Jayson Warner Smith (a.k.a. Jayson Smith) is an American actor in film, television, and theatre. He is best known for playing the role of Gavin in the hit cult television series, AMC’s The Walking Dead, where he starred for two seasons. He is also known for his portrayal of the death-row serial killer Wendall Jelks for two seasons on Sundance TV’s Rectify, and as Cooper in The Vampire Diaries.

Jayson has performed major supporting roles in, The Book of Love with Maisie Williams and Jason Sudeikis, Christine with Rebecca Hall and Michael C. Hall, The Birth of a Nation with Nate Parker, and Armie Hammer, and American Made with Tom Cruise. Early on, performing mostly in theatre, Jayson had played many roles on stage over the years, but in 2010 he finally scored a larger supporting role in a Hollywood film – the 2011 remake of Footloose. Since then, he has performed supporting and leading roles in films and television shows such as Anchorman II, The Vampire Diaries, 99 Homes, Mississippi Grind, 42, Fox TV’s Sleepy Hollow, Amazon’s One Mississippi, and CBS’ NCIS: New Orleans.

With such highly acclaimed roles in phenomenal shows, Jayson has been able to maintain a steady work-life, while still building up a resume of recurring roles. His slightly later start to Hollywood hasn’t slowed him down. He still lives in Atlanta, Georgia, where He also teaches acting at The Robert Mello Studio.