Acting · Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands · Born September 23, 1979
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.
TVStrip Law
2026
as Sheila Flambé (voice)
MovieThe Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 2025
2025
TVSuper Duper Bunny League
2025
as Narrator (voice)
MovieOne of Them Days
2025
as Ruby
TVHollywood Squares
2025
as Self
TVKite Man: Hell Yeah!
2024
as Queen of Fables (voice)
MovieThe Garfield Movie
2024
as Olivia (voice)
TVThe Jennifer Hudson Show
2022
TVSherri
2022
as Self - Guest
TVThe Final Straw
2022
as Self - Host
TVAbbott Elementary
2021
as Ava Coleman
TVTeenage Euthanasia
2021
TVMonsters at Work
2021
as Joy (voice)
TVCelebrity Wheel of Fortune
2021
as Self - Contestant
MovieTom of Your Life
2020
TVStar Trek: Lower Decks
2020
as Katrot (voice)
TVCentral Park
2020
as Fran (voice)
MovieSixteen Thousand Dollars
2020
as Catherine
TVBlack Monday
2019
as Joyce
TVThe Comedy Lineup
2018
as Self
TVLate Night with Seth Meyers
2014
as Self
TV@midnight with Chris Hardwick
2013
as Self
TVGotham Comedy Live
2012
as Self - Comic
TVRuPaul's Drag Race All Stars
2012
as Self - Guest Judge
TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009
as Self - Guest
TVIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
2005
as Ava Coleman
TVJimmy Kimmel Live!
2003
as Self
TVThe Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA
1995
as Self
TVLIVE with Kelly and Mark
1988
as Self - Guest
TVThe Emmy Awards
1949
as Self
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self - Nominee
