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Biography · Arts & Performance

Janelle James

1979–

United States

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Biography

Janelle James (born September 23, 1979) 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 Critics Choice Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and two NAACP Image Awards, in addition to nominations for five Primetime Emmy Awards, and a Golden Globe Award. Her writing credits include The Rundown with Robin Thede and Black Monday, and she acted on the programs Crashing, Corporate, and Central Park.

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Biography text · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source checked 2026-10-13

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