Jay Ellis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jay Ellis
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Ellis in 2022
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| Born |
Wendell Ramone Ellis Jr.
December 27, 1981 |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Concordia University (Oregon) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 2005–present |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2 |
Wendell Ramone "Jay" Ellis Jr. (born December 27, 1981) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in popular TV shows and movies. In 2013, Jay Ellis got his first big acting job on the BET series The Game.
He also played Martin "Lawrence" Walker in the HBO series Insecure from 2016 to 2021. This role helped him win an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. Later, he starred in the exciting movie Escape Room in 2019. He also appeared in the blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick in 2022.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jay Ellis's father, Wendell Ramone Ellis Sr., worked for the Air Force. His mother, Paula Bryant-Ellis, was a chief financial officer. Jay is their only child. Because his father was in the Air Force, Jay moved a lot. He went to 12 different schools in 13 years!
After moving around, he attended Concordia University in Oregon. While there, he was a member of the basketball team.
Career Highlights
Before becoming a famous actor, Jay Ellis had other interesting jobs. He worked as an intern for the Portland Trail Blazers basketball team. After that, he started modeling. He worked with big sportswear companies like Nike, Adidas, and Columbia Sportswear.
Acting Journey
In 2004, Jay Ellis moved to Los Angeles to focus on acting. He began his acting career in 2005. He appeared in single episodes of TV shows like Invasion and Related. Later, from 2011 to 2012, he had roles in popular series such as Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, and How I Met Your Mother.
His first major acting role came in 2013 on the BET series The Game. In August 2015, it was announced that he would join the cast of HBO's comedy series Insecure. This show started in October 2016. Jay played Lawrence Walker, who was in a long-term relationship with the main character, Issa Dee. For his work on Insecure, he won the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series award in 2018.
He also played Lieutenant Reuben "Payback" Fitch in the hit movie Top Gun: Maverick.
Hosting and Producing
In 2020, Jay Ellis started hosting a four-part podcast series called The Untold Story: Policing. This podcast looked into how police union contracts work. It also explored how these contracts might affect police actions in the United States. Jay was both the host and an executive producer for the series.
Giving Back
Jay Ellis is also involved in helping others. In 2017, he teamed up with amfAR. This is a leading organization that does research on HIV/AIDS.
Personal Life
Jay Ellis has been in a relationship with Serbian model and actress Nina Seničar since 2015. Their daughter was born in November 2019. Jay and Nina got married in Italy on July 9, 2022. Their son was born in July 2024.
Film and Television Roles
Jay Ellis has appeared in many films and TV shows. Here are some of his notable roles:
Films
- 2013: Movie 43 as Lucious
- 2015: My Favorite Five as Jonathan Colburn
- 2015: Breaking Through as Quinn
- 2019: Escape Room as Jason Walker
- 2021: Escape Room: Tournament of Champions as Flashback - Jason Walker
- 2022: Top Gun: Maverick as Lieutenant Reuben "Payback" Fitch
- 2023: Somebody I Used to Know as Sean
- 2024: Freaky Tales as Sleepy Floyd
- 2024: The Gutter as "Lil Patience"
Television Shows
- 2011: Grey's Anatomy as D.J.
- 2011: NCIS as Marine PFC Thomas "Tommy" Hill
- 2012: How I Met Your Mother as Sound Guy
- 2013–2015: The Game as Bryce "Blueprint" Westbrook (Main role, 45 episodes)
- 2016–2021: Insecure as Martin "Lawrence" Walker (Main role)
- 2023: History of the World, Part II as Jesus Christ (Recurring role)
- 2025–Present: Running Point as Jay Brown (Recurring role)
Producer Roles
- 2020: Black Box (Feature film)
Awards and Recognition
Jay Ellis has received awards for his acting.
- 2017: Nominated for a Black Reel Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series for Insecure.
- 2018: Won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for Insecure.
See also
In Spanish: Jay Ellis para niños
