Joel David Moore
{{Short description|American actor and director (born 1977)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Joel David Moore
| image = Joel David Moore (Tribeca 2016).jpg
| caption = Moore in 2016
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|09|25|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Portland, Oregon, U.S.
| alma_mater= Southern Oregon University
| years_active = 1996–present
| occupation = Actor, director
| spouse = {{marriage|Kineret Karen Ben Yishay|2009|2011|end=div}}{{cite web|work=Yahoo|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/joel-moore-files-divorce-062357581.html|title=Joel Moore files for divorce|access-date=October 17, 2017|archive-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018190759/https://www.yahoo.com/news/joel-moore-files-divorce-062357581.html|url-status=dead}}
}}Joel David Moore (born September 25, 1977) is an American actor and director. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, Moore studied acting in college before relocating to Los Angeles to pursue a film career. His first major role was as Owen Dittman in the 2004 comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story, followed by roles in the comedy Grandma's Boy (2006), Terry Zwigoff's Art School Confidential (2006), and the independent slasher film Hatchet (2006).
In 2008, he was cast in the role of Colin Fisher on the Fox series Bones, a guest role he portrayed in sixteen episodes until the series' conclusion in 2017. In 2009, he was cast as Dr. Norm Spellman in James Cameron's Avatar (2009), a role he reprised for the film's sequels, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025).
Moore has also starred in several music videos, and directed films: His directorial debut was the psychological thriller Spiral (2007), followed by the drama Youth in Oregon (2016). Moore also directed the film Killing Winston Jones which was shot in 2012 but never released.
Early life
Moore was born on September 25, 1977, in Portland, Oregon,{{cite news|last=Baker|first=Jeff|title=18 actors you (maybe) didn't know were from Portland|url=http://www.oregonlive.com/movies/2014/04/18_actors_you_maybe_didnt_know.html|access-date=February 16, 2016|newspaper=The Oregonian|location=Portland, Oregon|date=April 28, 2014}}{{cite news| url= http://www.katu.com/amnw/segments/Actor-Joel-David-Moore-264943491.html| title= Actor Joel David Moore| work= KATU AM Northwest| date= June 30, 2014| access-date= June 25, 2015| archive-date= June 26, 2015| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150626134413/http://www.katu.com/amnw/segments/Actor-Joel-David-Moore-264943491.html| url-status= dead}} the son of Missy (née Irvine) and John Moore.{{cite news| url= http://www.generationsllc.com/subpage-elements/cherrywood/CherryPit.pdf| title= Avatar Scientist| location= CherryWood Village, Portland, Oregon| work= The Cherry Pit| volume= 2| number= 1| date= January 2010| access-date= June 25, 2015| first= Phyllis| last= Moore| archive-date= May 27, 2014| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140527211702/http://www.generationsllc.com/subpage-elements/cherrywood/CherryPit.pdf| url-status= dead}} Moore was raised in Portland, where his family resided in the Mount Tabor neighborhood. He graduated from Benson Polytechnic High School in 1995.
After high school, Moore attended Mt. Hood Community College in Gresham, Oregon, for two years. In 1998, he transferred to Southern Oregon University in Ashland, Oregon, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2001 and performed for two summers at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival.
Career
=2000–2007: Early roles=
Before relocating to Hollywood, Moore starred with Gretchen Stouts and Nina Smidt in Tom Monson's Drug Wars, The High Times (1999), a video about underage binge drinking.{{cite web| url= http://www.lifeisgreatproductions.com/DW_the_high_times.html| title= Drug Wars - The High Times| website= LifeisGreatProductions.com| access-date= 25 June 2015}}
In 2000, he moved to Los Angeles, California, and appeared in several television commercials, including ones for eBay, Cingular Wireless, and Best Buy.{{cite web|url=https://www.backstage.com/news/joel-david-moore-jumps-from-supporting-standout-to-leading-man-with-two-new-films/|work=Backstage|title=Joel David Moore jumps from supporting standout to leading man with two new films|author=Wood, Mark Dundas|date=January 30, 2008|access-date=October 17, 2017}} Moore shot an international campaign for a branch of Siemens cell phones, XELIBRI, which won a Lion Award. Moore made an appearance in the music video for the song "Youth of the Nation" by rap rock band P.O.D.
Moore's first major film role was in 2004's Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Between 2004 and 2005, he appeared in a recurring guest role on the NBC series LAX.{{cite book|title=The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present|author1=Brooks, Tim|author2=Marsh, Earl F.|publisher=Random House|page=757|year=2009|isbn= 978-0-307-48320-1}} This was followed by roles in the films Grandma's Boy, and as a jaded art student{{cite web|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/05/movies/05conf.html|date=May 5, 2006|author=Scott, A.O.|title=Majoring in Caricature in 'Art School Confidential'|access-date=December 19, 2016}} in Terry Zwigoff's Art School Confidential (both 2006).{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2005/scene/markets-festivals/joel-david-moore-1117918973/|work=Variety|title=Joel David Moore|author=Chang, Justin|date=March 6, 2005|access-date=October 17, 2017}}{{cite web|work=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2016/06/joel-david-moore-avatar-youth-in-oregon-gersh-1201781489/|title=Gersh Signs 'Avatar' Actor & 'Youth In Oregon' Director Joel David Moore|author=Lincoln, Ross A.|date=January 30, 2016|access-date=October 17, 2017}} The same year, he also had a lead role in the independent slasher film Hatchet, a bit part in The Shaggy Dog, and a supporting role in El Muerto, based on the eponymous comic book series. Also in 2007, Moore made directorial debut with the psychological thriller Spiral, which he filmed in his hometown of Portland, and co-starred in with Amber Tamblyn.
=2008–present: Acting and directing=
In 2008, he was cast in the supporting role of Dr. Norm Spellman in James Cameron's Avatar (2009). The same year, he was cast as intern Colin Fisher on the Fox series Bones,{{cite web|work=Entertainment Weekly|url=https://ew.com/recap/bones-recap-avatar-punky-pong/|date=December 4, 2009|author=Bierly, Mandy|title='Bones' recap: Cheater, cheater, 'Avatar'|access-date=October 18, 2017}} a guest role he would portray across 16 episodes until the series' conclusion in 2017. During the fifth season episode "The Gamer in the Grease", his character invites two other characters, Dr.Jack Hodgins (portrayed by T. J. Thyne) and Dr. Lance Sweets (portrayed by John Francis Daley) to attend the Avatar premiere, in which Moore was also cast. Moore also had a supporting role in Beyond a Reasonable Doubt (2009), a remake of the 1956 film of the same name.{{cite web|work=Slant Magazine|title=Beyond a Reasonable Doubt Film Review|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/review/beyond-a-reasonable-doubt|author=Schager, Nick|date=September 8, 2009|access-date=October 18, 2017}} He also starred alongside Katy Perry in her 2009 music video for "Waking Up in Vegas".{{cite news|title=Katy Perry - Live: Witness World Wide|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cA4_wTLDx4c |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/cA4_wTLDx4c |archive-date=December 13, 2021 |url-status=live|publisher=YouTube|date=June 11, 2017}}{{cbignore}}
Other film roles included a supporting part in 2012's Savages, directed by Oliver Stone,{{cite web|work=The Hollywood Reporter |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/risky-business/joel-david-moore-joins-oliver-204563|date=June 22, 2011| title=Joel David Moore Joins Oliver Stone's 'Savages' |access-date=October 17, 2017|author=Fernandez, Jay A.}} and in the crime-thriller Gone (2012), opposite Amanda Seyfried. Moore directed Killing Winston Jones in fall 2012 in Savannah, Georgia, which starred Danny Glover, Jon Heder and Richard Dreyfuss.{{cite web|url=https://www.indiewire.com/2012/11/danny-glover-books-role-in-dark-comedy-killing-winston-jones-from-radioactivegiant-140101/|work=Indiewire|access-date=October 17, 2017|title=Danny Glover Books Role In Dark Comedy 'Killing Winston Jones' From RadioactiveGiant|author=Obenson, Tambay|date=November 20, 2012}} The film was never released.{{Cite web |last=Caballero |first=David |date=August 4, 2022 |title=Batgirl & 8 Other Movies That Will Go Unreleased |url=https://screenrant.com/batgirl-other-films-never-released/ |access-date=January 30, 2024 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}}
He would also reprise his role with a cameo appearance in Hatchet III (2013).{{cite web|work=AllMovie|title=Joel David Moore Filmography |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/joel-david-moore-p454418/filmography|access-date=October 17, 2017}} During 2014–2015, he had a supporting role in the series Forever, and also in the thriller The Guest (2014),{{cite web|work=Fangoria|url=http://www.fangoria.com/new/exclusive-photos-halloween-night-with-wingard-and-barretts-the-guest/|title=Exclusive photos: Halloween night with Wingard and Barrett's "The Guest"|author=Gingold, Michael|date=July 8, 2014|access-date=October 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171018134442/http://fangoria.com/new/exclusive-photos-halloween-night-with-wingard-and-barretts-the-guest/|archive-date=October 18, 2017|url-status=dead}} and Joey Ramone in the 2013 historical film CBGB.{{cite web|work=Collider|url=https://collider.com/joel-david-moore-cbgb-interview/|title=Joel David Moore Talks CBGB, Playing Joey Ramone, Finding the Human Being behind the Rock Star, His First Concert and His Latest Directorial Project|author=Radish, Christine|date=October 14, 2013|access-date=October 18, 2017}}
In 2016, he directed his second feature, Youth in Oregon, starring Frank Langella, Christina Applegate and Billy Crudup.{{cite web|work=Willamette Week|url=http://www.wweek.com/arts/movies/2017/01/31/youth-in-oregon-brought-to-life-by-a-stellar-cast/|date=January 31, 2017|title=Youth in Oregon Brought to Life by a Stellar Cast|author=Culhane, Grace|access-date=October 17, 2017}} In 2017, it was reported that Moore had signed on to appear in the Avatar sequels, Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Avatar: Fire and Ash (2025).{{Cite web|work=Deadline|url=https://deadline.com/2017/05/joel-david-moore-avatar-sequels-fox-1202105375/|title=Joel David Moore Returning For 'Avatar' Sequels|author=D'Nuka, Amanda|date=May 31, 2017|access-date=October 17, 2017}}
Filmography
=Acting roles=
==Film==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 1996
| Foxfire | First Geek | |
| 2000
| Drug Wars, The High Times | Jake | |
| rowspan="2"|2004
| Rolf | |
| Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
| Owen Dittman | |
| 2005
| Reel Guerrillas | Nick Walker | The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning |
| rowspan="6"|2006
| J.P. | |
| {{sortname|The|Shaggy Dog|The Shaggy Dog (2006 film)}}
| Pound employee | |
| Art School Confidential
| Bardo | |
| Miles from Home
| Miles | Short film |
| The Elder Son
| Kenny | |
| Hatchet
| Ben | |
| rowspan="4"|2007
| 3rd Spartan | |
| El Muerto
| |
| Spiral
| Mason | Also co-director and co-screenwriter |
| Shanghai Kiss
| Joe Silverman | |
| rowspan="4"|2008
| {{sortname|The|Hottie and the Nottie}} | Nate Cooper |Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Couple (with Paris Hilton) |
| Wieners
| Greg King | |
| {{sortname|The|Tiffany Problem|nolink=1}}
| Sam Hane | Short film |
| Fairy Tale Police
| Big Bad Wolf | |
| rowspan="4"|2009
| Corey Finley | |
| Bed Ridden
| Jay | Short film |
| Stuntmen
| Troy Lebowski | |
| Avatar
| Dr. Norm Spellman | |
| rowspan="2"|2010
| {{sortname|The|Third Rule|nolink=1}} | Peter | Short film |
| Janie Jones
| Dave | |
| rowspan="4"|2011
| Segment: "The Diary of Anne Frankenstein" |
| Grassroots
| Grant Cogswell | |
| Julia X 3D
| Sam | |
| Shark Night
| Gordon Guthrie | |
| rowspan="3"|2012
| Gone | Nick Massey | |
| Jewtopia
| Adam Lipschitz | |
| Savages
| Craig | |
| rowspan="2"|2013
| Ben | Cameo |
| CBGB
| |
| rowspan="3"|2014
| Craig | |
| #Stuck
| Guy | |
| Grace: The Possession
| Luke | |
| 2015
| Nigel | |
| 2017
| Drone | Gary | |
| rowspan="2"|2020
| Peter Felton | |
| The Morning After
| Guy | |
| rowspan="4"|2022
| Jason Wright | |
| Daniel's Gotta Die
| Daniel Powell | |
| The Baker
| Peter | |
| Avatar: The Way of Water
| Dr. Norm Spellman | |
| 2023
| Fitzsimmons | |
| rowspan="2"|2025
| Mark | |
| {{pending film|Avatar: Fire and Ash}}
| Dr. Norm Spellman | Post-production |
{{pending films key}}
==Television==
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2001
| Hoover | 1 episode |
| 2001–2002
| Hartzell | 2 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2002
| Deep Cover | Pete Steinem | |
| Boomtown
| Usher #2 | Episode: "Insured by Smith & Wesson" |
| Providence
| Howard | Episode: "The Eleventh Hour" |
| rowspan="4"|2003
| Pete | Episode: "Romance Looming" |
| Angel
| Karl Vamp | Episode: "Salvage" |
| Six Feet Under
| Video Clerk | Episode: "The Opening" |
| Strong Medicine
| Dan | Episode: "Bad Liver" |
| rowspan="2"|2004
| {{sortname|The|Amazing Westermans|nolink=1}} | | Television film |
| {{sortname|The|Guardian|The Guardian (TV series)}}
| Malcolm Reeves | Episode: "Sparkle" |
| 2004–2005
| LAX | Eddie Carson | Recurring role, 9 episodes |
| rowspan="3"|2005
| Cooked | Mike | Television film |
| {{sortname|The|Inside|The Inside (TV series)}}
| Brian Pines | Episode: "Declawed" |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
| Guy in the Yellow Hat | Episode: "Dog Eat Dog" |
| 2005–2006
| E-Ring | Greg – NSA Liaison | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| rowspan="2"|2007
| {{sortname|The|Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning}} | Cooter Davenport | Television film |
| House M.D.
| Eddie | Episodes: "One Day, One Room", "Act Your Age" |
| 2008
| Clyde | Episode: "Quit Your Snitchin'" |
| 2008–2017
| Bones | Recurring role, 16 episodes |
| 2009–2010
| Medium | Keith Bruning | 4 episodes |
| 2010
| Chuck | Mackintosh | Episode: "Chuck Versus the Couch Lock" |
| rowspan="2"|2011
| Sheldon Tunney | Episode: "Kai e'e" |
| Last Man Standing
| Bruce | Episodes: "Pilot", "Grandparents Day" |
| 2014–2015
| Forever | Lucas Wahl | Main role |
| rowspan="2"|2017
| Budding Prospects | Phil | Television film |
| American Housewife
| Captain Beauregard | Episode: "Gala Auction" |
| 2018
| Noah | Episode: "All the Comforts of Home" |
==Music videos==
=Filmmaking roles=
Feature Film
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Director ! scope="col" | Producer ! scope="col" | Writer !Notes |
|---|
| 2007
| Spiral | {{yes}}{{efn|Co-directed with Adam Green}} |{{partial|Executive}} |{{yes}} | |
| 2012
|Killing Winston Jones | {{yes}} |{{partial|Executive}} |{{no}} |Cancelled film release |
| 2016
| {{yes}} | {{no}} |{{no}} | |
| 2021
| {{yes}} |{{yes}} |{{yes}} | |
| 2023
| {{yes}} |{{yes}} |{{no}} | |
| style="width:100%;" |
| style="vertical-align:top;"
| width="40%" | As producer
| width="60%" | As executive producer
| width="50%" | |
Short Film
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| scope="col" | Year
! scope="col" | Title ! scope="col" | Director ! scope="col" | Writer |
|---|
| 2006
| Miles from Home |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |
| 2009
| Found{{efn|Music video for Byron Phillips}} |{{yes}} |{{no}} |
| 2010
| Hours Before |{{yes}} |{{yes}} |
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Joel Moore}}
- {{IMDb name|601376}}
{{Joel David Moore}}
{{Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Screen Combo}}
{{Portalbar|Oregon|Film|Television|Biography}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Moore, Joel}}
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:Male actors from Portland, Oregon
Category:Southern Oregon University alumni
Category:Benson Polytechnic High School alumni
Category:Mt. Hood Community College alumni