Jay Ellis facts for kids
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 TV series The Game. He became even more famous for playing Martin "Lawrence" Walker in the HBO series Insecure from 2016 to 2021. For this role, he won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. Later, he starred in the scary movie Escape Room (2019) and appeared in the blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
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 |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jay Ellis was born on December 27, 1981, in Sumter, South Carolina. His dad worked for the Air Force, and his mom, Paula Bryant-Ellis, worked in finance. Jay is their only child.
Because his dad was in the Air Force, Jay moved a lot. He went to 12 different schools in 13 years! After high school, he went to Concordia University in Oregon. While there, he played basketball for the university team.
Career
Before becoming an actor, Jay Ellis had other jobs. He worked as an intern for the Portland Trail Blazers, a professional basketball team. After that, he started modeling. He worked with big sports brands like Nike, Adidas, and Columbia Sportswear.
Acting Roles
In 2004, Jay Ellis moved to Los Angeles to focus on acting. He started his acting career in 2005. He had small parts in TV shows like Invasion and Related. Later, he appeared in episodes of popular shows such as Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, and How I Met Your Mother.
His first major role came in 2013 on the BET series The Game. In 2015, he joined the cast of the HBO comedy series Insecure. The show started in October 2016. Jay played Lawrence Walker, the long-term boyfriend of the main character, Issa Dee. For his great work on Insecure, he won the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2018.
Jay Ellis also played Lieutenant Reuben "Payback" Fitch in the hit movie Top Gun: Maverick.
Giving Back
In 2017, Jay Ellis teamed up with amfAR. This is a leading organization that does research to fight HIV/AIDS.
Personal Life
Jay Ellis has been with Serbian model and actress Nina Seničar since 2015. Their daughter, Nora, was born in November 2019. Jay and Nina got married in Italy on July 9, 2022. Their son, Noa, was born on July 11, 2024.
Movies and TV Shows
Jay Ellis has appeared in many films and television series.
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Triple Standard | Lewis | Short film |
| 2011 | Hatched: A Tale of Great Egg-spectations | Jay | Short film |
| 2012 | Election Eve | Jeff | Short film |
| 2013 | Movie 43 | Lucious | Part of the film: "Victory's Glory" |
| 2014 | The Black Bachelor | Unknown | Short film |
| 2015 | My Favorite Five | Jonathan Colburn | |
| 2015 | November Rule | James Avedon | |
| 2015 | Breaking Through | Quinn | |
| 2015 | Twelve Steps | Ray | Short film |
| 2016 | Like Cotton Twines | Micha Brown | |
| 2016 | Shortwave | Robert | |
| 2018 | In a Relationship | Dexter | |
| 2019 | Escape Room | Jason Walker | |
| 2020 | Thirsty | The young man | Short film |
| 2021 | Escape Room: Tournament of Champions | Flashback - Jason Walker | |
| 2022 | Top Gun: Maverick | Lieutenant Reuben "Payback" Fitch | |
| 2023 | Somebody I Used to Know | Sean | |
| 2024 | Freaky Tales | Sleepy Floyd | |
| 2024 | The Gutter | Lil Patience | Comedy |
Television Shows
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Invasion | Soldier (uncredited) | Episode: "Watershed" |
| 2005 | Related | College student | Episode: "Hang in There, Baby" |
| 2010 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Orderly | Episode: "Episode #1.5922" |
| 2011 | Grey's Anatomy | DJ | Episode: "White Wedding" |
| 2011 | NCIS | Marine PFC Thomas 'Tommy' Hill | Episode: "Restless" |
| 2011 | Let's Do This! | Ugandan Thug #1 / Ceiling Mop Ugandan | TV movie |
| 2012 | How I Met Your Mother | Sound Guy | Episode: "Tailgate" |
| 2012 | Hart of Dixie | Resident | Episode: "Heart to Hart" |
| 2012 | iCarly | Friend #1 | Episode: "iFind Spencer Friends" |
| 2012 | Crash & Bernstein | Derek | Episode: "Coach Crash" |
| 2013 | Dear Secret Santa | Brad | TV movie |
| 2013–15 | The Game | Bryce "Blueprint" Westbrook | Main role, 45 episodes |
| 2013 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Naval Flight Officer Randall Baker | Episode: "Purity" |
| 2016 | Grace and Frankie | Dan | Episode: "The Anchor" |
| 2016–21 | Insecure | Martin "Lawrence" Walker | Main role (seasons 1–2, 4–5); guest (season 3) |
| 2020 | Mrs. America | Franklin Thomas | Recurring role |
| 2023 | History of the World, Part II | Jesus Christ | Recurring role |
| TBA | All Her Fault | Colin | In production |
As a Producer
Jay Ellis has also worked as a producer.
| Year | Title | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Black Box | Feature film |
Awards
Jay Ellis has won awards for his acting.
| Year | Awards | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | Black Reel Awards for Television | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series | Insecure | Nominated |
| 2018 | NAACP Image Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Won |
See also
In Spanish: Jay Ellis para niños
