Biography
Jay Ellis is an American actor. Born in Sumter, South Carolina, on 27 December 1981, he began his career in modelling before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
His first major role was in the BET series The Game (2013–2015). He is best known for playing Lawrence Walker in the HBO series Insecure (2016–2021), for which he received an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series, and as Lieutenant Reuben 'Payback' Fitch in the film Top Gun: Maverick (2022).
Ellis has also appeared in Escape Room (2019) and series including Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Masters of Sex and Grace and Frankie. In 2025 he played Colin Dobbs in the Peacock series All Her Fault.
