Janelle James (Actress)

Standing 5'7" with a natural, average build, Janelle James brings a commanding presence to comedy stages and screens alike. She is an American actress, comedian, and writer of Black ethnicity, born in Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands (U.S.) on September 23, 1979. At 46 years old, she has been active in the industry since 2009, amassing 17 years of experience that spans stand-up, television, and writing.

Based in New York and Los Angeles, Janelle's television work includes appearances on The Comedy Lineup on Netflix, Black Monday on Showtime, and the hit series Abbott Elementary. She also writes and voices a character on Central Park for Apple TV and writes for and appears in the third season of Black Monday. Her debut comedy album, Black and Mild, launched in 2017 across major streaming platforms and remains a fan favorite. She hosts the Janelle James Comedy Festival, a Brooklyn event she took over from Eugene Mirman, and has toured alongside Chris Rock, Amy Schumer, and David Cross.

In 2020, Variety named her one of the Top Ten Comedians to Watch, and her podcast, You In Danger Gurl, earned a spot on Spotify's top comedy podcasts list that same year. Janelle was also included in Brooklyn Magazine's 50 Most Funny People in Brooklyn in 2016. She is not to be confused with another Janelle James from Los Angeles.