Jay Ellis

**Wendell Ramone 'Jay' Ellis Jr.**, born December 27, 1981, is an esteemed American actor. His breakthrough in the acting industry came in 2013 when he starred in the BET’s series 'The Game.' A few years later, Ellis caught the attention of many with his captivating performance as Martin 'Lawrence' Walker in the HBO series 'Insecure' from 2016 to 2021. His exceptional acting prowess is recognized by an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. Ellis further showcased his versatility by appearing in the horror film 'Escape Room' (2019) and 'Top Gun: Maverick' (2022). Before delving into acting, Ellis was familiarized with a diverse array of industries. He worked as a public relations intern for the Portland Trail Blazers during their infamous 'Jail Blazers' era and had the opportunity to model for well-known sportswear companies. He really started focusing solely on his acting career when he moved to Los Angeles in 2004. The year 2005 marks the genesis of his professional acting career which saw appearances on reputable series like Gray's Anatomy, NCIS, and How I Met Your Mother. Ellis' acting career is not limited to television as he showed his proficiency behind the mic on the podcast series, 'The Untold Story: Policing. His off-screen engagements include philanthropic work as he joined forces with amfAR, an HIV/AIDS research organization, in 2017.