Jayson Warner Smith is an American actor who is best known for portraying Gavin in the television series The Walking Dead. He is also known for his role in Rectify as Wendall Jelks and as Dean in The Vampire Diaries.
Early life and career 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.
Filmography Film YearTitleRoleNotes1991Last Breeze of SummerSchool Policeman #2 short2001Losing GraceEMT2006FatwaTeacher2009The Way of WarSevenThe People v. Leo FrankWilliam Smith / NarratorThe JonesesMaitre d' 2010Lottery ticketMaitre d' uncredited 2011FootlooseOfficer Herb 2012Angel of MercyFather Clarke short 201342White Gas Station Attendant Anchorman 2: The Legend ContinuesGuy with Knife in Head 2014Trouble in the NeighborhoodJudd short99 HomesJeff Heavy WaterMickey 2015Mississippi GrindClifford I Saw the LightHank Snow 2016ChristineMitch The Book of LoveUncle Glen The Birth of a NationHank Fowler 2017American MadeBill Cooper Snowbird #1Thank You for Your ServiceVA Receptionist 2018All or NothingKirk St. AgathaMary's Father Billionaire Boys ClubInvestor 2019The Devil to PayWade Runion Rest StopMitch Forsyth ShortOnlyArthur Age DifferenceRichard Short 2022 Where the Crawdads Sing Deputy Joe Purdue 2023Chipper ReeseShortSebastian FogartyRed West (Blood Meridian) tribute Ex-Priest TobinShortYou're Killing Me Joel Murphy2025Song Sung BlueEarl/TCB
Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1997SavannahDelivery GuyEpisode "Every Picture Tells a Story" 2009Drop Dead DivaCarl AmurosoEpisode "Crazy" 2009Tyler Perry's House of Payne Harold WilliamsEpisode: "Parental Payne" 2012Let's Stay TogetherJohnny Geter Episodes: Wait, What? (voice), Creepers Final WitnessMark KoponenTV Documentary, episode: Vixen's Elixir 2013Sleepy HollowCarltonEpisode 8: "Necromancer" RectifyWendall Jelks8 episodes (2013–2014)2014 The Vampire DiariesDean2 episodes 2016NCIS: New Orleans Payton KirkEpisode: "Second Chances" One Mississippi Dalton GreenEpisode: The Cat's OutThe Walking Dead Gavin (2016–2017) Season 7: 3 episodes(2017–2018) Season 8: 5 episodes2018Queen AmericaMr. Cole3 episodes2024Fight Night: The Million Dollar HeistPolice Chief Herbert Turner Jenkins6 episodes2024Murdaugh: Death in the FamilyBruce Dinwiddie (aka Russell Laffitte)2 episodes2025Tulsa KingWalden Eustice2 episodes2026The Good DaughterSheriff Keith Coin4 episodes
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