Wendell Ramone "Jay" Ellis Jr.[1] (born December 27, 1981) is an American actor. Born in Sumter, South Carolina, he started with modeling, before moving to Los Angeles and starting his acting career. In 2013, he received his first major role on BET's series The Game. In 2015, he joined the cast of HBO's series Insecure, which premiered in 2016. He also had a lead role in the horror film Escape Room (2019), as the secondary antagonist, and is in Top Gun: Maverick.[2]
Jay Ellis | |
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![]() Ellis in 2022 | |
Born | Wendell Ramone Ellis Jr. (1981-12-27) December 27, 1981 (age 40) Sumter, South Carolina, U.S. |
Alma mater | Concordia University (Oregon) |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 2005–present |
Spouse | |
Children | Nora Grace Ellis |
Wendell Ramone Ellis Jr. was born on December 27, 1981, in Sumter, South Carolina.[3] His father worked for the Air Force, while his mother, Paula Bryant-Ellis, worked as a finance executive.[4][5] He is the only child of the family.[6] He went to 12 schools in 13 years, before attending Concordia University in Oregon, where he played basketball.[7][8]
Ellis worked as a public relations intern for the Portland Trail Blazers during their infamous "Jail Blazers" era.[9] After completing his internship, Ellis switched his focus to modeling and started working with Portland-based sportswear companies such as Nike, Adidas and Columbia Sportswear.[10]
In 2004, Ellis moved to Los Angeles to focus on his acting career.[10] He launched his career as a professional actor in 2005, when he appeared briefly in single episodes of the television series Invasion and Related. In 2011-2012, he made appearances on the series Grey's Anatomy, NCIS and How I Met Your Mother.[11][12]
His first major acting role was in 2013, starring in BET's series The Game.[10] In August 2015, it was announced that Ellis has joined the cast of HBO's comedy series Insecure, which premiered in October 2016.[13] He plays the role of Lawrence Walker, who has a long-term relationship with main character Issa Dee played by Issa Rae.[10] For his work on the show, Ellis received the Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series award at the 49th NAACP Image Awards.[14]
He starred as Reuben "Payback" Fitch in Top Gun: Maverick.[2]
In 2020, Ellis started hosting The Untold Story: Policing, a four-part podcast series co-produced by Campaign Zero[15] and Lemonada Media. Through interviews with academics, data scientists, and community organizers, the podcast demystifies police union contracts and investigates how they contribute to violent police misconduct across the United States. Ellis serves as the series’ host, as well as an executive producer alongside DeRay Mckesson, Stephanie Wittels Wachs, and Jessica Cordova Kramer.[16]
In 2017, Ellis partnered with leading HIV/AIDS research organization, amfAR.[17]
Ellis has been in a relationship with Serbian model and actress Nina Seničar since 2015. Their daughter, Nora Grace was born in November 2019.[18] On July 9, 2022, the two wed in Italy with a few Top Gun: Maverick stars in attendance.
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Denotes films that have not yet been released |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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2010 | Triple Standard | Lewis | Short film |
2011 | Hatched: A Tale of Great Egg-spectations | Jay | Short film |
2011 | Let's Do This! | Ugandan Thug #1 / Ceiling Mop Ugandan | TV movie |
2012 | Election Eve | Jeff | Short film |
2013 | Movie 43 | Lucious | segment "Victory's Glory" |
2013 | Dear Secret Santa | Brad | TV movie |
2014 | Mass Shooting News Team | Unknown | Short film |
2014 | The Black Bachelor | Unknown | Short film |
2015 | My Favorite Five | Jonathan Colburn | |
2015 | November Rule | James Avedon | |
2015 | Breaking Through | Quinn | [19] |
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 | [20] |
2020 | Thirsty | The young man | Short film |
2021 | Escape Room: Tournament of Champions | Flashback - Jason Walker | |
2022 | Top Gun: Maverick | Lieutenant Reuben "Payback" Fitch | |
2022 | Somebody I Used to Know![]() | TBA | Filming |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
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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" |
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" |
2013–15 | The Game | Bryce "Blueprint" Westbrook | Main, 45 episodes |
2013 | NCIS: Los Angeles | Naval Flight Officer Randall Baker | Episode: "Purity" |
2014 | Masters of Sex | Dr. Cyril Franklin | Episode: "Giants" |
2016 | Grace and Frankie | Dan | Episode: "The Anchor" |
2016–21 | Insecure | Martin “Lawrence” Walker | Main (season 1-2, 4-5); guest (season 3) [18] |
2020 | Mrs. America (TV series) | Franklin Thomas | Recurring role |
Year | Title | Notes |
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2020 | Black Box | Feature film[21] |
Year | Awards | Category | Nominated work | Result |
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2014 | Golden Raspberry Awards | Worst Screen Combo | Movie 43 | Nominated |
2017 | Black Reel Awards for Television[22] | Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series | Insecure | Nominated |
2018 | NAACP Image Awards[14] | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | Won | |
NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series | |
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General | |
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National libraries |