graduate acting program. 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 nine roles. He performed in the musical from October 2013 (previews) until closing on January 17, 2016. He 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 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 and The Americans.

Personal life

Mays is married to Australian actress Susan Lyons.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards

References

References

1. [[American Theatre Wing]]. (2012-06-04). "The Tony Awards: History, Highlights and Backstage (Working In The Theatre #413)".
2. Rizzo, Frank. [https://www.courant.com/2004/01/25/the-earnest-jefferson-mays/ "The Earnest Jefferson Mays"] ''Hartford Courant'', January 25, 2004
3. He appeared at [[La Jolla Playhouse]], [[Long Wharf Theatre]],Ehren, Christine. [http://www.playbill.com/article/long-wharf-meets-rosencrantz-and-guildenstern-c-o-wood-and-mays-april-25-june-3-com-96240# "Long Wharf Meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern c/o Wood and Mays April 25-June 3"] Playbill, April 25, 2001
4. [http://www.playbill.com/article/photo-call-jefferson-mays-stars-in-quartermaines-terms-at-williamstown-com-163594# "Jefferson Mays Stars in 'Quartermaine's Terms' at Williamstown"] Playbill, August 15, 2009
5. [http://www.playbill.com/production/i-am-my-own-wife-lyceum-theatre-vault-0000007091# " 'I Am My Own Wife' Broadway"] Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
6. Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/article/i-am-my-own-wife-doug-wrights-tale-of-a-european-transvestites-life-opens-may-27-in-nyc-com-113361# " 'I Am My Own Wife', Doug Wright's Tale of a European Transvestite's Life, Opens May 27 in NYC"] Playbill, May 27, 2003
7. Ehren, Christine. [http://www.playbill.com/article/la-jolla-playhouse-workshops-wrights-i-am-my-own-wife-july-10-29-com-97622# "La Jolla Playhouse Workshops Wright's 'I Am My Own Wife' July 10-29"] Playbill, July 10, 2001
8. [http://www.playbill.com/production/pygmalion-american-airlines-theatre-vault-0000010373# " 'Pygmalion' Broadway"] Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
9. Finkle, David. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/reviews/10-2007/pygmalion_11863.html "Reviews. 'Pygmalion'"] theatermania.com, October 16, 2007
10. [http://www.playbill.com/production/journeys-end-belasco-theatre-vault-0000010751# "'Journey's End' Broadway"] Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
11. Brantley, Ben. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/23/theater/reviews/23jour.html "Theater Review. 'Journey's End'"], ''The New York Times'', February 23, 2007, p. E3
12. Finkle, David. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/reviews/02-2007/journeys-end_10131.html "Review. 'Journey's End' "] theatermania.com, February 22, 2007.
13. [http://wtfestival.org/main-events/quartermaines-terms/ ''Quartermaine's Terms''], wtfestival.org, accessed June 9, 2016.
14. Stewart, Zachary. [http://www.theatermania.com/broadway/news/final-bow-the-9000-deaths-of-jefferson-mays-in-a-g_75329.html "Final Bow: The 9,000 Deaths of Jefferson Mays in 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder'"], theatermania.com, January 4, 2016.
15. Haun, Harry. [http://www.playbill.com/article/playbill-on-opening-night-a-gentlemans-guide-to-love-and-murder-mdash-die-die-my-dysquiths-com-211954# "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
16. He won the [[Outer Critics Circle Award]] for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/64th-annual-outer-critics-circle-award-winners-announced-gentlemans-guide-wins-four-awards-com-218223# "64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; 'Gentleman's Guide' Wins Four Awards"] Playbill, May 12, 2014.
17. [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-tony-awards-2014-list-nominees-20140428-story.html "Tony Awards 2014: The complete list of nominees and winners"] ''Los Angeles Times'', April 28, 2014.
18. [http://www.playbill.com/show/detail/14016/a-gentlemans-guide-to-love-and-murder# " 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' Broadway"] Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
19. Hempstead, Pete. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/06-2014/2014-drama-desk-award-winners-are-announced_68684.html "Drama Desk Award Winners Led by 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' "] theatermania.com, June 1, 2014
20. "The Music Man, Starring Hugh Jackman and Sutton Foster, Sets New Broadway Dates".
21. Thorne, Claire. (2020-09-24). "The Impact of Audio: A Review of 'The Expanse' Series".
22. Ullery, Scott. (2021-11-16). "Narrator Jefferson Mays".
23. "2012 Audie Awards".
24. Green, Elece. (2020-09-09). "Post".
25. (2020-01-07). "The Invention of Sound".
26. Literati Audio. (2024-09-24). "Post".
27. "2017 Audie Awards".
28. "Audiobook Reviews: Read by Jefferson Mays, Earphones Award Winner".
29. Margaret Gray. (March 12, 2013). "Jefferson Mays' fractured personality". [[Los Angeles Times]].
30. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160816032425/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/521049/Some-Folks-Call-It-a-Sling-Blade/ ''Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade''] tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
31. [https://web.archive.org/web/20210226125940/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/443501/the-low-life ''The Low Life''] tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
32. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140307202436/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/442934/Cousin-Bette/ ''Cousin Bette''] tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
33. [https://web.archive.org/web/20201012010400/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/459779/the-big-brass-ring ''The Big Brass Ring''] tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
34. [https://web.archive.org/web/20141221083712/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/452328/Kinsey/ ''Kinsey''] tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
35. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160816032440/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/536652/Alfie/ ''Alfie''] tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
36. [https://web.archive.org/web/20201015193051/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/622368/the-notorious-bettie-page ''The Notorious Bettie Page''] tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
37. [https://web.archive.org/web/20160816030107/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2025197/Ned-Rifle/ ''Ned Rifle''] tcm.com, accessed June 10, 2016
38. Eyerly, Alan. [http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-the-americans-recap-fiery-end-to-south-african-plot-20150318-story.html "'The Americans' recap: Fiery end to South African plot"] ''Los Angeles Times'', March 19, 2015
39. Leeds, Sarene. [http://www.ew.com/recap/the-knick-season-2-episode-2/2 "TV Recap. 'You're No Rose'"] ew.com, October 23, 2015
40. Zuckerman, Esther. [http://www.ew.com/article/2015/03/10/unbreakable-kimmy-schmidt-your-guide-all-guest-stars "Your guide to the guest stars in 'Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt'"] ew.com, March 10, 2015
41. Isherwoord, Christopher. [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/22/theater/reviews/blood-and-gifts-at-mitzi-e-newhouse-theater-review.html "Choosing Sides in Afghanistan: Spies Playing in the Great Game"] ''The New York Times'', November 22, 2011
42. [http://www.broadway.com/buzz/161936/the-best-man-starring-john-larroquette-and-james-earl-jones-receives-second-broadway-extension/ " 'The Best Man', Starring John Larroquette and James Earl Jones, Receives Second Broadway Extension"] broadway.com, May 16, 2012
43. "Jefferson Mays (Performer) {{!".
44. "Jefferson Mays profile".
45. Bacalzo, Dan. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/04-2012/2012-drama-desk-award-nominations-announced_55780.html "2012 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced"] theatermania.com, April 27, 2012
46. Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/62nd-annual-outer-critics-circle-award-nominations-announced-nice-work-receives-nine-nods-com-192845# "62nd Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations Announced; 'Nice Work' Receives Nine Nods"] Playbill, April 23, 2012
47. "Jefferson Mays Theatre Credits and Profile".