Jayson Warner Smith

Jayson Warner Smith initiated his acting career in theatre at the age of nine, developing a consistent presence in theatrical productions, television, and film throughout his life. After studying at Yale and Juilliard, he established himself as a reliable actor for leading, supporting, and recurring guest roles. A significant turning point in his career occurred in 2010 with a supporting role in the 2011 film “Footloose,” marking an expansion into larger film projects. He is based in Atlanta and Athens, Georgia, with his wife, Lisa, and also dedicates time to teaching acting in Atlanta.

Throughout his career, Smith has appeared in various films and television series. Notable film credits include “Anchorman II,” “42,” “99 Homes” (2014), “Mississippi Grind” (2015), “Christine” (2016), “The Book of Love” (2016), Sundance winner “The Birth of a Nation” (2016), “American Made” (2017) alongside Tom Cruise, Sony and Hello Sunshine’s “Where the Crawdads Sing” (2022), and Apple’s “Emancipation” (2022) directed by Antoine Fuqua. His television work includes roles in “The Vampire Diaries” (The WB), “Sleepy Hollow” (Fox TV), “One Mississippi” (Amazon), “Queen America” (Facebook Watch), “Candy” (Hulu), “NCIS: New Orleans” (CBS), “Tulsa King” (Paramount), “Outer Banks” (Netflix), “Murdaugh: Death in the Family” (Hulu), and “Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist” (Peacock).

Smith is particularly recognized for his portrayal of Gavin in AMC’s “The Walking Dead” for two seasons (2016-2018) and the character of Wendall Jelks in SundanceTV’s “Rectify” for two seasons (2013-2014). In 2022, he expanded his professional activities into executive producing with the short film “Chipper,” which received multiple awards during its festival run before being distributed on Vimeo and Omeleto’s YouTube platform. He continues to be represented by The Alexander White Agency and Zero Gravity Management.