Jay Ellis

Jay Ellis, born Wendell Ramone Ellis Jr. on December 27, 1981, is an American actor. He gained prominence with his role as Martin 'Lawrence' Walker in the HBO series Insecure (2016-2021), for which he won an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series. Prior to this, Ellis received his first major role on BET's series The Game in 2013. He has also appeared in notable films such as Escape Room (2019) and Top Gun: Maverick (2022). Born in Sumter, South Carolina, Ellis grew up in a military family and attended multiple schools before pursuing a career in acting. He initially worked as a public relations intern for the Portland Trail Blazers before transitioning into modeling.