Jayson Warner Smith is an American actor who is best known for portraying Gavin in the television series The Walking Dead.[1] He is also known for his role in Rectify as Wendall Jelks and as Dean in The Vampire Diaries.[2]

Jayson Warner Smith
Born
OccupationActor
Years active1991–present
Websitehttps://www.jaysonsmith.com

Early life and career

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Smith was born in Atlanta. He started in theatre at age nine. He also teaches acting in Atlanta. In 2010, he finally scored a larger supporting role in a Hollywood film. He has performed in supporting roles in films and TV shows such as the 2011 remake of Footloose, Anchorman II, The Vampire Diaries, 99 Homes, Mississippi Grind, 42, and Fox's Sleepy Hollow.

In addition to those credits, Smith is known for his portrayal of death-row inmate Wendall Jelks on Sundance TV's Rectify. Beginning in 2015, Smith performed in supporting roles in the films The Book of Love, Christine, The Birth of a Nation, and American Made. Atlanta remains his home and he lives in Athens, GA with his wife Lisa. He is best known for portraying Gavin, an antagonistic character from the horror television series The Walking Dead.[3]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1991 Last Breeze of Summer School Policeman #2 short
2001 Losing Grace EMT
2006 Fatwa Teacher
2009 The Way of War Seven
The People v. Leo Frank William Smith / Narrator
The Joneses Maitre d'
2010 Lottery ticket Maitre d' uncredited
2011 Footloose Officer Herb
2012 Angel of Mercy Father Clarke short
2013 42 White Gas Station Attendant
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Guy with Knife in Head
2014 Trouble in the Neighborhood Judd short
99 Homes Jeff
Heavy Water Mickey
2015 Mississippi Grind Clifford
I Saw the Light Hank Snow
2016 Christine Mitch
The Book of Love Uncle Glen
The Birth of a Nation Hank Fowler
2017 American Made Bill Cooper Snowbird #1
Thank You for Your Service VA Receptionist
2018 All or Nothing Kirk
St. Agatha Mary's Father
Billionaire Boys Club Investor
2019 The Devil to Pay Wade Runion
Rest Stop Mitch Forsyth Short
Only Arthur
Age Difference Richard Short
2022 Where the Crawdads Sing Deputy Joe Purdue
2023 Chipper Reese Short
Sebastian Fogarty
Red West (Blood Meridian) tribute Ex-Priest Tobin Short
You're Killing Me Joel Murphy

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1997 Savannah Delivery Guy Episode "Every Picture Tells a Story"
2009 Drop Dead Diva Carl Amuroso Episode "Crazy"
2009 Tyler Perry's House of Payne Harold Williams Episode: "Parental Payne"
2012 Let's Stay Together Johnny Geter Episodes: Wait, What? (voice), Creepers
Final Witness Mark Koponen TV Documentary, episode: Vixen's Elixir
2013 Sleepy Hollow Carlton Episode 8: "Necromancer"
Rectify Wendall Jelks 8 episodes (2013–2014)
2014 The Vampire Diaries Dean 2 episodes
2016 NCIS: New Orleans Payton Kirk Episode: "Second Chances"
One Mississippi Dalton Green Episode: The Cat's Out
The Walking Dead Gavin (2016–2017) Season 7: 3 episodes
(2017–2018) Season 8: 5 episodes
2018 Queen America Mr. Cole 3 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Ross, Dalton (March 15, 2017). "Is Gavin the most perpetually annoyed Walking Dead character ever?". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 15, 2017.
  2. ^ Matt, Richenthal (July 17, 2014). "Is Colin Ferguson to Tripp Out on The Vampire Diaries Season 6". TV Fanatic. Retrieved July 17, 2014.
  3. ^ Freligh, Tai (September 14, 2017). "Exclusive: Jayson Warner Smith talks about The Walking Dead and Season 8". Flickering Myth. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
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