Jay Hayden would not be an actor had he listened to his guidance counselors. He went to college on a football scholarship but decided he wanted to be an actor. After graduating and disappointing those who wished to see him give himself dementia in the NFL, Jay went to Los Angeles to try and fulfill his career goal. It was not a smooth road, and after four years, he still was nowhere near becoming an actor. Then he was cast in the Grey’s Anatomy spinoff, Station 19.
Since Jay started playing Travis Montgomery, his life has changed. He’s become one of the recognizable faces on television, particularly among diehard fans of the Grey franchise. He’s gone from playing bit-part roles as a nameless pool player to being a main cast of one of the longest-running shows on TV. It’s a story worth the man, and we’ve listed ten things you should know about him below.
1. His father was not comfortable with him playing a gay character
Jay comes from a conservative family or at least has a conservative father. Jay admits that he is a versatile actor who loves the challenge of taking on a role that is quite different from his real self. However, his father had a different opinion about what his son should be playing because when Jay informed him that he would act gay on Station 19, all his father said was, “Oh! Congratulations.”
2. He’s a Divorcee
If Hayden’s father wasn’t a fan of his character’s sexuality, he may not like his marital status either. Jay Hayden is a divorced man after separating from Nikki Danielle Moore. Nikki, who is also an actress with credits in shows like 8 Simple Rules and SEAL Team, filed for divorce from him in February 2020. Prior to the divorce, they appeared on It’s Us and an episode of Station 19 together, as well as sharing two children.
3. He knew he liked acting in high school
Jay Hayden grew up in Vermont, in a small town where there were no drama classes available. He knew nothing about acting until when he performed The Wizard of Oz in his high school sophomore year. However, not everyone understood why he would be interested in acting because he was good at sports. His coaches, parents, and counselors told him to play soccer in college, and he listened to them, for a while.
4. He never told anyone he was doing theater in college
Having been convinced that sports was the only thing he could excel at, Jay went to the University of Vermont and did as his parents wanted. However, what is meant to be will eventually be. One day, while walking past the theater and saw people auditioning for a play, he thought it could not hurt to try; after all, no one would ever know. He auditioned and booked the part. Since it was a one-act play, he rehearsed alone, and not even his friends knew that he was involved in a play.
5. He was a Doorman for Some Time
After moving to Los Angeles, he made a living being a doorman for a college. The money helped him to also pay for acting classes, but he recalls they were not worth the money at all. Moreover, as he went to audition in USC and UCLA, Jay was ripped off on headshots as he told TellTale TV. Eventually, he found trustworthy people who guided him to find the right acting classes.
6. He likes proving his naysayers wrong
They say it is incredible what you can accomplish when you put your mind to something, regardless of all the challenges you meet along the way. Jay Hayden’s decision to pursue acting was met with a lot of negativity, and he felt all alone without a support system. Even the professor from whom he went to seek advice told him he would not make in Los Angeles. However, that negativity is what pushed Jay Hayden to prove to them that he could manage on his own; hence he moved to Los Angeles without any idea of how to become a professional actor.
7. He thought Linda Lowy hated him
Jay, for a long time, believed that Linda, whom he describes as being in the upper echelon of casting directors, hated him. He had been to so many auditions, yet Linda did not find him a worthy candidate for any character. Jay auditioned for How to Get Away with Murder, Scandal, and Grey’s Anatomy, and all he got were adjustments, then they would not call him back. That was until Linda cast him in The Catch, setting him on the path he is today.
8. He Sees A Lot of Himself in Travis
Jay sees a lot of him in Travis, and that is what excites him to be the character. Travis is overprotective, and as a father, Jay understands what it feels like to always want to know that his children are safe. He, however, thinks that he does not get to fully enjoy the little moments he has with his children because he keeps worrying about their safety.
9. His first professional job
Jay Hayden was a camera operator, but after four years, it seemed like his dream of being on television would never come true. However, the casting director for a commercial told him to audition for it, but Jay was hesitant at first. The director encouraged Jay that since he came out to Los Angeles to be an actor, he should as well audition. Jay auditioned and did the commercial for Comcast although it did not run.
10. His character in The Catch was rewritten to capture his sarcastic side
When Jay auditioned for Danny Yoon, the script was already written. Therefore, he had to fit in whoever the character was. However, the showrunner realized he needed to blend the characters with the real people playing them, so he took them out to lunch to get a feel of each actor’s personality. Jay happens to be sarcastic, and therefore his character was written to capture his humorous side.
Follow Us
