Culture Connection: "Insecure" TV/Film/Actor/Producer and Author Jay Ellis

Jay Ellis—actor, producer, and advocate for diversity—is best known as Lawrence Walker on HBO’s Insecure, a role that earned him widespread acclaim. He also starred in Top Gun: Maverick and Somebody I Used to Know. His new memoir, Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?, blends humor with childhood reflections. Ellis founded the production company Black Bar Mitzvah, developing projects across major networks and platforms. A 2018 NAACP Image Award winner, he is also active in philanthropy and social justice. Limited copies of his book will be available for signing.

Tim Barnes is a comedian, TV writer, and podcast producer whose credits include Maurice on Mars (Comedy Central), Warped! (Nickelodeon), The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and NPR’s Wait Wait…Don’t Tell Me!. His Substack newsletter Letters from African America ranks among the platform’s top humor destinations. He also hosts the podcast You Are the Genre, co-hosts Yub Nub, and has developed numerous shows for VICE, First Look Media, and Earwolf.

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Host or Publisher Queens Public Library