David Zayas

David Zayas was born on August 15, 1962, in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He later moved to The Bronx, New York. Before pursuing an acting career, Zayas served in the United States Air Force and then as a police officer with the New York City Police Department for nearly 15 years. This real-world experience provided a foundation for his character work, particularly in roles involving law enforcement.

Zayas’s acting career began to gain momentum with his involvement in the LAByrinth Theater Company, which he joined in 1992. His theater work led to opportunities in television and film. He became widely recognized for his portrayal of Angel Batista in the Showtime series “Dexter,” a role he maintained for all eight seasons from 2006 to 2013, and later reprised in “Dexter: New Blood” (2021-2022) and the upcoming “Dexter: Resurrection” (2025). Another significant television role was Enrique Morales in the HBO prison drama “Oz.” His film credits include “16 Blocks” (2006) as Detective Bobby Torres, “Michael Clayton” (2007) as Detective Dalberto, “The Expendables” (2010) as General Garza, and “Skyline” (2010) as Oliver. He also appeared in “Annie” (2014) as Lou, a bodega owner, and as Sal Maroni in the Batman prequel series “Gotham” (2014-2015).

Throughout his career, Zayas has consistently taken on a variety of roles across different genres, from drama and action to animation, including voice work for “Bob’s Burgers” (2024). He has appeared in numerous TV series such as “Law & Order,” “NYPD Blue,” “Person of Interest,” “The Blacklist,” “Blue Bloods,” and “FBI.” In theatre, he earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Eddie in “Cost of Living” (2022). His upcoming projects include “The Running Man” (2025) and “Adieu Aurora” (post-production). Zayas is married to actress Liza Colón-Zayas, and they have one child.