Janelle James

Acting

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.

Filmography 31

Movies (5)

The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 2025
2025
One of Them Days
2025
Ruby
The Garfield Movie
2024
Olivia (voice)
Tom of Your Life
2020
Sixteen Thousand Dollars
2020
Catherine

Shows (26)

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