Janelle James

Janelle James Headshot

Comedian • Writer • Actress

Birth Date: September 23, 1979

Age: 45 years old

Birth Place: Saint Thomas Virgin Islands

Awards

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Janelle James is a comedian, actress, and writer. In 2009, James began her career at an open mic she attended while living in Champaign, Illinois. In 2016, James' work was recognized by Just for Laughs and Brooklyn magazine. She was also the opening act for Chris Rock's 2017 Total Blackout tour. James released her debut comedy album, Black and Mild.

She performed on Netflix's 2018 comedy series "The Comedy Lineup." In 2021, James was a featured comic on Netflix's "The Standups." She starred on the ABC comedy "Abbott Elementary (2021-)." In 2022, she hosted the ABC game show "The Final Straw." Janelle James hosted the 2023 Writers Guild of America Awards.

Photos

'Abbott Elementary' stars Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, William Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard, and Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti.Janelle James, Chris Perfetti, and Tyler Perez in 'Abbott Elementary'Janelle James and William Stanford Davis in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 4Danny DeVito, Rob McElhenney, Kaitlin Olson, Glenn Howerton, Charlie Day, Janelle James, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Perfetti, Tyler James Williams, and Quinta Brunson for 'Abbott Elementary's crossover with 'It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'Janelle James as Blade for 'Abbott Elementary's Season 4 Halloween episodeWilliam Stanford Davis as Mr. Johnson, Janelle James as Ava Coleman, Quinta Brunson as Janine Teagues, Tyler James Williams as Gregory Eddie, Chris Perfetti as Jacob Hill, Sheryl Lee Ralph as Barbara Howard, and Lisa Ann Walter as Melissa Schemmenti for 'Abbott Elementary'Janelle James, Ben Onyx Dowdy, Tyler James Williams, and Quinta Brunson in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 4Quinta Brunson, Tyler James Williams, Lisa Ann Walter, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Perfetti, and Janelle James in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 4Ben Onyx Dowdy and Janelle James in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 4Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Perfetti, and Janelle James in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 4Ben Onyx Dowdy and Janelle James in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 4Janelle James attends the 76th Primetime Emmy Awards at Peacock Theater on September 15, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.

News aboutJanelle James

'Abbott Elementary's Season 4 Christmas Episode

‘Abbott Elementary’ Gears Up for a Schemmenti Family Christmas in First Look (PHOTOS)

 Quinta Brunson in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 4

‘Abbott Elementary’ Unveils Season 4 Episode Titles

 Quinta Brunson and Tyler James Williams in the 'Abbott Elementary' Season 4 premiere

‘Abbott Elementary’ Trailer: Will HR Uncover Janine & Gregory’s Romance in Season 4? (PHOTOS)

 Abbott Elementary - Fall TV Preview
Fall Preview

Quinta Brunson Is Making the Grade

 Lisa Ann Walter and Bradley Cooper in 'Abbott Elementary'
Spoiler Alert

‘Abbott Elementary’: Bradley Cooper Drops in for Post-Oscar Episode

 Quinta Brunson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti, Janelle James, and Tyler James Williams in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 3
Exclusive

‘Abbott Elementary’s Smoking Ban Policy Goes Up in Flames in First Look (VIDEO)

 Josh Segarr, Kimia Behpoornia, Quinta Brunson, and Benjamin Norris in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 3 Premiere
Spoiler Alert

‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 3 Premiere: Inside Janine’s District Job, Status With Gregory & More

 Tyler James Williams and Quinta Brunson in 'Abbott Elementary' Season 3

‘Abbott Elementary’ Season 3 Trailer Teases What’s Next for Gregory & Janine (VIDEO)

 The cast of 'Abbott Elementary' Season 3
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‘Abbott Elementary’ Stars Go Behind the Scenes of Season 3 (VIDEO)

 Tyler James Williams in 'Abbott Elementary'
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‘Abbott Elementary’: Gregory’s New Look Raises Eyebrows in Sneak Peek (VIDEO)

 Not Dead Yet

Best Lines of the Week (February 10-16): ‘News Is Kinda Like TikTok But for People Who Can Read’

 The cast of 'Abbott Elementary'

‘Abbott Elementary’ Renewed for Season 3 at ABC

 Abbott Elementary Season 2 cast
Spoiler Alert

‘Abbott Elementary’: Did the Season 2 Premiere Live Up to the Hype? (POLL)

 Abbott Elementary - Season 2 - Tyler James Williams and Janelle James

‘Abbott Elementary’: The Teachers Face New Challenges in Season 2 Trailer (VIDEO)

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‘Abbott Elementary’: School’s Back in Session for Season 2 in a First Look (PHOTOS)

 Abbott Elementary - Tyler James Williams and Quinta Brunson

‘Abbott Elementary’ to Stream on HBO Max & Hulu in Co-Exclusive Deal

 Melanie Lynskey Joel Kim Booster Zendaya

26 TV Stars Who Just Got Their First Dorian Award Nominations

 Abbott Elementary - Sheryl Lee Ralph, Chris Perfetti, Janelle James, Tyler James Williams

‘Abbott Elementary’ Cast Talks Changing ‘Hearts & Minds’ With the ABC Comedy

 Janelle James and promo video for ABC's The Final Straw

‘Abbott Elementary’ Star Janelle James to Host ‘The Final Straw’ at ABC

 The cast of Abbott Elementary - Janelle James, Tyler James Williams, Quinta Brunson, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Lisa Ann Walter, Chris Perfetti

‘Abbott Elementary’ (Finally) Renewed for Season 2 at ABC — Fans React

 John Cena in Peacemaker

Best Lines of the Week (February 11-17): ‘It’s … Not a Rumor’

 Abbott Elementary Quinta Brunson, Chris Perfetti, Tyler James Williams

‘Abbott Elementary’ Becomes ABC’s First Comedy Debut to Quadruple Its Ratings

 Quinta Brunson in Abbott Elementary, Ana Gasteyer in American Auto
Review

Roush Review: Workplace Humor in ‘Abbott Elementary,’ ‘American Auto’