Puerto Rican actor David Zayas was born to Blanca and Hugo Zayas. Zayas is married to American actress and playwright Liza Colón-Zayas, and they have a son together.
David Zayas is a Puerto Rican actor. He is known for his roles in the acclaimed Showtime TV series Dexter and the HBO prison drama series Oz. Before pursuing acting, Zayas started serving in the United States Air Force when he was 19. He also worked as a police officer with the New York City Police Department for 15 years. His experience as a cop landed him many roles where he's either playing a cop or a detective, like in the 2007 film Michael Clayton, starring George Clooney. Zayas’ role as Angel Batista, a Miami Homicide detective, in Dexter, is his most famous. He has appeared in all 96 episodes of the show, and he remains a solid presence in the main cast.
Who are David Zayas’ parents?
Zayas’ father, Hugo, was a sanitation worker, and the actor described his family to be “blue-collared.” The actor’s mother, Blanca, doesn't share her private information with any media, but she's played a big part in shaping his life and career. Zayas’ dad wasn't keen on him pursuing acting when he was young, and the actor talked about it in an interview with WFDD:
"He looked at me like I was thinking outside of the reality of where we were at, and I respected my father. He was a good man, he was a good father, so I kind of like, really just put it in the back of my head. I really didn't pursue it much.”
Who is David Zayas’ Wife?
David Zayas married actress Liza Colón Zayas on November 21, 1998. When Colón-Zayas became the first Latina to win an Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series in 2024 for the FX series The Bear, David posted about her on his Instagram, saying,
“Emmy Award Winner Liza Colón-Zayas. So proud of her. Great night.”
The actress also mentioned her husband in an interview with The Wall Street Journal, describing their breakfast:
“For breakfast, typically, my husband will order us: some bacon, egg and cheese. Dave will cook once in a while, but that’s his go-to. We’ll watch our shows and we’ll talk s—t over our diner sandwiches.”
Who is David Zayas’ son?
David Zayas has one child with his wife, David Zayas Jr. David Jr is an actor, director, and videographer. Zayas also has a daughter called Leeanna from a past relationship. Zayas celebrated Leeanna as a “wonderful daughter, mother, woman” in an Instagram post.
FAQs
David Zayas is 5 feet 10 inches tall.
David Zayas is 62 years old.
Zayas is an American of Puerto Rican descent.
