David Zayas
Encyclopedia
David Zayas is a Puerto Rican
theatrical, film, and television actor
. He is most known for his roles as Angel Batista
on Showtime's series Dexter
and as Enrique Morales
on the HBO prison drama Oz
.
, but raised in the Bronx borough of New York City
, Zayas joined the United States Air Force
early in life, where he gained skills that would lead him to join the New York City Police Department
after he was discharged from service. Zayas' career as a police officer in turn allowed him to develop as a character actor, leading to a series of acting jobs on television and film mainly playing law enforcement officers. However, working in law enforcement also provided Zayas with the ability to play characters on the other side of the law, like Enrique Morales
on HBO's long-running prison-drama OZ
. In a total number of 28 episodes from 2002–2003, Zayas's character became one of the most ruthless inmates featured in that series.
Zayas is also a talented musician, having performed as a percussionist with artists including Jason Mraz
. A member of the LAByrinth Theatre Company since 1992, a New York City-based traveling actors group, Zayas has branched out into television and film projects, which has diversified his résumé with guest roles in such popular television series such as New York Undercover
and NYPD. It was at LAByrinth where he met his future wife, actress Liza Colón-Zayas
. They presently reside in Los Angeles
where Zayas plays homicide detective Angel Batista in the Showtime drama Dexter
.
David is also featured in the 2010 indie hit Shadowboxing
, which has been gaining some steam on the film festival circuit. He also appeared in Sylvester Stallone
's film The Expendables
and Skyline
.
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
theatrical, film, and television actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He is most known for his roles as Angel Batista
Angel Batista
Detective Sergeant Ángel Juan Marcos Batista is a fictional character in the Showtime television series Dexter and the novels by Jeff Lindsay upon which it is based.-Character biography:...
on Showtime's series Dexter
Dexter (TV series)
Dexter is an American television drama series, which debuted on Showtime on October 1, 2006. The sixth season premiered on October 2, 2011. The series centers on Dexter Morgan , a bloodstain pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer...
and as Enrique Morales
Enrique Morales
Enrique Morales is a fictional character played by NYPD officer turned actor David Zayas on the HBO drama Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #00M871. Convicted April 6, 2000 - Murder in the second degree. Sentence: 25 years, up for parole in 15....
on the HBO prison drama Oz
Oz (TV series)
Oz is an American television drama series created by Tom Fontana, who also wrote or co-wrote all of the series' 56 episodes . It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by premium cable network HBO. Oz premiered on July 12, 1997 and ran for six seasons...
.
Life and career
Born in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, but raised in the Bronx borough of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Zayas joined the United States Air Force
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the American uniformed services. Initially part of the United States Army, the USAF was formed as a separate branch of the military on September 18, 1947 under the National Security Act of...
early in life, where he gained skills that would lead him to join the New York City Police Department
New York City Police Department
The New York City Police Department , established in 1845, is currently the largest municipal police force in the United States, with primary responsibilities in law enforcement and investigation within the five boroughs of New York City...
after he was discharged from service. Zayas' career as a police officer in turn allowed him to develop as a character actor, leading to a series of acting jobs on television and film mainly playing law enforcement officers. However, working in law enforcement also provided Zayas with the ability to play characters on the other side of the law, like Enrique Morales
Enrique Morales
Enrique Morales is a fictional character played by NYPD officer turned actor David Zayas on the HBO drama Oz.-Character overview:Prisoner #00M871. Convicted April 6, 2000 - Murder in the second degree. Sentence: 25 years, up for parole in 15....
on HBO's long-running prison-drama OZ
Oz (TV series)
Oz is an American television drama series created by Tom Fontana, who also wrote or co-wrote all of the series' 56 episodes . It was the first one-hour dramatic television series to be produced by premium cable network HBO. Oz premiered on July 12, 1997 and ran for six seasons...
. In a total number of 28 episodes from 2002–2003, Zayas's character became one of the most ruthless inmates featured in that series.
Zayas is also a talented musician, having performed as a percussionist with artists including Jason Mraz
Jason Mraz
Jason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
. A member of the LAByrinth Theatre Company since 1992, a New York City-based traveling actors group, Zayas has branched out into television and film projects, which has diversified his résumé with guest roles in such popular television series such as New York Undercover
New York Undercover
New York Undercover is an American police drama that aired on the FOX television network from 1994 to 1998. The series starred Malik Yoba as Detective J.C. Williams and Michael DeLorenzo as Detective Eddie Torres, two undercover detectives in New York City's 4th Precinct who were assigned to...
and NYPD. It was at LAByrinth where he met his future wife, actress Liza Colón-Zayas
Liza Colón-Zayas
Liza Colón-Zayas is an American actress and playwright.She was born and raised in the The Bronx borough of New York City, and began her career starring in Off-Broadway productions...
. They presently reside in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
where Zayas plays homicide detective Angel Batista in the Showtime drama Dexter
Dexter (TV series)
Dexter is an American television drama series, which debuted on Showtime on October 1, 2006. The sixth season premiered on October 2, 2011. The series centers on Dexter Morgan , a bloodstain pattern analyst for the Miami Metro Police Department who moonlights as a serial killer...
.
David is also featured in the 2010 indie hit Shadowboxing
Shadowboxing (2010 film)
Shadowboxing is a 2010 American drama film starring Gerald Bunsen, Kelly Briscoe, Kenny Simmons, Glenn Kalison, and David Zayas. It was written, produced, and directed by Vincent Zambrano and Jose L. Patino....
, which has been gaining some steam on the film festival circuit. He also appeared in Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
's film The Expendables
The Expendables (2010 film)
The Expendables is a 2010 American ensemble action film written by David Callaham and Sylvester Stallone, and directed by Stallone. Filming began on March 28, 2009, in Rio de Janeiro, New Orleans, and Los Angeles, and the film was released in theaters on August 13, 2010 in North America.The film is...
and Skyline
.
External links
- "One on one with David Zayas", HoboTrashcan.com.