Jay Harrington
A versatile character actor whose charm and everyman reliability made him the perfect anchor for both workplace sitcoms and high-stakes procedurals.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor (b. 1971)·Birthday: November 15·Generation X
Biography
Jay Harrington built a career on being the guy you'd want in your corner: dependable, witty, and possessing a grounded charm that translates effortlessly from comedy to drama. A Massachusetts native and Syracuse University graduate, he paid his dues with guest spots on nearly every major network show throughout the 2000s before landing his defining comedic role as the morally flexible but oddly principled Ted Crisp on the cult sitcom 'Better Off Ted.' The show's sharp satire of corporate absurdity showcased Harrington's impeccable timing and ability to play straight man to chaos. He later pivoted to drama, joining the ensemble of 'S.W.A.T.' as Sergeant David 'Deacon' Kay, a role he inhabited for eight seasons, bringing a sense of seasoned stability and paternal warmth to the tactical team. Between these poles, he's been a consistent presence in television movies and recurring roles, an actor whose strength lies in making professionalism look compelling and giving depth to the 'good guy' archetype.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jay was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jay Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Jay's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Played the title character Ted Crisp on the critically acclaimed ABC sitcom 'Better Off Ted.'
- Portrayed Sergeant David 'Deacon' Kay for eight seasons on the CBS action drama series 'S.W.A.T.'.
- Starred as Jim Patterson, the male lead, in the TV Land comedy series 'The Soul Man' opposite Cedric the Entertainer.
- Had a recurring role as Assistant District Attorney Kyle Martin on the USA Network series 'Suits.'
Did You Know?
He worked as a bartender at the famous Hollywood restaurant The Ivy while auditioning for early roles.
He is an avid golfer and has participated in several celebrity golf tournaments.
He originally studied advertising in college before switching to pursue acting.
He provided the voice for the character Steve in the animated children's series 'Special Agent Oso.'
“The best roles feel like a conversation, not a performance.”
