Jeryl Prescott

Jeryl Prescott
Prescott interviewed in 2017
Born
Hartsville, South Carolina, U.S.
Other nameJeryl Prescott Sales
Years active2002–present
Children2

Jeryl Prescott Gallien[1] (also known as Jeryl Prescott Sales) is an American actress, best known for her roles as Jacqui in The Walking Dead (2010–2012; 2016), Madame Xanadu in Swamp Thing (2019), and Aktropaw in Ahsoka (2023). She also wrote, directed, and starred in Stand Down Soldier (2015), a drama film about a PTSD-afflicted woman veteran attempting to re-integrate.[2][3][4][5][6][7]

Life and Academics

Jeryl Prescott was born Hartsville, South Carolina.[8][9] Prescott's mother was highly active in local community service and care-taking[9] At a young age, Prescott and her mother worked for a local group called Willing Workers, a local community organization.[8] She is a resident of Winston-Salem, North Carolina[10] and divides her time between that city and Los Angeles.[11]

In or around the 1990's[9], Prescott earned a Bachelor's degree in Industrial Management, and worked as a trucker.[8] She earned her PhD in American Literature, and has a Master's Degree in African American Literature.[8] She worked as a professor and administrator at Wake Forest University in 1998.[12][13] In 2000 as Dean, she organized a pluralism program that included a film festival. Around this time she acted in local stage productions.[9] She has also taught at the North Carolina School of the Arts.[8] As "Jeryl J. Prescott"[14] she has published scholarly journal articles on the topics of Ernest Hemingway[15], Toni Morrison, and women's studies.[16]

Prescott has said her performance experience started with growing up in the church, where she was always performing in front of people.[9]

“I grew up in the church, where I was always performing. That was my initiation into performing and being comfortable in front of people.”

— Jeryl Prescott on the start of her acting experience[9]

Prescott has advocated for research and awareness of sarcoidosis, a disease that disproportionately affects African American women and which has no known cure. She was given a Spotlight Award by the Foundation of Sarcoidosis Research for her advocacy of FSR's Ignore No More: African American Women & Sarcoidosis National Campaign.[17][1][18][19][20] She has said, "I’m speaking out because I care about my community. [...] These rare diseases run in the family and the more we know, the better we can prevent and treat these diseases and maybe avoid some of the more severe consequences.”[19]

Career in TV and film

TV

Prescott portrayed Jacqui in Season 1 of the television series The Walking Dead, which premiered on AMC in 2010.[10] Prescott was originally cast for just two episodes of the premiere season of The Walking Dead.[11] However, her character, Jacqui, was then written into the series cast of the season as well.[11][8] Prescott reprises her role as Jacqui in the Season 3 episode "Hounded", as one of the voices that speaks to Rick on the phone.[21]

Prescott had a recurring role as Cherry during the second season of Ray Donovan in 2014 on Showtime, and in 2015 as Golden 2015 in the comic book adaptation series Powers. She also guest-starred on Brothers & Sisters, Southland, Parks and Recreation and Revolution.[22]

Prescott recurred as Judge Delilah Nunes in Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior on CBS in 2011,[11] as Judge Martha Ross in the 2021 BET+ drama series, All the Queen's Men, and as Judge Caldwell in General Hospital in 2024. She guest-starred as a navy admiral in an episode of Scandal in 2017. In single-episode appearances, she played a medical examiner in Criminal Minds in 2008, a medical examiner in Game of Silence in 2016, a nurse in Hawthorne (2009), and a nurse in Castle (2013).

In 2017, Prescott guest-starred in the racial comedy American Koko with Diarra Kilpatrick.[23] (They had previously worked together on Prescott's film Stand Down Soldier (2014) and in H4.) Prescott plays a mother of a young daughter who has been cast as Harriet Tubman in an in-school musical production, but dilemma arises because the daughter sings terribly.[24] Prescott guest starred as a veteran on NCIS: Los Angeles, and guest starred in an episode of Rebel in 2017.[23] She also appeared in two episodes of HBO drama series, Big Little Lies in 2019, and in Shameless, and guest-starred on 9-1-1, Batwoman and Nancy Drew.

In 2019, she was cast in her first series regular role, on the DC Universe series Swamp Thing playing the role of Madame Xanadu.[25] The series was canceled after one season.[26]

Film

Prescott appeared as Felicite in Bolden! (2011)[11], a drama about the life of the New Orleans ragtime and jazz musician Buddy Bolden. In 2012 she appeared in H4, a modernized Shakespeare adaptation produced by Harry Lennix, based on a combination of William Shakespeare's Henry IV, Part 1 and part 2.[11] She played a school principal in the TV film Rx in 2009, and an assistant principal in Get a Job, shot in 2012. She also has appeared in The Birth of a Nation (2016) and in West of Hell, a horror western, in 2018. She co-starred in High Flying Bird (2019), a drama about a basketball agent directed by Steven Soderbergh.

In 2021 she appeared in the Netflix romantic comedy film Resort to Love. In 2023, she appeared in the romantic drama film, To Live and Die and Live.[12]

Stand Down Soldier (2015)

“My desire with the film is to make people aware that these women sacrificed so much and that their sacrifices aren’t over when their active duty ends. When one soldier is deployed, a whole community is affected.”

— Prescott on Stand Down Soldier[27]

In 2015, Prescott directed, wrote, and played the lead role in, the drama film Stand Down Soldier which is about the psychiatric and family troubles of a PTSD-afflicted woman veteran.[28][27][29][30][3][31][32][33] She has said that the story came from her personal familiarity with family members and women around her who had served in the military and who had problems re-integrating with civilian life after deployment, combined with other reports that she had read of service, bravery, trauma, sexual abuse within the military, and family disruption. Prescott interviewed women soldiers in South Carolina as preparation[2][4][27] and collaborated with a psychologist.[5][34] Due to a low budget, Prescott "called in favors" from friends who worked for lower pay than usual,[27] and also used IndieGoGo. Prescott's husband, Leander Sales, who is an experienced editor, edited the film.[27][35][36]

Reviewers in Highbrow Magazine and The Chicago Crusader wrote that it was revelatory and refreshing to see a film about a soldier’s return home and the toll of war that was about a woman, but one of the reviewers wished that it had spent less time on subplots.[6][28][2] The film was distributed by ArtMattan Films[3] and Urban Movie Channel[5][7], and had its New York premier at the 2015 African Diaspora International Film Festival and was reportedly screened at other events[3][37][38][39] including the GI Film Festival.[40][41]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2002 Max Miss Kurtz Short film
2003 The Epicureans Tina Williams
2005 The Skeleton Key Mama Cecile
2006 Red Autumn Jasmine Short film
2008 Vacancy 2: The First Cut Deputy
2009 The Life I Meant to Live Narvis
2009 Rx Principal Simmons Television film
2011 Under-Tow Angela
2012 The Wedding Madame Secretary Short
2012 H4 Northumberland Sometimes credited as Jeryl Sayles
2013 Get a Job Assistant Principal
2015 The Cold Descent Desdemona Lark
2015 Stand Down Soldier Stacy Armstrong Also director, writer and producer
2015 Conflict of Interest Mrs. Simmons
2016 The Birth of a Nation Janice
2018 Dead Women Walking Sarah
2018 West of Hell Desdemona Lark
2018 Her Only Choice Denise
2018 Persephone: Pictures at the End of the World Dr. Rodgers
2019 High Flying Bird Emera Umber
2019 Bolden Felicite Lamennais
2020 Unpregnant Peg
2021 Resort to Love Naomi King
2023 To Live and Die and Live Ummi
2023 Deadly DILF Kendra
2023 A Haitian Wedding

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Surface Receptionist 1 episode
2006 One Tree Hill Counselor Episode: "Nothing Left to Say But Goodbye"
2008 Criminal Minds Medical Examiner Episode: "In Heat"
2009 Hawthorne Nursing Attendant Episode: "Yielding"
2010 Brothers & Sisters Waitress 1 episode
2010; 2012, 2016 The Walking Dead Jacqui Season 1 (recurring, 5 episodes)
Season 3 (guest star, 1 episode)

Season 7 (archive footage, 1 episode)

2011 Southland Nina Brown Episode: "Cop or Not"
2011 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Judge Delilah Nunes Episode: "The Time Is Now"
2011 Parks and Recreation Bank Teller Episode: "End of the World"
2013 Revolution Rosie Episode: "The Song Remains the Same"
2013 Castle Nurse Episode: "The Fast and the Furriest"
2014 Eagleheart Angry Onlooker Episode: "Honch"
2014 Modern Family Shopper Episode: "The Wedding, Part 1"
2014 Gang Related Brenda Plemmons Episode: "Pecados del Padre"
2014 Ray Donovan Cherry 5 episodes
2015 Powers Golden 4 episodes
2015 Battle Creek Tracey Episode: "Heirlooms"
2015 Kingmakers Lorraine Bradley ABC pilot
2016 Game of Silence Coroner Episode: "Pilot"
2017 NCIS: Los Angeles Barbara Episode: "Battle Scars"
2017 Rebel Ms. Biden Episode: "Redemption"
2017 American Koko Syreena 3 episodes
2017 Scandal Admiral Bregoli Episode: "Watch Me"
2018 Shameless Gabarieo Episode: "A Gallagher Pedicure"
2018 NCIS Annie Sullivan Episode: "A Thousand Words"
2019 Swamp Thing Madame Xanadu Series regular
10 episodes
2019 Big Little Lies Cecilia Episodes: "Tell-Tale Hearts" and "She Knows"
2019;
2024		 9-1-1 Tina Washington 2 episodes
2020 Cherish the Day Elegant Woman Episode: "Genesis"
2020 Batwoman Sophie Moore's mother Episode: "Grinning From Ear to Ear"
2020;
2021		 Nancy Drew Millicent "Millie" Nickerson, Edith Nickerson 2 episodes
2021-2023 All the Queen's Men Judge Martha Ross 11 episodes
2023 The Good Doctor Elaine Episode: "Second Chances and Past Regrets"
2023 Ahsoka Aktropaw 3 episodes
2024 General Hospital Judge Caldwell 3 episodes in May
2024 S.W.A.T. Judy Kincaid Episode: "Vanished"

References

  1. 1 2 "FSR's Inaugural Sarcoidosis Crystal Awards Gala". Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research. Retrieved 2025-03-10.
  2. 1 2 3 Hegwood Bowen, Elaine (2016-06-16). "Stand Down Soldier". Film Monthly. Archived from the original on 2019-03-19.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Shadow and Act Staff (2016-05-18). "ArtMattan Films Acquires World Rights to 'Stand Down Soldier' (Indie Drama on Seldom-Portrayed Lives of PTSD-Affected Women)". Blavity, Inc.
  4. 1 2 "Stand Down Soldier (info listing)". ArtMattan Films.
  5. 1 2 3 Mondesir, Chloe; Prescott, Jeryl. Stand Down Soldier Interview Part 1. UMC Urban Movie Channel.
  6. 1 2 Bertrand, Sandra (2021-06-02). "African Diaspora Filmmakers Break the Cinematic Glass Ceiling". Highbrow Magazine. Archived from the original on 2021-06-05.
  7. 1 2 Coutinho, Nigel (2017-05-19). "UMC Picks Up ArtMattan Films 'The Man Who Mends Women' and 'Stand Down Soldier'". Blavity. Archived from the original on 2026-08-07.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Q&A – Jeryl Prescott (Jacqui)". AMC. 2011-04-18. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Jusino, Teres (2011-04-10). ""It Will Change the Genre Forever": An Interview with "The Walking Dead's" Jeryl Prescott". PopMatters.
  10. 1 2 Clodfelter, Tim (2010-11-14). "AMC gives early renewal to zombie hit The Walking Dead". Winston-Salem Journal. Retrieved 2010-11-27.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "TV Tidbits: Local actress discusses season finale of 'Walking Dead'". Winston-Salem Journal. 2010-12-12. Retrieved 2010-12-29.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  12. 1 2 "To Live and Die and Live". Mediaversity Reviews. January 20, 2023.
  13. ↑ "WFU Names Prescott Associate Dean of the College". Wake Forest University. 1998-03-24.
  14. ↑ "ADMINISTRATIVE ORGANIZATIONAL CHART" (PDF). WFU.edu.
  15. ↑ Prescott, Jeryl J. "LIBERTY FOR JUST[US]: GENDER AND RACE IN HEMINGWAY'S "TO HAVE AND HAVE NOT"". CLA Journal. 37 (2 (DECEMBER 1993)). College Language Association: 176-188.
  16. ↑ "P.iled h.ip D.eep". Women's Studies Quarterly -Literacy: Moving to Power and Participation. 32 (Women and (Spring - Summer, 2004)). The Feminist Press at the City University of New York: 224.
  17. ↑ Mitchell, Kennell (2022-02-21). "SC Native & "The Walking Dead's" Jeryl Prescott raises awareness on sarcoidosis". ABC 25 Columbia. Archived from the original on 2022-03-18.
  18. ↑ Tom Chappel and Chet Cooper (April 2022). "Jeryl Prescott — Walking Dead, Educator and Sarcoidosis Advocate". Ability Magazine (interview).
  19. 1 2 "Jeryl Prescott Joins "Ignore No More" Sarcoidosis Awareness Campaign". Look to the Stars. 2022-02-07. Archived from the original on 2022-02-07.
  20. ↑ FSR (2023-02-28). "Foundation for Sarcoidosis Research (FSR) Inaugural Sarcoidosis Crystal Awards Gala". Yahoo Finance!.
  21. ↑ New Jersey (November 19, 2012). "'The Walking Dead' recap: Seance hotline". NJ.com. Retrieved 2012-12-02.
  22. ↑ "Jeryl Prescott Sales - About This Person - Movies & TV". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2014. Archived from the original on 2014-04-17. Retrieved 2014-03-31.
  23. 1 2 Mondesir, Chloe (2017-05-31). Stand Down Soldier Interview Part 3. UMC All Access.
  24. ↑ American Koko. ABC. 2017.
  25. ↑ Boucher, Geoff (October 26, 2018). "'Swamp Thing': Jeryl Prescott of 'Walking Dead' Joins DC Series As Madame Xanadu". Deadline. Retrieved October 26, 2018.
  26. ↑ Thorne, Will (June 6, 2019). "'Swamp Thing' Canceled After One Season at DC Universe".
  27. 1 2 3 4 5 "Actress transitions to writer/director". The Chronicle - Winston-Salem, NC. 2013-08-15.
  28. 1 2 Hegood Bowen, Elaine (2016-07-01). "Stand Down Soldier frank film about women surviving life after combat". Chicago Crusader.
  29. ↑ Jeryl Prescott (2014). Stand Down Soldier. ArtMattan Films and UMC Urban Movie Channel.
  30. ↑ "Stand Down Soldier - Rotten Tomatoes". www.rottentomatoes.com. July 2, 2020.
  31. ↑ "Stand Down Soldier". Amazon Prime.
  32. ↑ P., Terry (2015-11-18). "Films Starring Idris Elba, Anthony Mackie, Jennifer Connelly Among Lineup for African Diaspora International Film Festival". Vimooz.
  33. ↑ Shadow and Act Staff (2016-05-23). "ADIFF Announces African American Independent Film Series Lineup (May 27-29, 2016)". Blavity.
  34. ↑ Sheffield, Felicia. "Professional Experience". LinkedIn.
  35. ↑ Lewis, Kevin (2005-09-01). "School Daze: Leander Sales Graduates from Cutting Room to Classroom". CineMontage. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |url= (help)
  36. ↑ "Interview With Editor Leander Sales". NYFA New York Film Academy. 2015-02-02.
  37. ↑ Staff (2016-06-11). "ADIFF Chicago Kicks Off Today With 20-Film Lineup That Showcases Richness & Diversity of Lives of People of Color Globally". Blavity, Inc.
  38. ↑ Hegwood Bowen, Elaine (2016-06-09). "14th Annual African Diaspora International Film Festival". The Crusader News Group.
  39. ↑ "The Harlem-Based ADIFF Women's History Month Film Series Goes Virtual". Harlem World Magazine. Harlem World Magazine. 2021-03-17.
  40. ↑ "ADIFF Launches Nationwide Virtual Film Series Showcasing the ArtMattan Films Catalog". The Columbus Dispatch.
  41. ↑ "ADIFF Launches Nationwide Virtual Film Series Showcasing the ArtMattan Films Catalog". EIN Presswire. 2026-05-06.
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