Jefferson Mays
 | This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. (March 2013) |
Jefferson Mays | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Jefferson Mays in 2014 | |
| Born | Lewis Jefferson Mays June 8, 1965 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse | Susan Lyons |
Jefferson Mays (born Lewis Jefferson Mays; June 8, 1965) is an American film, stage and television actor.
Life and career
Mays was raised in Clinton, Connecticut with his parents, a naval intelligence officer and a children's librarian, and his siblings. [1] 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.[2][1]
He has appeared at La Jolla Playhouse,[3] Long Wharf Theatre,[4] the Williamstown Theatre Festival,[5] and Playwrights Horizons.[6]
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.[7] He had appeared in the play Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in May 2003,[6] and at the La Jolla Playhouse in July 2001.[3] 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.[7] 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,[8] in which he won critical praise. The TheaterMania reviewer called him "pitch-perfect", and the production an "excellent revival."[9] He appeared in a revival of Journey's End in February to June 2007, in which he starred as Private Mason.[10] Ben Brantley, in the New York Times, called the production "acutely staged and acted."[11] The TheaterMania reviewer wrote: "Mays is a reliable, obliging Mason."[12]
In August 2009, Mays appeared at the Williamstown Theatre Festival in Quartermaine's Terms by Simon Grey.[5][13]
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.[14][15][16] He won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.[17] He also was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical[18] and tied for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (with Neil Patrick Harris).[16][19]
Personal life
Mays is married to Australian actress Susan Lyons.[2]
Credits
Film
- Rebel in the Rye (2016)
- Ned Rifle (2014)[20]
- Inherent Vice (2014)
- How to Lose Friends and Alienate People (2008)
- The Notorious Bettie Page (2005)[21]
- Alfie (2004)[22]
- Kinsey (2004)[23]
- The Big Brass Ring (1999)[24]
- Cousin Bette (1998)[25]
- The Low Life (1995)[26]
- Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade (1994)[27]
Television
- The Americans (2015)[28]
- Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (2015)[29]
- The Knick (2015)[30]
- 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)[31]
- Blood and Gifts (2011)[32]
- Pygmalion (2007)
- Journey's End (2007)
- I Am My Own Wife (2003)
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play[33] | I Am My Own Wife | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Solo Performance | Won | ||
| Theatre World Award | Won | |||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Solo Performance | Won | ||
| 2012 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play[34] | Blood and Gifts | Nominated |
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Best Featured Actor in a Play[35] | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Tony Award | Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical | A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
References
- ^ a b Rizzo, Frank. "The Earnest Jefferson Mays" Hartford Courant, January 25, 2004
- ^ a b Margaret Gray (March 12, 2013). "Jefferson Mays' fractured personality". LA Times. Retrieved 2016-06-09.
- ^ a b Ehren, Christine. "La Jolla Playhouse Workshops Wright's 'I Am My Own Wife' July 10-29" Playbill, July 10, 2001
- ^ Ehren, Christine. "Long Wharf Meets Rosencrantz and Guildenstern c/o Wood and Mays April 25-June 3" Playbill, April 25, 2001
- ^ a b "Jefferson Mays Stars in 'Quartermaine's Terms' at Williamstown" Playbill, August 15, 2009
- ^ a b 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
- ^ a b " 'I Am My Own Wife' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
- ^ " 'Pygmalion' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
- ^ Finkle, David. "Reviews. 'Pygmalion'" theatermania.com, October 16, 2007
- ^ "'Journey's End' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
- ^ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review. 'Journey's End'", The New York Times, February 23, 2007, p. E3
- ^ Finkle, David. "Review. 'Journey's End' " theatermania.com, February 22, 2007
- ^ Quartermaine's Terms wtfestival.org, accessed June 9, 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
- ^ a b " 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' Broadway" Playbill (vault), accessed June 9, 2016
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "64th Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Winners Announced; 'Gentleman's Guide' Wins Four Awards" Playbill, May 12, 2014
- ^ "Tony Awards 2014: The complete list of nominees and winners" Los Angeles Times, April 28, 2014
- ^ Hempstead, Pete. "Drama Desk Award Winners Led by 'A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder' " theatermania.com, June 1, 2014
- ^ 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
- ^ "Jefferson Mays profile". broadway.com. broadway.com. Retrieved July 11, 2015.
- ^ Bacalzo, Dan. "2012 Drama Desk Award Nominations Announced" theatermania.com, April 27, 2012
- ^ Gans, Andrew. "62nd Annual Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations Announced; 'Nice Work' Receives Nine Nods" Playbill, April 23, 2012
External links
- Jefferson Mays at IMDb
- Jefferson Mays at the Internet Broadway Database
- Jefferson Mays biography, iammyownwife.com; accessed July 11, 2015.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |