Jessy Yates Biography: Age, Height, Net Worth, Parents, Movies & TV Shows, Advocacy, Husband, Instagram

Jessy Yates is an American actress, writer, and disability justice advocate best known for her groundbreaking role as Dr. Harper Simms in Netflix’s medical drama Pulse (2025). A graduate of the Yale School of Drama’s Acting Class of 2022, she made history as the first visibly disabled wheelchair user admitted to the prestigious program.

Living with cerebral palsy, Yates uses her platform to champion authentic disability representation in media, appearing in series such as Skillsville, Me, and guest roles on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Speechless, while also working as a performer, voice actor, and advocate for greater inclusion in the entertainment industry.

Jessy Yates
Wiki Facts & About Data
Name:	Jessy Yates
Born:	1990s (age 35 years old)
Place of Birth:	Cleveland, Ohio, United States
Nationality:	American
Parents:	Mr. and Mrs. Yates
Occupation:	Actress, writer, and disability justice advocate
Net Worth:	$500,000–$2 million

Early Life and Education

Jessy Yates was born in the early 1990s in Cleveland, Ohio, though her exact date of birth is unknown. Born to parents referred to as Mr. and Mrs. Yates, and details about any siblings remain unclear.

She completed her primary and secondary education in Ohio before pursuing acting professionally. She enrolled at the Yale School of Drama, where she made history as the first visibly disabled student utilizing a wheelchair to be admitted into the highly competitive acting program.

She completed her MFA on a full scholarship and graduated in the Acting Class of 2022. Her ethnicity is White, and her religion is unknown.

Career

Jessy Yates began her career with early guest appearances, including roles on Speechless (2016) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. After training at the Yale School of Drama, where she broke barriers as the first wheelchair-using student in the program’s history and received the inaugural Ruderman Family Foundation scholarship for actors with disabilities, she transitioned into more prominent roles.

Her education and advocacy work laid the foundation for her rise as a performer committed to authentic representation.

Yates achieved significant recognition with her starring role as Dr. Harper Simms in Netflix’s Pulse (2025), a medical drama that highlighted disability representation. She has voiced characters in animated series such as Skillsville (Rae) and appeared in Me (Morgan), alongside film work including Westhampton and the short/drama Vivian Probz.

These projects have showcased her range as an actress and writer while amplifying her voice in disability justice.

Yates‘ later work continues to focus on television, film, and advocacy, with ongoing involvement in projects that prioritize inclusive storytelling. Her pioneering presence at Yale and subsequent successes have made a notable impact on the industry, inspiring greater accessibility and representation for disabled performers and contributing to broader conversations about equity in entertainment.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: @jessyyates

Personal Life

Jessy Yates is single and has no children. She lives with cerebral palsy and is a full-time manual wheelchair user, which informs both her personal experiences and her professional advocacy for disability justice.

Yates has spoken openly about navigating the entertainment industry as a visibly disabled performer and the importance of authentic representation, while maintaining a focus on her craft, creative writing, and community engagement in New York and beyond.

Filmography

• Pulse (2025)
• Skillsville (2025)
• Me (2024)
• Westhampton (2025)
• Vivian Probz (2026)
• Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (guest)
• Speechless (2016)

Net Worth

Jessy Yates has an estimated net worth of $500,000–$2 million USD. Her primary income sources derive from her acting roles in major streaming series such as Netflix’s Pulse, voice work in Skillsville, and other television and film projects, supplemented by writing, producing, and advocacy-related opportunities.