
Janelle James
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.
Known For

TV
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest
2009

TV
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self
2014

TV
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self
2003

TV
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Self - Guest
1988

TV
The Jennifer Hudson Show
2022

TV
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self
2022

TV
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee
1944

TV
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
Ava Coleman
2005

TV
Sherri
Self - Guest
2022

TV
Abbott Elementary
Ava Coleman
2021

TV
@midnight with Chris Hardwick
Self
2013

TV
Teenage Euthanasia
2021

TV
Star Trek: Lower Decks
Katrot (voice)
2020

TV
Hollywood Squares
Self
2025

TV
Monsters at Work
Joy (voice)
2021

TV
Black Monday
Joyce
2019

TV
Gotham Comedy Live
Self - Comic
2012

Film
The Garfield Movie
Olivia (voice)
2024

TV
Celebrity Wheel of Fortune
Self - Contestant
2021

TV
Kite Man: Hell Yeah!
Queen of Fables (voice)
2024
Filmography
2026TVStrip Lawas Sheila Flambé (voice)2025FilmThe Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 20252025TVSuper Duper Bunny Leagueas Narrator (voice)2025FilmOne of Them Daysas Ruby2025TVHollywood Squaresas Self2024TVKite Man: Hell Yeah!as Queen of Fables (voice)2024FilmThe Garfield Movieas Olivia (voice)2022TVThe Jennifer Hudson Show2022TVSherrias Self - Guest2022TVThe Final Strawas Self - Host2021TVAbbott Elementaryas Ava Coleman2021TVTeenage Euthanasia2021TVMonsters at Workas Joy (voice)2021TVCelebrity Wheel of Fortuneas Self - Contestant2020FilmTom of Your Life2020TVStar Trek: Lower Decksas Katrot (voice)2020TVCentral Parkas Fran (voice)2020FilmSixteen Thousand Dollarsas Catherine2019TVBlack Mondayas Joyce2018TVThe Comedy Lineupas Self2014TVLate Night with Seth Meyersas Self2013TV@midnight with Chris Hardwickas Self2012TVGotham Comedy Liveas Self - Comic2009TVWatch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - Guest2005TVIt's Always Sunny in Philadelphiaas Ava Coleman2003TVJimmy Kimmel Live!as Self1995TVThe Actor Awards Presented by SAG-AFTRAas Self1988TVLIVE with Kelly and Markas Self - Guest1949TVThe Emmy Awardsas Self1944TVGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Nominee