Acting

Janelle James

Born 1979-09-23 · Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands17 series10 films

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.

Janelle James's films on Charmy Movies →

Acting

2026Strip LawSheila Flambé (voice)10 ep.
2025Super Duper Bunny LeagueNarrator (voice)26 ep.
2025Hollywood SquaresSelf3 ep.
2024Kite Man: Hell Yeah!Queen of Fables (voice)10 ep.
2022The Jennifer Hudson ShowSelf3 ep.
2022The Final StrawSelf - Host10 ep.
2021Abbott ElementaryAva Coleman101 ep.
2021Teenage Euthanasia2 ep.
2021Monsters at WorkJoy (voice)4 ep.
2021Celebrity Wheel of FortuneSelf - Contestant1 ep.
2020Star Trek: Lower DecksKatrot (voice)1 ep.
2020Central ParkFran (voice)1 ep.
2019Black MondayJoyce10 ep.
2018The Comedy LineupSelf1 ep.
1995The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRASelf1 ep.
1949The Emmy AwardsSelf1 ep.

Behind the camera

2023History of the World: Part IIWriter8 ep.
2020Central ParkWriter1 ep.
2019Black MondayExecutive Story Editor, Staff Writer, Writer10 ep.

Guest appearances

2026RuPaul's Drag Race All StarsSelf - Guest Judge1 ep.
2026Hollywood SquaresSelf3 ep.
2026The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRASelf1 ep.
2022LIVE with Kelly and MarkSelf - Guest2 ep.
2024Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenSelf - Guest2 ep.
2025The Great American Baking ShowSelf1 ep.
2025The Emmy AwardsSelf1 ep.
2025It's Always Sunny in PhiladelphiaAva Coleman1 ep.
2023The Jennifer Hudson ShowSelf3 ep.
2024Monsters at WorkJoy (voice)4 ep.
2022Jimmy Kimmel Live!Self, Self - Guest2 ep.
2024SherriSelf - Guest1 ep.
2023Star Trek: Lower DecksKatrot (voice)1 ep.
2023Teenage Euthanasia2 ep.
2023Celebrity Wheel of FortuneSelf - Contestant1 ep.
2022Late Night with Seth MeyersSelf1 ep.
2020Central ParkFran (voice)1 ep.
2020Black MondayJoyce4 ep.
2018The Comedy LineupSelf1 ep.
2016Gotham Comedy LiveSelf - Comic1 ep.
2016@midnight with Chris HardwickSelf1 ep.

Also known as: 자넬 제임스