Person

Janelle James

Acting · Born 1979-09-23 · Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

Biography

Janelle James is an American comedian, actress, and writer. She is best known for her role as Ava Coleman in the ABC television series Abbott Elementary, for which she won a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an NAACP Image Award, in addition to nominations for three Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award.

Known for

Filmography

2026Strip LawSheila Flambé (voice)
2025The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 2025
2025Super Duper Bunny LeagueNarrator (voice)
2025One of Them DaysRuby
2025Hollywood SquaresSelf
2024Kite Man: Hell Yeah!Queen of Fables (voice)
2024The Garfield MovieOlivia (voice)
2023History of the World: Part IIWriter
2022The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022SherriSelf - Guest
2022The Final StrawSelf - Host
2021Abbott ElementaryAva Coleman
2021Teenage Euthanasia
2021Monsters at WorkJoy (voice)
2021Celebrity Wheel of FortuneSelf - Contestant
2020Tom of Your Life
2020Star Trek: Lower DecksKatrot (voice)
2020Central ParkFran (voice)
2020Sixteen Thousand DollarsCatherine
2019Black MondayJoyce
2018The Comedy LineupSelf
2014Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf
2013@midnight with Chris HardwickSelf
2012Gotham Comedy LiveSelf - Comic
2012RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsSelf - Guest Judge
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest
2005It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaAva Coleman
2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!Self
1995The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRASelf
1988LIVE with Kelly and MarkSelf - Guest
1949The Emmy AwardsSelf
1944Golden Globe AwardsSelf - Nominee

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