David Zayas is an American-Puerto Rican performer. He is primarily known for portraying Angel Batista in the Showtime series Dexter and its continuation, Dexter: Resurrection, along with his role as Enrique Morales in the HBO series Oz, which focuses on prison life.
Early Life & Education
David Zayas was born on August 15, 1962, in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and raised in the Bronx, New York City. At 19, he served in the U.S. Air Force before returning to civilian life and joining the NYPD for nearly 15 years. His firsthand law enforcement experience would later inform many of his nuanced on-screen roles.
David Zayas’ Career
David Zayas’s unconventional route into acting, via Air Force and NYPD service, helped him bring authenticity to his characters from day one.
He began honing his craft at Ernie Martin’s Studio Theatre and, by 1992, joined the LAByrinth Theater Company, an influential ensemble where he collaborated with Philip Seymour Hoffman on productions like Jesus Hopped the A-Train, Our Lady of 121st Street, and Anna in the Tropics on Broadway.
Zayas gained early screen visibility through recurring roles—most notably as Enrique Morales on HBO’s Oz (2000–2003), and as Detective Angel Batista throughout Dexter’s original and revival seasons (Dexter: Resurrection), where his character evolves into a darker, more emotionally driven figure.
Zayas has built an impressive filmography résumé. He’s appeared in Rounders, The Interpreter, 16 Blocks, Michael Clayton, The Expendables, Skyline, Annie, Tallulah, Body Cam, Force of Nature, R#J, and the upcoming The Running Man.
His television roles include appearances in New York Undercover, Law & Order (various versions), Person of Interest, FBI, Shut Eye, Gotham, Bloodline, Blue Bloods, Pose, and FBI: Most Wanted. Adding to his accolades, Zayas earned a Satellite Award for his performance in Dexter in 2007.
Personal Life
David Zayas met his wife, actress Liza Colón-Zayas, through the LAByrinth Theater Company, where both were longstanding members. They are married and have a son, David Zayas Jr., who even performed as a stunt double in Dexter.
Net Worth
As of 2025, David Zayas’s net worth is an estimated $4 million. His earnings come from decades of steady television, film, and theater work, with Dexter remaining his most financially rewarding project.
