Photo provided by Bjoern Kommerell.
Young actor Mayo’s career on the rise
By Brandon Frye
Choctaw Nation
Los Angeles, Cali. - Cody Mayo, a Choctaw Nation member, is living his life-long dream: to be an actor. After graduating from the University of Oklahoma and moving to Los Angeles, his career took off.
Most recently, Mayo acted as a guest star alongside veteran actors on TNT’s television series “Major Crimes,” a police show and spin off to “The Closer.” Mayo’s episode is slated to air on Monday, July 27, at 8 p.m. (C.S.T.).
Mayo, who grew up in Saginaw, Texas, recalled the support he received as a child from both his parents. His Choctaw heritage came from Dale Mayo, his father, who had spent time with production work, building sets, and designing lights and sound for theatrical shows. His mother, Cathy Green, dabbled in country music performance. Mayo said both his parents supported his dream of becoming an actor and actively encouraged him.
“My earliest memory would be with my dad who took me to the theater in Fort Worth called Casa Mañana,” Mayo said. “I saw a production there and was hooked immediately.”
His drive for acting stuck with him through grade school and into high school, when Mayo said he started pursuing acting aggressively and winning awards.
Mayo was the first in his family to attend university directly after high school. Getting into college was a foreign experience. He said all he knew was he wanted to act. He was drawn to OU for the arts program, the competitive acting school that accepts only 40 people from across the globe each year.
After graduating, Mayo moved to L.A. He started auditioning right away for several popular television shows. He said they were all big roles.
In December 2014, Mayo booked his first job, a character named Todd on MTV’s series “Faking It.” Then in 2015 he landed the role of Joe Walker on the NBC pilot “The Curse of the Fuentes Women.”
His newest casting as a guest star on TNT’s popular series “Major Crimes” is a sign of good things to come.
“I’m auditioning on a weekly basis for shows you see on TV or movies you see in theaters,” Mayo said. “It’s been a really great experience, and the exciting part is, it’s just the beginning.”
Mayo says he owes a lot of gratitude to the Choctaw Nation for the support during college, with scholarships. He also expressed an appreciation of Lindy Waters, a Native mentor during his time at OU.
“I owe a lot to my heritage and spirituality. It developed in me a foundation, the spirit of not giving up,” Mayo said. “I knew once I decided on this career it was going to be a very difficult road. You hear ‘no’ a lot. So I knew I would have to have the ability to rise from the ashes.”
He said he wants his story to be a source of motivation for adolescents in the Choctaw Nation.
“It doesn’t matter where you come from, your circumstances. You can really achieve what you want,” Mayo said. “Don’t let yourself be held back. Discover how your heritage can empower you. Because, when you pursue dreams, you have to be able to rebound and not give up. A lot of this power comes from family and heritage.”