Janelle James

Person

Janelle James

Acting 46 September 23, 1979

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 Scree…

IMDb

Known for

Popular titles

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

4.9 2009 TV Show
Late Night with Seth Meyers

Late Night with Seth Meyers

5.1 2014 TV Show
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

8.3 2005 TV Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

5.3 2003 TV Show
The Garfield Movie

The Garfield Movie

7.0 2024 Movie
Monsters at Work

Monsters at Work

7.2 2021 TV Show
LIVE with Kelly and Mark

LIVE with Kelly and Mark

5.6 1988 TV Show
The Jennifer Hudson Show

The Jennifer Hudson Show

5.6 2022 TV Show
Star Trek: Lower Decks

Star Trek: Lower Decks

7.6 2020 TV Show
Golden Globe Awards

Golden Globe Awards

7.0 1944 TV Show
The Sherri Shepherd Show

The Sherri Shepherd Show

2.6 2022 TV Show
Abbott Elementary

Abbott Elementary

7.5 2021 TV Show

Biography

A closer look

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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.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2026
    Strip Law

    TV show Sheila Flambé (voice)

  2. 2025
    The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 2025

    Movie

  3. 2025
    Super Duper Bunny League

    TV show Narrator (voice)

  4. 2025
    One of Them Days

    Movie Ruby

  5. 2025
    Hollywood Squares

    TV show Self

  6. 2024
    Kite Man: Hell Yeah!

    TV show Queen of Fables (voice)

  7. 2024
    The Garfield Movie

    Movie Olivia (voice)

  8. 2023
    History of the World: Part II

    TV show Writer

  9. 2022
    The Jennifer Hudson Show

    TV show

  10. 2022
    The Sherri Shepherd Show

    TV show Self - Guest

  11. 2022
    The Final Straw

    TV show Self - Host

  12. 2021
    Abbott Elementary

    TV show Ava Coleman

  13. 2021
    Teenage Euthanasia

    TV show

  14. 2021
    Monsters at Work

    TV show Joy (voice)

  15. 2021
    Celebrity Wheel of Fortune

    TV show Self - Contestant

  16. 2020
    Tom of Your Life

    Movie

More credits
  1. 2020
    Star Trek: Lower Decks

    TV show Katrot (voice)

  2. 2020
    Central Park

    TV show Fran (voice)

  3. 2020
    Sixteen Thousand Dollars

    Movie Catherine

  4. 2019
    Black Monday

    TV show Joyce

  5. 2018
    The Comedy Lineup

    TV show Self

  6. 2014
    Late Night with Seth Meyers

    TV show Self

  7. 2013
    @midnight with Chris Hardwick

    TV show Self

  8. 2012
    Gotham Comedy Live

    TV show Self - Comic

  9. 2012
    RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars

    TV show Self - Guest Judge

  10. 2009
    Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

    TV show Self - Guest

  11. 2005
    It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia

    TV show Ava Coleman

  12. 2003
    Jimmy Kimmel Live!

    TV show Self

  13. 1995
    The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA

    TV show Self

  14. 1988
    LIVE with Kelly and Mark

    TV show Self - Guest

  15. 1949
    The Emmy Awards

    TV show Self

  16. 1944
    Golden Globe Awards

    TV show Self - Nominee