Joseph Lee (actor)

{{Infobox person

| name = Joseph Lee

| image =

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| caption =

| birth_name = Lee Joe-yun

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|12|29}}

| birth_place = Arizona, United States

| death_date =

| death_place =

| nationality =

| other_names =

| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|artist}}

| years_active = 2011–present

| known_for =

| notable_works =

| website = {{URL|josephleeart.com}}

}}

Lee Joe-yun (born December 29, 1987), known professionally as Joseph Lee, is an American actor and artist. He is best known for his role in the Netflix limited series Beef (2023), which earned him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Career

Lee was born in Arizona and raised in Indiana.{{cite news|url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3217727/beef-star-joseph-lee-netflix-shows-nuanced-portrayal-asian-american-men-his-painting-and-acting|title='It was very comforting to be childlike in my love for something': Beef star Joseph Lee on the Netflix show's nuanced portrayal of Asian-American men|last=Chak|first=Ashlyn|date=2023-04-21|newspaper=South China Morning Post|access-date=2023-07-12}} He started acting in high school.{{cite news|url=https://wwd.com/eye/people/beef-netflix-a24-series-george-joseph-lee-1235592590/|title=Meet 'Beef' Star Joseph Lee|last=Tauer|first=Kristen|date=2023-04-06|work=Women's Wear Daily|access-date=2023-07-12}} He studied political science with a minor in history at Purdue University in Indiana. He moved to Los Angeles, California, in the early 2010s to pursue acting, but soon additionally took up painting, especially portraits, inspired by inherited photographs of his late father.{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/04/for-beefs-joseph-lee-art-imitates-life|title=For Beef{{'s}} Joseph Lee, Art Imitates Life|last=Murphy|first=Chris|date=2023-04-11|work=Vanity Fair|access-date=2023-07-12}} Though it began as a hobby, art became a significant part of his career as his work developed a following on Instagram.{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2023/tv/news/how-steven-yeun-ali-wong-filmed-beef-netflix-a24-show-1235574811/|title='What the F— Is Happening?': How Steven Yeun, Ali Wong and the 'Beef' Cast Filmed Netflix's Most Chaotic Dramedy Yet|last=Seo|first=Rachel|work=Variety|access-date=2023-07-12}}

In 2018, Lee worked in South Korea as an actor in the drama series The Miracle We Met.

Lee played George Nakai, the sculptor husband of Amy Lau (Ali Wong), in the comedy drama Beef, which was released on Netflix on April 6, 2023. He found the show "refreshing" in its layered portrayal of Asian-American life.{{cite news|url=https://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/a43509312/joseph-lee-beef-ending-finale-interview/|title=You Don't Want to Fight with BEEF{{'s}} Joseph Lee|last=He|first=Sirena|date=2023-04-10|work=Esquire|access-date=2023-07-12}} At the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards, he was nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie for Beef.{{cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/2023/07/12/1186508126/emmy-nominations-awards-2023|title=Here are the 2023 Emmy Award nominations|last=Gomez Sarmiento|first=Isabella|date=2023-07-12|publisher=National Public Radio|access-date=2023-07-12}}

Filmography

=Film=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"\| Year ! scope="col"\| Title ! scope="col"\| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|2011 \|Nerve \|Eric \|
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|2015 \|Lion \|Ken \|
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|2018 \|Searching \|Peter \|

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope=row style="text-align:center;"|2011

|Nerve

|Eric

scope=row style="text-align:center;"|2015

|Lion

|Ken

scope=row style="text-align:center;"|2018

|Searching

|Peter

=Television=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
scope="col"\| Year ! scope="col"\| Title ! scope="col"\| Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" \| Notes
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|2014 \|Rizzoli & Isles \|Eric Chen \|Episode: "If You Can't Stand the Heat"
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|2016 \|NCIS: Los Angeles \|Sung Ahn \|Episode: "Seoul Man"
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|2018 \|{{sortname\|The\|Miracle We Met}} \|Geum Sung-moo \|Main role; 5 episodes
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|2023 \|Beef \|George Nakai \|Main role; 10 episodes Nominated - Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|2023 \|Star Trek: Picard \|Lt. Mura \|10 episodes
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|2025 \|Law & Order: Organized Crime \|TBA \|TBA
scope=row style="text-align:center;"\|TBA \|Neuromancer \|Hideo \|

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

scope="col"| Year

! scope="col"| Title

! scope="col"| Role

! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes

scope=row style="text-align:center;"|2014

|Rizzoli & Isles

|Eric Chen

|Episode: "If You Can't Stand the Heat"

scope=row style="text-align:center;"|2016

|NCIS: Los Angeles

|Sung Ahn