Janelle James
Actor · Staff Writer · Writer · Executive Story Editor
Born Sep 23, 1979 · Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
Active 2005–present
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…
Filmography
Strip Law (2026) — Sheila Flambé (voice)Super Duper Bunny League (2025) — Narrator (voice)It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia (2005) — Ava ColemanMonsters at Work (2021) — Joy (voice)The Garfield Movie (2024) — Olivia (voice)Star Trek: Lower Decks (2020) — Katrot (voice)Abbott Elementary (2021) — Ava ColemanOne of Them Days (2025) — RubyBlack Monday (2019) — Joyce · Staff Writer · Writer · Executive Story EditorCentral Park (2020) — Fran (voice) · WriterKite Man: Hell Yeah! (2024) — Queen of Fables (voice)History of the World: Part II (2023) — WriterTeenage Euthanasia (2021)Tom of Your Life (2020)The Great American Baking Show: Celebrity Holiday 2025 (2025)Sixteen Thousand Dollars (2020) — Catherine