Jay Ellis
Ellis in 2022
Born
Wendell Ramone Ellis Jr.

(1981-12-27) December 27, 1981
NationalityAmerican
Alma materConcordia University (Oregon)
OccupationActor
Years active2005–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2022)​
Children1

Wendell Ramone "Jay" Ellis Jr.[1] (born December 27, 1981[2]) is an American actor. In 2013, Ellis received his first major role on BET's series The Game. His role as Martin "Lawrence" Walker in the HBO series Insecure (2016-2021), earned him an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. He later starred in the horror film Escape Room (2019), and appeared in Top Gun: Maverick (2022).[3]

Early life and education

Ellis' 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]

Career

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]

Acting

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.[3]

The Untold Story: Policing

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]

Philanthropy

In 2017, Ellis partnered with leading HIV/AIDS research organization, amfAR.[17]

Personal life

Ellis has been in a relationship with Serbian model and actress Nina Seničar since 2015. Their daughter was born in November 2019.[18] On July 9, 2022, they married in Italy.[19]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010Triple StandardLewisShort film
2011Hatched: A Tale of Great Egg-spectationsJayShort film
2012Election EveJeffShort film
2013Movie 43LuciousSegment: "Victory's Glory"
2014Mass Shooting News TeamUnknownShort film
2014The Black BachelorUnknownShort film
2015My Favorite FiveJonathan Colburn
2015November RuleJames Avedon
2015Breaking ThroughQuinn[20]
2015Twelve StepsRayShort film
2016Like Cotton TwinesMicha Brown
2016ShortwaveRobert
2018In a RelationshipDexter
2019Escape RoomJason Walker[21]
2020ThirstyThe young manShort film
2021Escape Room: Tournament of ChampionsFlashback - Jason Walker
2022Top Gun: MaverickLieutenant Reuben "Payback" Fitch
2023Somebody I Used to KnowSean
TBAFreaky TalesTBAFilming

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
2005InvasionSoldier (uncredited)Episode: "Watershed"
2005RelatedCollege studentEpisode: "Hang in There, Baby"
2010The Bold and the BeautifulOrderlyEpisode: "Episode #1.5922"
2011Grey's AnatomyDJEpisode: "White Wedding"
2011NCISMarine PFC Thomas 'Tommy' HillEpisode: "Restless"
2011Let's Do This!Ugandan Thug #1 / Ceiling Mop UgandanTV movie
2012How I Met Your MotherSound GuyEpisode: "Tailgate"
2012Hart of DixieResidentEpisode: "Heart to Hart"
2012iCarlyFriend #1Episode: "iFind Spencer Friends"
2012Crash & BernsteinDerekEpisode: "Coach Crash"
2013Dear Secret SantaBradTV movie
2013–15The GameBryce "Blueprint" WestbrookMain, 45 episodes
2013NCIS: Los AngelesNaval Flight Officer Randall BakerEpisode: "Purity"
2014Masters of SexDr. Cyril FranklinEpisode: "Giants"
2016Grace and FrankieDanEpisode: "The Anchor"
2016–21InsecureMartin "Lawrence" WalkerMain (season 1–2, 4–5); guest (season 3)[18]
2020Mrs. AmericaFranklin ThomasRecurring role
2023History of the World, Part IIJesus ChristRecurring role

Producer

YearTitleNotes
2020Black BoxFeature film[22]

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Nominated work Result
2017 Black Reel Awards for Television[23] Outstanding Supporting Actor, Comedy Series Insecure Nominated
2018 NAACP Image Awards[14] Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Won

References

  1. ↑ "Jay Ellis on Working with Tom Cruise in New Top Gun Movie". youtube. Event occurs at 3:42. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  2. ↑ "Celebrity Birthdays: Dec. 27". La Crosse Tribune. December 27, 2023. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  3. 1 2 "Top Gun Day Celebrates 35th Anniversary With a Return to Theaters". CBR. May 6, 2021. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  4. ↑ "Jay Ellis". amfAR. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  5. ↑ "New York Film Academy (NYFA) Alum Paula Bryant-Ellis on Faith in Storytelling & the Importance of Mentorship and Representation". July 6, 2020.
  6. ↑ "Insecure's Jay Ellis Is a Dream Guy in Real Life". LA Weekly. July 24, 2017. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  7. ↑ "After 'The Game' With Jay Ellis". The Trending Report. April 29, 2014. Retrieved August 6, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Chop-Up: Jay Ellis, star of The Game, talks his hooping skills, making an NFL practice squad and more". USA Today High School Sports. February 18, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Jay Ellis from HBO's "Insecure" Tells Jimmy Kimmel About PR Work for Trail Blazers: "It Was Crazy"". Blazersedge.com. August 19, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 4 "HBO 'Insecure' Star Jay Ellis Opens Up About Life After the Backshot Heard Around the World". Complex. July 17, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  11. ↑ "The Game's Jay Ellis Reveals His Pop Culture Obsessions, First TV Crushes, Hidden Talent and More". E!. March 18, 2014. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Insecure Star Jay Ellis: 'I Want to Change the Narrative Around Young Black Men'". Out. June 20, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  13. ↑ "Issa Rae's HBO pilot 'Insecure' adds Jay Ellis and Yvonne Orji to cast". Rolling Out. August 27, 2015. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  14. 1 2 "2018 NAACP Image Award Winners: Complete List". The Hollywood Reporter. January 14, 2018. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  15. ↑ "[Check This Out] The Untold Story: Policing". www.radio.com. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  16. ↑ Dansby, Andrew (August 14, 2020). "Stephanie Wittels Wachs' growing podcast company provides comfort". HoustonChronicle.com. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Jay Ellis On His Personal Mission To Fight HIV/AIDS In The Black Community". HuffPost. February 6, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  18. 1 2 "Insecure Star Jay Ellis and Actress Nina Senicar Welcome First Child, Daughter Nora Grace". PEOPLE.com. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  19. ↑ Macon, Alexandra (July 18, 2022). "Top Gun: Maverick's Jay Ellis Marries Nina Senicar at a Garden Wedding in Tuscany". Vogue. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  20. ↑ Lowe, Justin (October 9, 2015). "'Breaking Through': Film Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  21. ↑ "Deborah Ann Woll & Jay Ellis Interview: Escape Room". ScreenRant. January 3, 2019. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
  22. ↑ Verhoeven, Beatrice (February 27, 2020). "Phylicia Rashad, Mamoudou Athie to Star in 'Black Box' for Amazon, Blumhouse TV (Exclusive)". TheWrap. Retrieved June 18, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Black*ish Paces the Black Reel Awards for Television Field". Black Reel Awards. June 15, 2017. Archived from the original on August 12, 2017. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
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