[citation needed] Ellis was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Fern Bloomfield.

He was educated in professional children's schools in New York City and Hollywood and later studied theater arts at Columbia University.

[1] He made his acting debut at age 5 and appeared in some 50 movies and television shows, sometimes billed as "Bobby Ellis."

In 1948, the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences awarded him a special certificate for his acting and dancing role as Buster Tyme in the movie April Showers, which starred Ann Sothern and Jack Carson.

He also appeared as Dexter Franklin in the Ziv Television production of Meet Corliss Archer.