David Zayas (born 15 August 1962) is a Puerto Rican-American actor, director, writer, and producer.
He played Angel Batista, a Miami Homicide Detective/Sergeant/Lieutenant on Showtime's series DEXTER. He played a police captain in Dexter: New Blood, a special event series.
Appearances[]
96 Episodes in Eight Seasons (20016 - 2013):
- He appeared in 96 of the 96 episodes.
- Runaway (2021)
- Sins of the Father (2022)
Career[]
Zayas joined the United States Air Force at age 19 and was a police officer with the New York City Police Department for almost 15 years. His experience as a police officer allowed him to develop as a character actor, leading to a series of acting jobs on television and film, mainly playing law enforcement officers, but playing characters on the other side of the law, as well, such as Enrique Morales on HBO's prison drama Oz (2000-2003) and Osborne the cop in Rounders (1998).
He branched out into television and film projects, and has diversified with guest roles on such television series such as New York Undercover, Person of Interest, and NYPD Blue. He played a corrupt police officer in 16 Blocks (2006) and an NYPD officer in Michael Clayton (2007). He is featured in the independent film Shadowboxing (2010). He appears in Sylvester Stallone's feature film The Expendables (2010) and The Brothers Strause's film Skyline (2010). In 2012, Zayas played Ernie Trask, a hotel super, in the eleventh episode of season One of Person of Interest. Zayas appeared in an episode of Fox's drama The Following, playing the part of Tyson. He portrays mob boss Don Salvatore Maroni in the Batman prequel, Gotham, which premiered on Fox in 2014. Shortly thereafter, he appeared in Annie (2014) as Lou, a gregarious bodega owner.
Film
Her film credits include roles in The Driven (2022); R#J (2021);The Outside Story (2020, voice); Force of Nature (2020); Body Cam (2020); Shine (2017); Teen Titans: The Judas Contract (2017, voice); Lost Cat Corona (2017); 11:55 (2016); The Lennon Report (2016); Tallulah (2016); The Wannabe (2015); Annie (2014); Ride (2014); Samuel Bleak (2013); Junction (2012); Skyline (2010); The Expendables (2010); Coach (2010); Shadowboxing (2010); I13 (2010); Burning Mussolini (2009); Flying By (2009); Wake (2009); Michael Clayton (2007); The Savages (2007); Bristol Boys (2006);16 Blocks (2006); The Feast of the Goat (2005); The Interpreter (2005); Brooklyn Bound (2004); Jailbait (2004); Anne B. Real (2003); A Gentleman's Game (2002); Washington Heights (2002); Sam the Man (2001); Ten Hundred Kings (2000); The Yards (2000); Kingdom Come (1999); Bringing Out the Dead (1999); Stepmom (1998); Above Freezing (1998); Rounders (1998); Return to Paradise (1998); Scar City (1998); O.K. Garage (1998); and Lena's Dreams (1997)
TV Movies
His TV movie credits include roles in Staties (2018); Jodi Arias: Dirty Little Secret (2013); Angel (2005); Undefeated (2003); and Wit (2001).
Shorts
His shorts include Break In The Disaster Dreams (2021, voice); Concerto (2009); Sangre/Blood (2005); Mimmo & Paulie (2004); La Araña (2003); and Bleach (1998).
Television
His TV credits include roles in FBI; FBI: International; The Blacklist; Pose; Blue Bloods; Physics or Chemistry: The Reunion (Mini Series); Next; Power Book II: Ghost; Deadly Class; Chicago P.D.; Quantico; Seven Seconds (Mini Series); Shut Eye; Bloodline; Elementary; Gotham; Saint George; The Following; Deception; Grimm; Person of Interest ;Law & Order: Criminal Intent; In Plain Sight; CSI: Miami; Law & Order; Burn Notice; The Closer; Shark; Without a Trace; Numb3rs; The Path to 9/11 (Mini Series); Conviction; Angels in America (Mini Series); Oz; Guiding Light; UC: Undercover; Law & Order: Special Victims Unit; All My Children; The Beat; NYPD Blue; Third Watch; Trinity; Feds; and New York Undercover.
Video Games
- 2010: H.A.W.X 2 (voice)
Personal Life[]
He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and raised in The Bronx, New York. He is married to Liza Colón-Zayas.
Trivia[]
- His son, David Zayas Jr, played the part of Batista as a stunt performer in the episode "The Dark... Whatever."
- Zayas has been a member of the LAByrinth Theater Company since 1992, a New York City-based traveling actors group. At LAByrinth, he met his future wife, actress Liza Colón.Zayas.