David Zayas is a Puerto Rican-American actor, born on August 15, 1962, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and raised in the Bronx, New York. After serving in the U.S. Air Force, he worked as a New York City police officer for 15 years while developing his craft with the LAByrinth Theater Company. His law-enforcement experience helped establish him as a versatile character actor. Zayas gained recognition as gang leader Enrique Morales in HBO's prison drama Oz and became best known as Detective Angel Batista in Dexter, later reprising the role in Dexter: New Blood and Dexter: Resurrection. His other television credits include Gotham, Bloodline, Shut Eye, Blue Bloods, The Night Agent and The Bear, where he now plays the husband of a character portrayed by his real-life wife, Liza Colón-Zayas. His film work includes The Expendables, Skyline, Annie, Michael Clayton, The Interpreter, 16 Blocks and Tallulah.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
R.J. Decker (2026)
Guest starring as Victor Ochoa
(4 episodes)
- Episode 2x03: Arms and Armadillos (Sep 29, 2026)
- Episode 1x09: Even Walls Fall Down (Apr 28, 2026)
- Episode 1x08: Burn the Boats (Apr 21, 2026)
- Episode 1x07: You've Got Bale (Apr 14, 2026)
Dexter: Resurrection (2025)
Starring as Angel Batista
(10 episodes)
- Episode 1x10: And Justice For All... (Sep 5, 2025)
- Episode 1x09: Touched By An Ángel (Aug 29, 2025)
- Episode 1x08: The Kill Room Where It Happens (Aug 22, 2025)
- Episode 1x07: Course Correction (Aug 15, 2025)
- Episode 1x06: Cats & Mouse (Aug 8, 2025)
- Episode 1x05: Murder Horny (Aug 1, 2025)
- Episode 1x04: Call Me Red (Jul 25, 2025)
- Episode 1x03: Backseat Driver (Jul 18, 2025)
- Episode 1x02: Camera Shy (Jul 11, 2025)
- Episode 1x01: A Beating Heart… (Jul 11, 2025)
Guest starring as Angel Batista
- Episode 2x01: Risky Business (Oct 30, 2026) [Special Guest Star]
CBS Mornings Plus (2024)
Guest starring as David Zayas
- Episode 2025-08-29: David Zayas (Aug 29, 2025)
Diarra from Detroit (2024)
Guest starring as Elias Marshall
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1x06: Fishbones (Apr 11, 2024)
- Episode 1x05: Snapshots of a Rendezvous (Apr 4, 2024)
- Episode 1x03: The One That Got Away (Mar 21, 2024)
The Night Agent (2023)
Guest starring as Mike Fonseca
(2 episodes)
- Episode 3x03: Dark Matters (Feb 19, 2026)
- Episode 3x02: Package Deal (Feb 19, 2026)
The Bear (2022)
Guest starring as David Marrero
(5 episodes)
- Episode 5x08: The Original Beef of Chicagoland (Jun 25, 2026)
- Episode 5x01: Soda (Jun 25, 2026)
- Episode 4x05: Replicants (Jun 25, 2025)
- Episode 3x06: Napkins (Jun 26, 2024)
- Episode 3x01: Tomorrow (Jun 26, 2024)
Dexter: New Blood (2021)
Guest starring as Angel Batista
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x10: Sins of the Father (Jan 9, 2022) [Special Guest Star]
- Episode 1x05: Runaway (Dec 5, 2021) [Special Guest Star]
CBS Mornings (2021)
Guest starring as David Zayas
- Episode 2026-11-03: Lisa Rinna, David Zayas, Dominic Fumusa (Nov 3, 2026)
Power Book II: Ghost (2020)
Guest starring as Uncle Frank
- Episode 1x02: Exceeding Expectations (Sep 13, 2020)
Deadly Class (2019)
Guest starring as El Alma Del Diablo
(5 episodes)
- Episode 1x10: Sink with California (Mar 20, 2019)
- Episode 1x09: Kids of the Black Hole (Mar 13, 2019)
- Episode 1x08: The Clampdown (Mar 6, 2019)
- Episode 1x07: Rise Above (Feb 27, 2019)
- Episode 1x06: Stigmata Martyr (Feb 20, 2019)
FBI (2018)
Guest starring as Antonio Vargas
(3 episodes)
- Episode 4x09: Unfinished Business (Dec 14, 2021)
- Episode 3x15: Straight Flush (May 25, 2021)
- Episode 3x03: Liar's Poker (Dec 8, 2020)
Seven Seconds (2018)
Guest starring as Medina
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1x07: Boxed Devil (Feb 23, 2018)
- Episode 1x06: Until It Do (Feb 23, 2018)
- Episode 1x05: Of Gods and Men (Feb 23, 2018)
The Guest Book (2017)
Guest starring as David
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x08: The Treasurer Called Our House? (Sep 14, 2017)
- Episode 1x03: It Just Stings (Aug 10, 2017)
Shut Eye (2016)
Starring as Eduardo Magana
(16 episodes)
- Episode 2x10: There's No Place Like Home (Dec 6, 2017)
- Episode 2x09: Vérité (Dec 6, 2017)
- Episode 2x08: Karma Chameleon (Dec 6, 2017)
- Episode 2x07: Purple Hearts (Dec 6, 2017)
- Episode 2x06: Crimes and Punishments (Dec 6, 2017)
- Episode 2x04: Are You Listening? (Dec 6, 2017)
- Episode 2x03: Guys and Dolls (Dec 6, 2017)
- Episode 2x02: Shortchanged (Dec 6, 2017)
- Episode 2x01: We're Not in Kansas Anymore (Dec 6, 2017)
- Episode 1x10: Ace of Swords (Dec 7, 2016)
- Episode 1x09: Wheel of Fortune (Dec 7, 2016)
- Episode 1x07: Two of Swords (Dec 7, 2016)
- Episode 1x05: The Magician (Dec 7, 2016)
- Episode 1x04: The Tower - Reversed (Dec 7, 2016)
- Episode 1x02: The Hanged Man (Dec 7, 2016)
- Episode 1x01: Death (Dec 7, 2016)
Bloodline (2015)
Guest starring as Sheriff Aguirre
(14 episodes)
- Episode 3x10: Part 33 (May 26, 2017)
- Episode 3x09: Part 32 (May 26, 2017)
- Episode 3x08: Part 31 (May 26, 2017)
- Episode 3x04: Part 27 (May 26, 2017)
- Episode 3x03: Part 26 (May 26, 2017)
- Episode 3x02: Part 25 (May 26, 2017)
- Episode 2x10: Part 23 (May 27, 2016)
- Episode 2x09: Part 22 (May 27, 2016)
- Episode 2x08: Part 21 (May 27, 2016)
- Episode 2x07: Part 20 (May 27, 2016)
- Episode 2x06: Part 19 (May 27, 2016)
- Episode 2x05: Part 18 (May 27, 2016)
- Episode 2x04: Part 17 (May 27, 2016)
- Episode 2x01: Part 14 (May 27, 2016)
Gotham (2014)
Guest starring as Sal Maroni
(11 episodes)
- Episode 1x22: All Happy Families Are Alike (May 4, 2015)
- Episode 1x21: The Anvil or the Hammer (Apr 27, 2015)
- Episode 1x20: Under the Knife (Apr 20, 2015)
- Episode 1x15: The Scarecrow (Feb 9, 2015)
- Episode 1x14: The Fearsome Dr. Crane (Feb 2, 2015)
- Episode 1x12: What the Little Bird Told Him (Jan 19, 2015)
- Episode 1x11: Rogues' Gallery (Jan 5, 2015)
- Episode 1x07: Penguin's Umbrella (Nov 3, 2014)
- Episode 1x05: Viper (Oct 20, 2014)
- Episode 1x04: Arkham (Oct 13, 2014)
- Episode 1x03: The Balloonman (Oct 6, 2014)
The Blacklist (2013)
Guest starring as Manny Soto
(5 episodes)
- Episode 10x16: Blair Foster (No. 39) (Jun 1, 2023)
- Episode 10x15: The Hat Trick (Jun 1, 2023) [Credit Only]
- Episode 9x01: The Skinner (No. 45) (Oct 21, 2021)
- Episode 4x01: Esteban (No. 79) (Sep 22, 2016)
- Episode 1x07: Frederick Barnes (No. 47) (Nov 4, 2013)
Bob's Burgers (2011)
Guest starring as Bubble Master
- Episode 14x12: Jade in the Shade (Mar 10, 2024)
Blue Bloods (2010)
Guest starring as Governor Martin Mendez
(7 episodes)
- Episode 14x17: Entitlement (Dec 6, 2024)
- Episode 11x11: Guardian Angels (Apr 9, 2021)
- Episode 11x10: The Common Good (Apr 2, 2021)
- Episode 9x20: Strange Bedfellows (Apr 26, 2019)
- Episode 9x08: Stirring the Pot (Nov 16, 2018)
- Episode 8x14: School of Hard Knocks (Feb 2, 2018)
- Episode 8x09: Pain Killers (Dec 1, 2017)
In Plain Sight (2008)
Guest starring as Harrison Locke
- Episode 2x04: Rubble with a Cause (May 10, 2009) [Special Guest Star]
Dexter (2006)
Starring as Angel Batista
(96 episodes)
- Episode 8x12: Remember the Monsters? (Sep 22, 2013)
- Episode 8x11: Monkey in a Box (Sep 15, 2013)
- Episode 8x10: Goodbye Miami (Sep 8, 2013)
- Episode 8x09: Make Your Own Kind of Music (Aug 25, 2013)
- Episode 8x08: Are We There Yet? (Aug 18, 2013)
- Episode 8x07: Dress Code (Aug 11, 2013)
- Episode 8x06: A Little Reflection (Aug 4, 2013)
- Episode 8x05: This Little Piggy (Jul 28, 2013)
- Episode 8x04: Scar Tissue (Jul 21, 2013)
- Episode 8x03: What's Eating Dexter Morgan? (Jul 14, 2013)
- Episode 8x02: Every Silver Lining... (Jul 7, 2013)
- Episode 8x01: A Beautiful Day (Jun 30, 2013)
- Episode 7x12: Surprise, Motherfucker! (Dec 16, 2012)
- Episode 7x11: Do You See What I See? (Dec 9, 2012)
- Episode 7x10: The Dark... Whatever (Dec 2, 2012)
- Episode 7x09: Helter Skelter (Nov 25, 2012)
- Episode 7x08: Argentina (Nov 18, 2012)
- Episode 7x07: Chemistry (Nov 11, 2012)
- Episode 7x06: Do the Wrong Thing (Nov 4, 2012)
- Episode 7x05: Swim Deep (Oct 28, 2012)
- Episode 7x04: Run (Oct 21, 2012)
- Episode 7x03: Buck the System (Oct 14, 2012)
- Episode 7x02: Sunshine and Frosty Swirl (Oct 7, 2012)
- Episode 7x01: Are You...? (Sep 30, 2012)
- Episode 6x12: This Is the Way the World Ends (Dec 18, 2011)
- Episode 6x11: Talk to the Hand (Dec 11, 2011)
- Episode 6x10: Ricochet Rabbit (Dec 4, 2011)
- Episode 6x09: Get Gellar (Nov 27, 2011)
- Episode 6x08: Sin of Omission (Nov 20, 2011)
- Episode 6x07: Nebraska (Nov 13, 2011)
- Episode 6x06: Just Let Go (Nov 6, 2011)
- Episode 6x05: The Angel of Death (Oct 30, 2011)
- Episode 6x04: A Horse of a Different Color (Oct 23, 2011)
- Episode 6x03: Smokey and the Bandit (Oct 16, 2011)
- Episode 6x02: Once Upon a Time... (Oct 9, 2011)
- Episode 6x01: Those Kinds of Things (Oct 2, 2011)
- Episode 5x12: The Big One (Dec 12, 2010)
- Episode 5x11: Hop a Freighter (Dec 5, 2010)
- Episode 5x10: In the Beginning (Nov 28, 2010)
- Episode 5x09: Teenage Wasteland (Nov 21, 2010)
- Episode 5x08: Take It! (Nov 14, 2010)
- Episode 5x07: Circle Us (Nov 7, 2010)
- Episode 5x06: Everything Is Illumenated (Oct 31, 2010)
- Episode 5x05: First Blood (Oct 24, 2010)
- Episode 5x04: Beauty and the Beast (Oct 17, 2010)
- Episode 5x03: Practically Perfect (Oct 10, 2010)
- Episode 5x02: Hello, Bandit (Oct 3, 2010)
- Episode 5x01: My Bad (Sep 26, 2010)
- Episode 4x12: The Getaway (Dec 13, 2009)
- Episode 4x11: Hello, Dexter Morgan (Dec 6, 2009)
- Episode 4x10: Lost Boys (Nov 29, 2009)
- Episode 4x09: Hungry Man (Nov 22, 2009)
- Episode 4x08: Road Kill (Nov 15, 2009)
- Episode 4x07: Slack Tide (Nov 8, 2009)
- Episode 4x06: If I Had a Hammer (Nov 1, 2009)
- Episode 4x05: Dirty Harry (Oct 25, 2009)
- Episode 4x04: Dex Takes a Holiday (Oct 18, 2009)
- Episode 4x03: Blinded by the Light (Oct 11, 2009)
- Episode 4x02: Remains to Be Seen (Oct 4, 2009)
- Episode 4x01: Living the Dream (Sep 27, 2009)
- Episode 3x12: Do You Take Dexter Morgan? (Dec 14, 2008)
- Episode 3x11: I Had a Dream (Dec 7, 2008)
- Episode 3x10: Go Your Own Way (Nov 30, 2008)
- Episode 3x09: About Last Night (Nov 23, 2008)
- Episode 3x08: The Damage a Man Can Do (Nov 16, 2008)
- Episode 3x07: Easy as Pie (Nov 9, 2008)
- Episode 3x06: Sí Se Puede (Nov 2, 2008)
- Episode 3x05: Turning Biminese (Oct 26, 2008)
- Episode 3x04: All in the Family (Oct 19, 2008)
- Episode 3x03: The Lion Sleeps Tonight (Oct 12, 2008)
- Episode 3x02: Finding Freebo (Oct 5, 2008)
- Episode 3x01: Our Father (Sep 28, 2008)
- Episode 2x12: The British Invasion (Dec 16, 2007)
- Episode 2x11: Left Turn Ahead (Dec 9, 2007)
- Episode 2x10: There's Something About Harry (Dec 2, 2007)
- Episode 2x09: Resistance is Futile (Nov 25, 2007)
- Episode 2x08: Morning Comes (Nov 18, 2007)
- Episode 2x07: That Night, a Forest Grew (Nov 11, 2007)
- Episode 2x06: Dex, Lies, and Videotape (Nov 4, 2007)
- Episode 2x05: The Dark Defender (Oct 28, 2007)
- Episode 2x04: See-Through (Oct 21, 2007)
- Episode 2x03: An Inconvenient Lie (Oct 14, 2007)
- Episode 2x02: Waiting to Exhale (Oct 7, 2007)
- Episode 2x01: It's Alive! (Sep 30, 2007)
- Episode 1x12: Born Free (Dec 17, 2006)
- Episode 1x11: Truth Be Told (Dec 10, 2006)
- Episode 1x10: Seeing Red (Dec 3, 2006)
- Episode 1x09: Father Knows Best (Nov 26, 2006)
- Episode 1x08: Shrink Wrap (Nov 19, 2006)
- Episode 1x07: Circle of Friends (Nov 12, 2006)
- Episode 1x06: Return to Sender (Nov 5, 2006)
- Episode 1x05: Love American Style (Oct 29, 2006)
- Episode 1x04: Let's Give the Boy a Hand (Oct 22, 2006)
- Episode 1x03: Popping Cherry (Oct 15, 2006)
- Episode 1x02: Crocodile (Oct 8, 2006)
- Episode 1x01: Dexter (Oct 1, 2006)
Angels in America (2003)
Guest starring as Super
(3 episodes)
- Episode 1x06: Perestroika: Chapter Six - Heaven, I'm in Heaven (Dec 14, 2003)
- Episode 1x05: Perestroika: Chapter Five - Beyond Nelly (Dec 14, 2003)
- Episode 1x04: Perestroika: Chapter Four - Stop Moving! (Dec 14, 2003)
CSI: Miami (2002)
Guest starring as Ben Porterson
- Episode 7x20: Wolfe in Sheep's Clothing (2) (Mar 30, 2009)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Guest starring as Detective Milton
- Episode 3x12: Protection (Jan 11, 2002)
Guest starring as Judge Warren Fels
- Episode 27x13: Corrosive (Feb 26, 2026)
Oz (1997)
Starring as Enrique Morales
(27 episodes)
- Episode 6x05: 4 Giveness (Feb 2, 2003)
- Episode 6x04: A Failure to Communicate (Jan 26, 2003)
- Episode 6x03: Sonata de Oz (Jan 19, 2003)
- Episode 6x02: See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Smell No Evil (Jan 12, 2003)
- Episode 6x01: Dead Man Talking (Jan 5, 2003)
- Episode 5x08: Impotence (Feb 24, 2002)
- Episode 5x07: Good Intentions (Feb 17, 2002)
- Episode 5x06: Variety (Feb 10, 2002)
- Episode 5x05: Wheel of Fortune (Feb 3, 2002)
- Episode 5x04: Next Stop: Valhalla (Jan 27, 2002)
- Episode 5x03: Dream a Little Dream of Me (Jan 20, 2002)
- Episode 5x02: Laws of Gravity (Jan 13, 2002)
- Episode 5x01: Visitation (Jan 6, 2002)
- Episode 4x16: Famous Last Words (Feb 25, 2001)
- Episode 4x15: Even the Score (Feb 18, 2001)
- Episode 4x14: Orpheus Descending (Feb 11, 2001)
- Episode 4x13: Blizzard of '01 (Feb 4, 2001)
- Episode 4x12: Cuts Like a Knife (Jan 28, 2001)
- Episode 4x11: Revenge is Sweet (Jan 21, 2001)
- Episode 4x10: Conversions (Jan 14, 2001)
- Episode 4x09: Medium Rare (Jan 7, 2001)
- Episode 4x08: You Bet Your Life (Aug 30, 2000)
- Episode 4x07: A Town Without Pity (Aug 23, 2000)
- Episode 4x06: A Word to the Wise (Aug 16, 2000)
- Episode 4x05: Gray Matter (Aug 9, 2000)
- Episode 4x04: Works of Mercy (Aug 2, 2000)
- Episode 4x03: The Bill of Wrongs (Jul 26, 2000)
New York Undercover (1994)
Guest starring as Paco Martinez
- Episode 2x22: The Enforcers (Apr 4, 1996) [Co-Star]