Latest news with #JayEllis
New York Times
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Jay Ellis Considers Colson Whitehead His Literary GOAT
So far this year, Jay Ellis has played a basketball coach in the Netflix comedy 'Running Point' and a record-setting M.V.P. in the action movie 'Freaky Tales.' This summer, he's swapping free throws for freestyles as he steps into the role of a hip-hop star in the Off Broadway play 'Duke & Roya,' at the Lucille Lortel Theater. The drama finds him stumbling into a cross-cultural romance with life-threatening consequences. 'At first glance,' he said, 'there's no reason why you think these two people would ever hit it off.' He added: 'We're in a world where everyone yells, no one listens. Everybody really just wants connection, to be seen, to be understood, and I just loved the idea that these two characters do.' Ellis, 43, temporarily relocated his family of four to New York from their home in Los Angeles. One particular aspect of the local culture suits him well. 'I absolutely love pizza,' he said, name-dropping his latest find, Fini. 'My daughter took a bite and was like, 'Why don't we have pizza like this in L.A., Daddy?'' Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Washington Post
05-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
Jay Ellis is ready to be a leading man. Step 1: Kick things.
NEW YORK Jay Ellis was ready for action. It'd been nearly a year since the 2021 finale of Issa Rae's much-loved HBO dramedy 'Insecure,' on which Ellis spent five seasons cementing his romantic lead CV as Lawrence. Primed for a pivot, the six-foot-three actor signed on to play a samurai sword-toting basketball player in the 1980s send-up 'Freaky Tales.' There was just one problem. Ellis hadn't done so much as a 'hi-yah' since earning a yellow belt in elementary school.
