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IMDbPro

Jay Ellis(I)

  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Writer
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Jay Ellis
On a trip to her hometown, workaholic Ally reminisces with her ex Sean and starts to question everything about the person she's become. Things only get more confusing when she meets Cassidy, who reminds her of the person she used to be.
Play trailer2:10
Somebody I Used to Know (2023)
44 Videos
77 Photos
Jay Ellis is a television and film actor, philanthropist, and entrepreneur. Born in Sumter, South Carolina, Ellis spent the majority of his childhood traveling with his military family. His father completed over 15 years of service in the Air Force while his mother was an accomplished finance executive and former board member of the Consumer Advisory Council for the Federal.

Jay graduated Suma Cum Laude at Concordia University in Portland, Oregon where he also played basketball and held the position of student body president. Ellis interned briefly with the Portland Trailblazers and also joined AmeriCorps to provide care and resources to disadvantaged students of Portland.

Ellis made the move to Los Angeles to pursue his passion for acting before landing his first role on the BET series The Game, which ran for 147 episodes. Over the years Ellis has been featured on critically acclaimed series Masters of Sex, Grace and Frankie, How I Met Your Mother, Grey's Anatomy, and NCIS.

Ellis lives in Los Angeles, CA and can be seen on the HBO comedy series Insecure.
BornDecember 27, 1981
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornDecember 27, 1981
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 1 win & 9 nominations

Photos77

Jay Ellis and Alison Brie in Somebody I Used to Know (2023)
Jay Ellis at an event for The Oscars (2022)
Jay Ellis and Issa Rae in Insecure (2016)
Jay Ellis in Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Jay Ellis, Logan Miller, Deborah Ann Woll, Taylor Russell, and Nik Dodani in Escape Room (2019)
Tyler Labine, Jay Ellis, Logan Miller, and Taylor Russell in Escape Room (2019)
Haley Joel Osment, Olga Merediz, Jay Ellis, and Kiersey Clemons in Somebody I Used to Know (2023)
Jay Ellis, Issa Rae, The Kid Mero, and Desus Nice in Dunk on Napoleon (2020)
Jay Ellis in Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Jay Ellis in Escape Room (2019)
Jay Ellis, Logan Miller, and Taylor Russell in Escape Room (2019)
Jay Ellis, Logan Miller, Deborah Ann Woll, Taylor Russell, and Nik Dodani in Escape Room (2019)

Known for

Issa Rae in Insecure (2016)
Insecure
8.0
TV Series
  • Lawrence Walker
Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
Top Gun: Maverick
8.3
  • Lt. Reuben 'Payback' Fitch
  • 2022
Cate Blanchett in Mrs. America (2020)
Mrs. America
7.9
TV Mini Series
  • Franklin Thomas
Lizzy Caplan, Michael Sheen, Caitlin FitzGerald, and Annaleigh Ashford in Masters of Sex (2013)
Masters of Sex
7.9
TV Series
  • Dr. Cyril Franklin

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actor

  • Freaky Tales
    • Post-production
  • Lemonade
    • Calvin
    • In Development
  • DaMya Gurley, Tamara Jade, Robin Thede, Gabrielle Dennis, Angel Laketa Moore, and Skye Townsend in A Black Lady Sketch Show (2019)
    A Black Lady Sketch Show
    • TV Series
    • 2023
  • Mel Brooks, Ike Barinholtz, Pamela Adlon, Wanda Sykes, Nick Kroll, Nick Robinson, Dove Cameron, Tim Baltz, and Ronny Chieng in History of the World: Part II (2023)
    History of the World: Part II
    • Jesus
    • TV Series
    • 2023
  • Jay Ellis and Alison Brie in Somebody I Used to Know (2023)
    Somebody I Used to Know
    • Sean
    • 2023
  • Tom Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick (2022)
    Top Gun: Maverick
    • Lt. Reuben 'Payback' Fitch
    • 2022
  • Issa Rae in Insecure (2016)
    Insecure
    • Lawrence Walker
    • TV Series
    • 2016–2021
  • Holland Roden, Logan Miller, Taylor Russell, Thomas Cocquerel, and Indya Moore in Escape Room: Tournament of Champions (2021)
    Escape Room: Tournament of Champions
    • Flashback - Jason Walker
    • 2021
  • Cate Blanchett in Mrs. America (2020)
    Mrs. America
    • Franklin Thomas
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2020
  • Thirsty (2019)
    Thirsty
    • Young Man
    • Short
    • 2019
  • Taylor Russell in Escape Room (2019)
    Escape Room
    • Jason Walker
    • 2019
  • Giveaway (2018)
    Giveaway
    • Garrett
    • Short
    • 2018
  • The Last Days of TJ Staggs (2018)
    The Last Days of TJ Staggs
    • Executive
    • Short
    • 2018
  • Michael Angarano, Emma Roberts, Dree Hemingway, and Patrick Gibson in In a Relationship (2018)
    In a Relationship
    • Dexter
    • 2018
  • A Boy. A Girl. A Dream. (2018)
    A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.
    • 2018
  • The Sonogram (2017)
    The Sonogram
    • Father
    • Short
    • 2017
  • Like Cotton Twines (2016)
    Like Cotton Twines
    • Micha Brown
    • 2016

Producer

  • Hard Medicine
    • executive producer
    • Released
    • TV Series
    • 2015
  • Sue Bird: In the Clutch
    • executive producer
    • In Production
  • All the Single Ladies (2022)
    All the Single Ladies
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2022–2023
  • Mamoudou Athie in Black Box (2020)
    Black Box
    • executive producer
    • 2020
  • Behind Her Faith (2020)
    Behind Her Faith
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2020
  • Jeron Braxton in Daytime Noir (2019)
    Daytime Noir
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • Hard Medicine (2015)
    Hard Medicine
    • executive producer
    • TV Series
    • 2017
  • Like Cotton Twines (2016)
    Like Cotton Twines
    • co-producer
    • 2016
  • Twelve Steps (2015)
    Twelve Steps
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2015
  • Terrell Owens and Jay Ellis in The Black Bachelor (2014)
    The Black Bachelor
    • producer
    • Short
    • 2014

Writer

  • Jeron Braxton in Daytime Noir (2019)
    Daytime Noir
    • Writer
    • TV Series
    • 2019
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos48

After 'Top Gun: Maverick' Flying Stunts, Can the Cast Return to "Normal" Life?
Clip 3:24
After 'Top Gun: Maverick' Flying Stunts, Can the Cast Return to "Normal" Life?
Why 'Maverick' Could Have Been Titled 'Top Gun: More Sweat'
Clip 3:55
Why 'Maverick' Could Have Been Titled 'Top Gun: More Sweat'
Official Trailer #1
Trailer 2:10
Official Trailer #1
Season 5 Official Trailer
Trailer 1:55
Season 5 Official Trailer
Official Season 5 Teaser
Trailer 0:48
Official Season 5 Teaser
Season 4 Trailer
Trailer 2:04
Season 4 Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:33
Official Trailer
Season 3 Trailer
Trailer 1:01
Season 3 Trailer
Season Two Trailer
Trailer 2:04
Season Two Trailer
Season 2 Tease
Trailer 0:51
Season 2 Tease
Somebody I Used to Know
Trailer 2:07
Somebody I Used to Know
A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.
Trailer 1:58
A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.

Personal details

Edit
  • Official site
    • Official Site
  • Height
    • 6′ 3½″ (1.92 m)
  • Born
    • December 27, 1981
    • Sumter, South Carolina, USA
  • Spouse
    • Nina SenicarJuly 9, 2022 - present (1 child)
  • Parents
      Wendell R. Ellis Sr.
  • Publicity listings
    • 1 Article

Self-verified on IMDbPro

  • Gender / Gender identity
    • Male

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    He was president of the student body government at Concordia University.

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