Janelle James
Acting·September 23, 1979 — 46 years old·Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
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
The Garfield Movie
2024·7.0
Monsters at Work
2021·7.2
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2005·8.2
Star Trek: Lower Decks
2020·7.6
Abbott Elementary
2021·7.5
One of Them Days
2025·6.7
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003·5.3
Late Night with Seth Meyers
2014·5.1
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
2012·7.3
Black Monday
2019·6.8
History of the World: Part II
2023·5.7
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009·5.0
Filmography · 32
2026Strip LawTVSheila Flambé (voice)2025The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 20252025Super Duper Bunny LeagueTVNarrator (voice)2025One of Them DaysRuby2025Hollywood SquaresTVSelf2024Kite Man: Hell Yeah!TVQueen of Fables (voice)2024The Garfield MovieOlivia (voice)2023History of the World: Part IITVWriter2022The Jennifer Hudson ShowTVSelf2022SherriTVSelf - Guest2022The Final StrawTVSelf - Host2021Abbott ElementaryTVAva Coleman2021Teenage EuthanasiaTV2021Monsters at WorkTVJoy (voice)2021Celebrity Wheel of FortuneTVSelf - Contestant2020Tom of Your Life2020Star Trek: Lower DecksTVKatrot (voice)2020Central ParkTVFran (voice)2020Sixteen Thousand DollarsCatherine2019Black MondayTVJoyce · Staff Writer · Writer · Executive Story Editor2018The Comedy LineupTVSelf2014Late Night with Seth MeyersTVSelf2013@midnight with Chris HardwickTVSelf2012Gotham Comedy LiveTVSelf - Comic2012RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsTVSelf - Guest Judge2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenTVSelf - Guest2005It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaTVAva Coleman2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!TVSelf1995The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRATVSelf1988LIVE with Kelly and MarkTVSelf - Guest1949The Emmy AwardsTVSelf1944Golden Globe AwardsTVSelf - Nominee