Janelle James

Actor · Born September 23, 1979 · Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands

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.

Acted in 14

2020s

2026
Strip Law
Sheila Flambé (voice) · 10 episodes
63
2025
The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 2025
Movie
One of Them Days
Ruby
73
2024
Kite Man: Hell Yeah!
Queen of Fables (voice) · 10 episodes
70
The Garfield Movie
Olivia (voice)
49
2021
Abbott Elementary
Ava Coleman · 101 episodes
80
Teenage Euthanasia
TV · 2 Seasons · Comedy · Animation
58
Monsters at Work
Joy (voice) · 4 episodes
71
2020
Tom of Your Life
Movie
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Katrot (voice) · 1 episode
77
Central Park
Fran (voice) · 1 episode
68
Sixteen Thousand Dollars
Catherine

2010s

2019
Black Monday
Joyce · 4 episodes
72

2000s

2005
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Ava Coleman · 1 episode
87

Wrote 3

2020s

2023
History of the World: Part II
Writer
56
2020
Central Park
Writer
68

2010s

2019
Black Monday
Staff Writer, Writer, Executive Story Editor
72

Appearances18

2020s

2025
Super Duper Bunny League
Narrator (voice) · 26 episodes
Hollywood Squares
Self · 3 episodes
2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self · 1 episode
47
Sherri
Self - Guest · 1 episode
47
The Final Straw
Self - Host · 10 episodes
2021
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Self - Contestant · 1 episode
70

2010s

2000s

1990s

1995
The Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRA
Self · 1 episode

1980s

1988
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest · 2 episodes
48

1940s

1949
The Emmy Awards
Self · 1 episode
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · 1 episode