Who is David Zayas?
Actor David Zayas was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, on 15 August 1962, making his zodiac sign Leo. He’s had roles in over 100 movies and TV series, and is perhaps still best known for his playing of Oliver in the 2010 action science fiction thriller movie “Skyline”, directed by Colin Strause, and which starred Eric Balfour, Donald Faison and Scottie Thompson. It follows an extraterrestrial force that is threatening to kill all humans, and the movie was nominated for a Revelation Composer of the Year Award (Matthew Margeson) at the 2011 GoldSpirit Awards.
Education and early life
David was raised in Ponce by his Puerto Rican parents, about whom not a lot is known, because David respects their privacy; it’s believed that his father was a firefighter, and his mother a housewife. David hasn’t mentioned whether or not he has siblings.
He was mostly into sports while attending a local high school, and upon matriculating in 1980, David moved to mainland US, and joined the US Air Force. He later began working in the New York City Police Department as a police officer, a job which he then held until he launched his acting career at the age of 34 in 1996.
Roles in TV series
David’s debut TV series appearance was his playing of Paco Martinez in the 1996 episode “The Enforcers” of the crime drama “New York Undercover”, and the remainder of the ‘90s saw him appear in single episodes of the drama “Trinity”, the action crime drama “Third Watch” and the mystery crime drama “NYPD Blue”.
The year 2000 saw him portray Rei Morales in the mystery crime drama “The Beat”, which starred Jeffrey Donovan, Derek Cecil and Celeste Holm; it follows the lives of two police officers. Between 2000 and 2003, David played Enrique Morales in the popular crime thriller drama “Oz”, which Tom Fontana created, and which starred Lee Tergesen, J. K. Simmons and Ernie Hudson; it follows prisoners who are serving their time at a strange facility, and the series won 15 of its 72 award nominations.
In 2003, David played a supporting character in the romantic fantasy mini-series “Angels in America”, while he then appeared in an episode of many series in the remainder of the 2000s, including the mystery crime drama “Conviction”, the historical drama “The Path to 9/11”, and the mystery crime drama “Numb3rs”.
Between 2006 and 2013 he played Sergeant Angel Batista, one of the main characters in the mystery crime drama “Dexter”, which James Manos Jr. created, and which also starred Jennifer Carpenter and Michael C. Hall. It follows a police detective who becomes a serial killer at night, and the series won 57 of its 154 award nominations.
David played Junior in the 2014 comedy “Saint George”, and Sheriff Aguire in the 2017 thriller drama “Bloodline”.
His three most recent TV series roles have been in the episode “The Skinner (No. 45)” of the mystery drama “The Blacklist”, three episodes of the action crime drama “FBI” both in 2021, and two episodes of the 2022 mystery crime mini-series “Dexter: New Blood”.
Roles in movies
David’s debut film appearance was in the 1997 drama “Lena’s Dreams”, while he could then have been seen appearing in the 1998 romantic thriller drama “Return to Paradise”, and in 1999 the thriller drama “Bringing Out the Dead” and the drama “Kingdom Come”.
In 2000, he was cast to play Officer Jerry Rifkin in the romantic crime drama “The Yards”, written and directed by James Gray, and which starred Mark Wahlberg, Joaquin Phoenix and Charlize Theron. It follows Leo who’s just been released from prison after having served his time for stealing cars, and the movie won three of its five award nominations. David could then have been seen playing supporting roles in the 2001 romantic comedy drama “Sam the Man”, the 2002 sports drama “A Gentleman’s Game”, and the 2005 mystery crime thriller “The Interpreter”.
The 2000s were perhaps marked by his portrayal of Detective Dalberto in the mystery crime drama “Michael Clayton”, which Tony Gilroy wrote and directed, and which starred Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton and George Clooney. It follows a ‘fixer’ who has to clear-up the mess caused by an attorney who was to defend a chemical company, and the movie won 29 of its 143 award nominations, including an Oscar win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role (Tilda Swinton).
The Expendables is a lot of fun and really makes the most of its ensemble hero cast, but the villains are where it really shines
Eric Roberts? Steve Austin? Gary Daniels?! BIG NOG AND LITTLE NOG?!?!
also David Zayas isn't really a *bad* guy, he's a villain with standards pic.twitter.com/OzfHDCYVdf
— Previously, on X-Ming (@NateMing) June 28, 2021
In 2010, David played Detective Larry Mullane in the crime thriller drama “13”, while the same year also saw him appear in the drama “Shadowboxing”, and the action adventure thriller “The Expendables”.
He portrayed Detective Flores in the 2013 romantic thriller drama “Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret”, directed by Jace Alexander, and which starred Tania Raymonde, Jesse Lee Soffer and Leah Pipes; it follows a photographer who’s been accused of murdering her lover.
David’s also known for his playing of one of the lead characters Ramon, in the 2017 musical drama “Shine”, written and directed by Anthony Nardolillo, and which also starred Musetta Vander and Alysia Reiner. It follows the lives of two brothers from Puerto Rico who are professional salsa dancers, and the movie won an Audience Award for Best Film at the 2017 Urbanworld Film Festival.
David’s three most recent film roles have been in the 2020 short drama “Break In”, the 2021 drama “R#J”, and the 2022 drama “Blanco”; he’s currently shooting for four upcoming movies, including “The Disaster Dreams” and “Tell No Tales”.
Other credits
David was featured in the 2011 documentary series “Working in the Theatre” and the 2011 documentary movie “When Pop Culture Saved America: A 9-11 Story”.
He produced the 2020 short film “Break In”, and is the writer, producer and director of the upcoming movie “10-13”.
David’s made a guest appearance in talk-shows “Red Carpet Report”, “American Latino TV” and “Fanaddicts Podcast”, amongst others.
Awards and nominations
David’s won two of his 10 award nominations. He won a 2007 Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, and a 2013 ALMA Award for Special Achievement in Television, both for his performance in “Dexter”.
Wife and children
David and American actress and playwright Liza Colón-Zayas exchanged vows in a large ceremony on 21 November 1998, attended by many of their family members and friends.
Liza’s had roles in over 60 movies and TV series, and is probably best known for her playing of Tina in the 2022 comedy series “The Bear”, which follows the life of a chef who’s begun running his family’s sandwich shop. Liza’s also known for her playing of Principal Fallow in the 2019 drama “David Makes Man”, and Rita Ortiz in the 2021 drama “In Treatment”.
Liza and David have a son David Zayas Jr., but his birthdate and profession haven’t been revealed.
David hasn’t spoken of the women whom he had dated prior to meeting Liza; he’s married to Liza Colón-Zayas as of October 2022, and has a son with her.
Interesting facts and hobbies
David’s appeared in many theatre plays with the Labyrinth Theatre Company, of which he’s a member.
He’s the only person to appear in the series “Dexter” who has actually been a police officer.
There are nearly 20,000 people following David on Instagram, while he’s posted over 200 pictures and videos onto the social media network.
He’s an avid dancer, and is proficient in avariety of styles, with his favorite being tango.
David loves animals, and his favorites are wolves and foxes.
His favorite actors are Hugh Jackman and Hugh Grant, while some of his favorite films include “The Front Runner”, “Missing Link”, and “The Greatest Showman”.
Height, eyes and wealth
David’s age is 60. His eyes are brown and he has short brown and grey hair; he weighs around 185lbs (84kgs), and is 5ft 11ins (1.79m) tall.
David’s net worth’s been estimated at over $4 million as of October 2022.
