Jay Ellis

Jay Ellis Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: December 27, 1981

Age: 42 years old

Birth Place: Sumter, South Carolina

Jay Ellis is an American actor who was best known for his recurring roles on the television shows "The Game" (BET, 2006-2015) and "Insecure" (HBO, 2016- ). Born into a military family in Fort Sumter, South Carolina, Ellis traveled a lot as a young boy due to his father's career in the Air Force. Eventually, however, his family settled in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which is where Ellis primarily grew up. He was an athletic child and excelled in sports throughout high school, primarily football. It was football that earned him a scholarship to Concordia University in Portland, Oregon. It was during his time at Concordia that Ellis embarked on a career in the entertainment business, first as a professional model and later as an actor. As a model he worked on campaigns for Nike's Air Jordan brand, and quickly found that he enjoyed being in front of the camera. That ease and comfort in front of the camera eventually led Ellis to pursue a career in Hollywood as a film and TV actor. He landed his first TV role in 2005, and by the early 2010s was landing guest spots on shows like "Grey's Anatomy" (ABC, 2005- ), "NCIS" (CBS, 2003- ), and "How I Met Your Mother" (CBS, 2005-2014). Then in 2013 Ellis nabbed his breakout TV role on the BET comedy-drama "The Game." Ellis appeared on 45 episodes of the series from 2013 to 2015. After his time on "The Game" ended in 2015, Ellis nabbed his next major film role on the HBO comedy "Insecure." The series was a critical hit when it debuted on the network in the fall of 2016.

Credits

Sue Bird: In the Clutch

Executive Producer
Movie
2024

PRIME: Somebody I Used To Know

Actor
Sean
Show
2023

Somebody I Used to KnowStream

Actor
Sean
Movie
2023
69%

The Jennifer Hudson Show

Guest
Talk
2022

Rap Sh!tStream

Director
Series
2022
100%

Top Gun: MaverickStream

Actor
Lt. Reuben "Payback" Fitch
Movie
2022
96%

Insecure: The End

Self
Show
2021

How Did They Build That?Stream

Host
Series
2021

GMA3: What You Need to Know

Guest
Show
2020

The Kelly Clarkson ShowStream

Guest
Talk
2019

Tamron Hall

Guest
Talk
2019

Desus & Mero

Guest
Show
2019

Escape RoomStream

Actor
Jason Walker
Movie
2019
50%

Thirsty

Actor
Young Man
Movie
2019

Today 3rd Hour

Guest
Show
2018

The Takeout

Self
Show
2018

A Boy. A Girl. A Dream.Stream

Actor
Movie
2018
86%

In a Relationship

Actor
Dexter
Movie
2018

2016 Soul Train Pre-Show

Host
Show
2016

Desus & MeroStream

Guest
Talk
2016

InsecureStream

Actor
Lawrence
Series
2016
97%

InsecureStream

Director
Series
2016
97%

Grace and FrankieStream

Guest Star
Dan
Series
2016
90%

Shortwave

Actor
Robert
Movie
2016

Confessions

Actor
1st Kissed
Movie
2016

Like Cotton Twines

Actor
Micha Brown
Movie
2016

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

My Favorite Five

Actor
Jonathan Colburn
Movie
2015

Breaking Through

Actor
Quinn
Movie
2015

November Rule

Actor
James Avedon
Movie
2015

Hollywood Today Live

Guest
Show
2014

Masters of SexStream

Guest Star
Series
2013
84%

The Arsenio Hall Show

Guest
Show
2013

The Real

Guest
Talk
2013

Hollywood Game Night

Guest
Game Show
2013

The Game: Extras

Actor
Show
2013

Dear Secret Santa

Actor
Brad
Movie
2013

Playboy Morning Show

Guest
Show
2012

Hart of DixieStream

Guest Star
Resident
Series
2011

The Talk

Guest
Talk
2010

Lorraine

Guest
Show
2010

NCIS: Los AngelesStream

Guest Star
Series
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

The GameStream

Actor
Bryce "Blue" Westbrook
Series
2006

ET Canada

Guest
Show
2005

Grey's AnatomyStream

Guest Star
Series
2005
84%

NCISStream

Guest Star
Marine Pfc. Thomas "Tommy" Hill
Series
2003

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

106 & Park: BET's Top 10 Live

Actor
Show
2000

Good Morning America

Guest
News
1975

News aboutJay Ellis