Acting

Janelle James

Born 1979-09-23 · 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.

Credits

Newest first

Strip Law
as Sheila Flambé (voice)
2026
The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 2025
2025
Super Duper Bunny League
as Narrator (voice)
2025
One of Them Days
as Ruby
2025
Hollywood Squares
as Self
2025
Kite Man: Hell Yeah!
as Queen of Fables (voice)
2024
The Garfield Movie
as Olivia (voice)
2024
History of the World: Part II
Writer
2023
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
Sherri
as Self - Guest
2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
as Self
2022
The Final Straw
as Self - Host
2022
Abbott Elementary
as Ava Coleman
2021
Teenage Euthanasia
2021
Monsters at Work
as Joy (voice)
2021
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
as Self - Contestant
2021
Tom of Your Life
2020
Star Trek: Lower Decks
as Katrot (voice)
2020
Central Park
as Fran (voice)
2020
Central Park
Writer
2020
Sixteen Thousand Dollars
as Catherine
2020
Black Monday
as Joyce
2019
Black Monday
Staff Writer
2019
Black Monday
Writer
2019
Black Monday
Executive Story Editor
2019
The Comedy Lineup
as Self
2018
Late Night with Seth Meyers
as Self
2014
@midnight with Chris Hardwick
as Self
2013
Gotham Comedy Live
as Self - Comic
2012
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
as Self - Guest Judge
2012
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
as Self - Guest
2009
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
as Ava Coleman
2005
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
as Self - Guest
2003
The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA
as Self
1995
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
as Self - Guest
1988
The Emmy Awards
as Self
1949
Golden Globe Awards
as Self - Nominee
1944