Biography

Tracee Ellis Ross continues to skillfully navigate the entertainment industry as an award-winning actress/producer/creative. She can be seen starring in Season 6 of ABC's Emmy, SAG, NAACP, Critics Choice, Golden Globe nominated and Peabody-winning comedy series "black-ish."

For her comedic leading actress role as Rainbow Johnson in the series, Ross has received numerous individual accolades including winning the Golden Globe Award in 2017 and the NAACP Image Award four times in 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2019. She also garnered Primetime Emmy nominations in 2016, 2017 and 2018 and Critics Choice Award nominations in 2016 and 2017. Ross was honored by Women in Film in 2017 with the Lucy Award for Excellence in Television and at the 2016 ESSENCE Black Women in Hollywood luncheon with the "Fierce and Fearless" award.

Ross will narrate and executive produce the newest "black-ish" spinoff "mixed-ish," coming to ABC on Tuesdays this fall. She narrates the story of Rainbow Johnson as she recounts her experience growing up in a mixed-race family in the '80s, and the dilemmas they face trying to acclimate to the suburbs while staying true to themselves.

Ross is currently in production on the feature film "Covers," a comedy set among the talent, fame and fast-paced world of Hollywood's music scene. Ross stars opposite Dakota Johnson. Nisha Ganatra is directing the film from a script penned by Flora Greeson. Focus Features will distribute the film in the U.S. and Universal Pictures International overseas.

Ross will next be seen executive producing and starring in the adult animated comedy "Jodie." "Jodie" is a series spinoff based on MTV's iconic "Daria" franchise in which Ross will voice the title character, Jodie. The spinoff follows the titular character as she comes into her own and enters the workplace in her first post-college job in tech. "Daria" will also be the first adult animated show in almost 20 years to center on a black woman.

Ross continues to use her voice and vast social influence to advocate for joy, self-acceptance, inclusivity and equity. She is a co-founding signatory of the Time's Up movement. In April 2018, Ross opened the TED Conference, the first black woman to do so, with a powerful speech about the wisdom of women's fury. In November 2017, Ross gave a speech that went viral about dismantling societal expectations and claiming your own life at Glamour's Women of the Year Summit. Recently, Ross moderated the second stop of Michelle Obama's book tour in Los Angeles on behalf of her memoir "Becoming." Ross has taken on a number of hosting duties including the announcement of the 2019 Oscar Nominations with Kumail Nanjiani, American Music Awards in both 2017 and 2018, the BET Awards in 2015 and 2016, and she was the recurring host of Black Girls Rock from 2013 until 2016. In December 2017, Ross guest hosted Jimmy Kimmel LIVE where she launched "The Handsy Man," a fictional guide for men about how to treat human beings with respect.

In 2017, she launched "Tracee Ellis Ross for JCPenney," an original limited-edition capsule collection for the department store that includes women's apparel, accessories, and home décor items. Several pieces sold out within the first few days and #TER4JCP brought a 5% increase of new customers, making it one of JCPenney's most successful capsule launches.

Previously on television, Ross starred on the hit sitcom "Girlfriends" which ran for eight seasons, and earned her eight NAACP Image Award nominations with wins in 2007 and 2009. Ross also earned an NAACP Image Award for her work in "Reed Between the Lines," which she also produced. Additional television credits include the short film series "Portlandia," "grown-ish," "Broad City," "Five," "Private Practice," "CSI," and "LIFE Support." Her feature film credits include "Hanging Up" with Jennifer Connelly and Marcia Gay Harden, and Tyler Perry's "Daddy's Little Girls." Her theatre credits include turns in "Love, Loss, and What I Wore" on stage in New York and Los Angeles.

Ross was awarded an honorary degree as Doctor of Fine Arts by her alma mater, Brown University in 2015.

Ross currently resides in Los Angeles.